Red Bull Unleashed

Red Bull Unleashed was a surfing competition held on 18/19 September 2015 at Surf Snowdonia in Dolgarrog, north Wales. The artificial wave pool, owned by Conwy Adventure Leisure Ltd, is the world's first commercial artificial surfing lake and the United Kingdom's only artificial surfing lake. It opened in August 2015.[1]

The artificial wave pool at Surf Snowdonia, looking east.
Red Bull Unleashed welcome board at Surf Snowdonia.
Mobile electronic board at Red Bull Unleashed
The pier at Surf Snowdonia was used as an additional spectator area
Surfing at the finals of Red Bull Unleashed

Red Bull Unleashed was the first major event to be held at Surf Snowdonia, and was the world's first-ever stadium surf contest.[2]

Qualification for Red Bull Unleashed took place on the previous day, 17 September, when 24 competitors were seeded following surfing on 6 waves, and the 16 main finalists selected.[3]

The event, attended by over 2000 spectations on the final day, was won by Hawaiian surfer Albee Layer, who beat New Zealander Billy Stairmand.[4][5]

Results

The 16 international finalists comprised -[6]

  • 5 surfers from Australia
  • 3 surfers from Hawaii
  • 3 surfers from Great Britain
  • 1 surfer from New Zealand
  • 1 surfer from the United States
  • 1 surfer from Italy
  • 1 surfer from Japan
  • 1 surfer from Brazil

Friday 18 September[6]

There were 8 heats, starting at midday, when surfers competed in match-play format, competing wave for wave in a best of five. A coin was tossed to see who surfed first. Points (out of 30) were given by the 3 judges for each wave.[3]

(Winner listed first.)

Heat 1 : Ezekiel Lau (HAW) 3 - Alan Stokes (GBR) 0
Heat 2 : Billy Stairmand (NZL) 3 - Leo Fioravanti (ITA) 1
Heat 3 : Jack Freestone (AUS) 3 - Evan Geiselman (USA) 0
Heat 4 : Kai Hing (AUS) 3 - Kalani David (HAW) 0
Heat 5 : Jayce Robinson (GBR) 3 - Hiroto Arai (JPN) 0
Heat 6 : Albee Layer (HAW) 3 - Ian Gouveia (BRA) 2
Heat 7 : Ian Crane (AUS) 3 - Mikey Wright (AUS) 2
Heat 8 : Mitch Crews (AUS) 3 - Reubyn Ash (GBR) 1

Saturday 19 September[6]

The remaining 8 surfers competed in 4 quarter finals, starting at midday :[3]

Quarter Final 1 : Billy Stairmand (NZL) 3 - Ezekiel Lau (HAW) 1
Quarter Final 2 : Jack Freestone (AUS) 3 - Kai Hing (AUS) 1
Quarter Final 3 : Albee Layer (HAW) 3 - Jayce Robinson (GBR) 1
Quarter Final 4 : Mitch Crews (AUS) 3 - Ian Crane (AUS) 1

Semi-finals commenced at 14:30 :

Semi-Final 1 : Billy Stairmand (NZL) 3 - Jack Freestone (AUS) 0
Semi-Final 2 : Albee Layer (HAW) 3 - Mitch Crews (AUS) 2

The final was held at 3:30 :

Albee Layer (HAW) 3 - Billy Stairmand (NZL) 1

See also

References
  1. Rebecca Burn-Callander (26 May 2014). "UK's first artificial surfing lake makes waves". The Telegraph. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
  2. Wiley, Chad (21 August 2015). "Surf Snowdonia To Host Red Bull Unleashed, First-Ever Stadium Surf Contest". business.transworld.net. Transworld Business. Retrieved 3 September 2015.
  3. Red Bull events, Red Bull Unleashed
  4. "Surf Snowdonia hosts final at lagoon". BBC News. 19 September 2015. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
  5. Jez Hemming (19 September 2015). "More than 2,000 people turn out to Surf Snowdonia for Red Bull Unleashed". northwales. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
  6. "Albee Layer Wins First Artificial Wave Comp in Lake at Red Bull Unleashed". Magicseaweed.com. Retrieved 20 September 2015.

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