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EXCLUSIVE: Freshwater Teenager Wins Prestigious Surfing Competition

Jago

A teenager from Freshwater has won a prestigious two-day surfing competition in Scotland and has been placed second in another.

13-year-old Jago Tasker, who started surfing at the age of seven, battled it out in the 15-minute heats against four others competing in the Junior Series - run by the Scottish Surfing Federation (SSF).

The competition was hosted by a local surf club North Shore Surf Club.

Over the August Bank Holiday Weekend at Dunnet Beach, Jago made it through to win the U14s mix and he also came second in the U16s. 

He told Isle of Wight Radio it was “exciting” to win, he said:

“There were different rounds… your top two scores - judged on how well you surf the wave - the people who come first and second in the heat then go through to the next round...

“It (winning) came as a shock because winning doesn’t happen loads and you lose more than you win... I was seven when I started surfing but bodyboarding from an early age - which I got into because I got one for a birthday present...”

In the U16 semi-final, Jago had to battle it out against local boy Craig McLachlan - who he had on the ropes in the dying minutes with a 12.67pts heat total.

Craig flipped the heat just in time to produce a 7.5pt wave score - taking him to the lead - but both progressed into the final.

In the U14s division, Jago wowed judges by showing some incredible form and went on to win!

Sarah Archer, Jago’s Mum told Isle of Wight Radio:

“This is the first competition I have not taken him to - his Dad took him so I don’t know if his dad is the lucky mascot or not...When I found out he got through round one, then the quarters and then through to the semi-finals the next day.

“I was just over the moon for him! I know how much it means to him and how much training time he puts in. When his Dad let me know he had won the U14s mix I couldn’t believe it I was so chuffed - and then to come second in the U16s as well, was just the icing on the cake.”

The next Major Competition is the Surfing England Nationals, where he is entered in the U14s age group.

They take place at Watergate Bay, Cornwall.

It’s hoped the conditions will be good enough for the event to go ahead.

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