The Wilkinson Sword is on tomorrow, Saturday 22 March, at Freshwater West!

The famous Welsh inter-club contest makes a change from the intial venue - Whitesands - and will see competitors take advantage of the Pembrokeshire swell magnet that is Fresh West.

Last year's winners, Pembrokeshire Surf Club, are on home turf for the second year in a row. Having won the hallowed Sword for two years running, team Pembs have a unique opportunity to put on a show and make it a hat-trick of Wilky wins.

Full details of tomorrow's Wilkinson Sword are below:

Check in 7.30am for an 8.00am comp start Saturday 22nd March 2025

Event information contents:

1. Heats, Draw & Running Order

2. Rules & Criteria
3. Covid Measures
4. Upon Arrival

5. Whilst at the Event
6. The Waves
7. FAQ

1. Heats, Draw, Running Order & Results
The heat draw will be posted on our PSC WSF social media on the Friday evening.
The initial running order will be made available on the Friday evening before the event on Pembs Surf Club and WSF Insta and FB pages. Go to beach marshall to get your rashie at least 10 mins before your heat, paddle out 5 mins before your heat.

A single Horn blast signifies heat start / two blasts on horn signals heat end at the same time the large disc is turned to yellow which means the heat is on. When the disc turns red it means 5 mins remaining, when you cant see the disc the heat has finished.

Maximum number of waves per heat:15

The ongoing running order will be made available via notice boards at the registration area next to contest control. A beach announcer will be used. Final scores & results will be available via WSF and PSC.

2. Rules and Criteria Equipment

Surfers can use any of these types of short board: shortboard / fish / fun board / foamies

Longboards relative to surfer size are permitted in the longboard category

The boards should be in safe working order i.e. no broken fibreglass, foam or damaged fins and leashes must be worn.

Judges look for the following when scoring a ride: -

Controlled rides; commitment and degree of difficulty; innovative and progressive manoeuvres; combinations of major manoeuvres; variety of manoeuvres; speed, power and flow.

The following scale may be used to describe a ride that is scored:

0 - 1.9 = Poor
2.0 - 3.9 = Fair
4.0 - 5.9 = Average

6.0 - 7.9 = Good
8.0 - 10.0 = Excellent

Ettiquettte:
Surfer nearest the peak has unconditional priority at time of take off. Paddlers should avoid interference with surfers riding waves.

Aerial Surfing:

For a manoeuvre to be considered successful a surfer must land and ride out with forward momentum.

• Full ISA Rule book and judging criteria available here.

3. Upon Arrival
• Please park with consideration to others, keeping access to any disabled bays clear.
• Please use the overflow car park in the meadow if necessary.
• Check in at registration gazebo on the beach.

4. Whilst at the Event

• Please consider your fellow competitors, event staff and public’s safety and wellbeing at all times.
• Please cooperate with WSF / Event officials and / or the authorities.
• Please ensure you collect your litter and dispose of it responsibly, preferably at home or a refuge site.

• Free surfing is possible, but must be done well away from the contest area, please also respect the local surfing community.

5. The Waves

• Competition surfing will take place predominantly over sand but there are boulders and significant reef at both ends of the beach near headlands. The waves change and vary throughout the tide and tend to be biggest from mid to high on the incoming tide, they then become softer on the ebb tide and very fast and steeper near the point at low tide.

• Competitors should be suitably skilled to surf in close proximity to rocks.
• Surfers may use protective equipment if desired.
• Fresh West has a particularly strong rip at the south end of the beach (left as you look out to sea) competitors should only use it if skilled to do so.
• Surfers should be strong swimmers.

6. Environment

We are in the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park and it is seal pupping season so please do not approach any seals hauled out on the beach.

Codes of conduct for wildlife here.

7.Frequently asked questions:

• The beach has a carpark and toilet block at the south end.
• No camping, overnight parking or fires are permitted at the beach.
• Please note there is no wifi at the beach and poor mobile signal.
• The nearest shops are in Monkton/ Pembroke a 15 minute drive from the competition site.

There is no food and drink available on site so please bring your own for the day and take all litter home afterwards.

Have a great weekend!