Cornish surfer prepares to take on the world in Fiji finals

A Cornish surfer will swap the waves of Polzeath for the tropical waters of Fiji to compete in the world stand-up paddle (SUP) surf championships next month.

Alex Murray, a surfboard maker and SUP competitor, leaves Cornwall on 29 October to prepare for the 2016 Fiji International Surfing Association’s World StandUp Paddle and Paddleboard Championship (WSUPPC).

Murray will compete in the SUP surfing discipline at one of the world’s best waves, Cloudbreak, a fearsome left-hander breaking over coral reef, near the island of Tavarua. He is taking part in the event with the help of sponsorship from Par-based Cornish Bed Company.

He said: “I’ve been training for the last ten months for the event. I am very excited to be representing the Cornish Bed Company and would like to thank them for their support. Fiji is undoubtedly going to be an incredible experience and I am extremely proud to be representing team GB and sporting bespoke Cornish Bed Company branded gear.”

Murray qualified for the event with a second place in the 2015 BSUPA British Championships, held at Watergate Bay last October.

His trip to Fiji for the event, which runs from 12 to 20 November, has been made possible in part by the support of the Cornish Bed Company.

Alex will be competing on a specially branded paddle board, complete with a Cornish Bed Company paddle, designed especially for the trip.

Garry Smith of the Cornish Bed Company said “To support a fellow Cornishman is a great honour for us. We are very proud to hand-make our Victorian beds in Cornwall and are always looking to support local talent. We wish Alex the very best of luck in Fiji and look forward to watching him compete.”

In Fiji Murray will spend time acclimatising and fit in some final training in preparation for the first day of the competition on the 12th November. Roughly 200 athletes from over 30 nations will be competing for gold in four disciplines.

To follow Murray’s progress in Fiji go to http://isaworlds.com/sup/2016/ for live results and webcast coverage.