Inclusive tag team surf event at Manorbier bay

More than 50 surfers and over 150 spectators gathered at Manorbier Bay recently for the long-awaited return of the Tag Team Shootout.
After a 13-year break seven teams of mixed surfers of every level and style, came together in a true celebration of unity, talent and community spirit for the event held on Saturday, September 27.
From junior groms and beginner foamie riders to seasoned shortboarders, graceful longboarders, masters, ladies and adaptive surfers, every corner of the surf community was represented in the lineup.
And the waves did not disappoint. A fun three-to-four foot swell rolled into the bay, serving up punchy peaks and long runners that gave every surfer a chance to shine.
The beach erupted as groms (youngsters) went vertical on foamies, seasoned locals carved dynamical turns under the shadow of Manorbier Castle and the Kings Quoit and adaptive surfers showed incredible courage and style, proving that the thrill of surfing has no limits. The sight of beginners sharing the lineup with cutback legends carving through peeling lines captured exactly what the Shootout was all about.
The event was won by the Sand Castle Smashers who collected £400 in prize money and most importantly had their name engraved on the historic competition shield. The diversity of their team summed up the spirit of the day as it included a bodyboarder, longboarder, shortboarders, seated adaptive surfer and a grom on a foamie.
Event organiser Ollie Bird of Blue Horizons CIC said: “Myself and Emma-Mary Webster have been running adaptive surf sessions for over three years and also community clubs for adults and children of all abilities. But we realised the wider surf community rarely gets the chance to come together. This event gave us that opportunity.”
The unique tag team format meant each squad had to field surfers across multiple categories – Groms, Over 40s, Beginners, Ladies, Mens and Adaptives – with team captains strategising on when to put surfers in the water. It wasn’t unusual to see a beginner trimming down the line while, just a few yards away, an experienced shortboarder launched a re-entry. Instead of competing against each other, surfers pushed themselves to score points for their team – creating a vibe that was competitive but never cutthroat.
The old Pembrokeshire Surf Ryders crew, veterans of local surf contests, reunited to co-organise the event with eight key roles and a team of more than 20 volunteers.
Their combined efforts covered everything from water safety to keeping competitors fueled with tea and coffee – creating an atmosphere that felt both professional and community-led.
©Pics: Alun Richardson