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Mark retain Scottish title
MARK Cameron is still Scotland's Number 1.
The 31-year-old retained the Scottish Open title at Thurso.
He was pressed hard by another Fraserburgh surfer Georgie Watt.
Also in the final was Scott Main, who is originally from the Broch, but now lives overlooking the waves at Thurso. He finished fourth in the final, behind third placed Mark Boyd from Sandend.
The competition was fierce, although the waves were small for Thurso:
"At Melvich, we had some playing left-handers and it was excellent late on at the North shore.
"Georgie pushed me really hard. It was his kind of conditions, so I knew it would be tough. I just managed to get a good wave at the end.
"Usually, the waves in Thurso are good, but it was just that weekend, but the standard of surfing was high," Mark told the Herald.
The victory was Mark's third Scottish Open win. The event was not contested in the late Nineties, else he might have landed a few more titles:
"Iain Masson got seven, so I am chasing his record," Mark laughed.
His enthusiasism for the sport is evident. Like other hard core Scottish surfers, Mark breaths the sport:
"It was great to see Scott as well. He's a legend. So is Chris Noble, who organised the Open. I have to thank him, Watson and Damian. They all did a standout job. It was a really good weekend and not just because I won," he added.
The victory gave Mark the added bonus of a wildcard entry into the O'Neill Highland Open, a prestigious tour event featuring some of the world's top surfers:
"It was my second year, so the experience of having been there last year helped.
"The standard was just so high. Georgie Watt got a wild card entry too, which was great," Mark added.
Rubbing shoulders with the full time professional exponents of the sport gave Mark an added buzz:
"At the Highland Open there's a lounge with internet connection and physio. All the pros hang out there. These are really well-travelled guys and they really appreciated the lifestyle that they have got.
"It was unreal. They were such nice guys and I wish them all the best," he said.
Facing Mark in his heat was former world champion Sergio Garcia:
"He was my idol when I was younger and he was in the same heat as me.
"I felt I surfed well; got in a couple of good waves, but it was flat for the first 11 minutes of the heat. Then Sergio, he just waited and waited and then I looked back and saw him take this Barrel. It gave me a real buzz. Good on him.
"It's not just that these guys can surf, they are so tactically aware. They compete almost every week. Me, I compete twice a year; the Scottish Open and the Gathering of the Clans.
"Only the best surfers in Scotland are at the National Championships, but the Gathering of the Clans is different. It has helped open the sport up," Mark explained.
Technology has made surfing more comfortable, more accessible:
"Wetsuits now are amazing. People do not believe me when I say that I don't feel the cold when I am in the water. It's all down to the wetsuit technology," he said.
Surfing is the sport of the moment. Literally:
"Once a wave is gone, it's gone. A football pitch is always there. Good waves are not. If there are good waves, everything else is irrelevant," Mark said.
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Weather for Fraserburgh
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 11 C to 15 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 10 C to 16 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: East
