Golden student surfer is toast of the coast

BU student takes surfing gold at the UK student championships for the second successive year.

Bournemouth University student Gordon Fontaine is riding the crest of a victory wave after winning the men’s title at the 2010 British Universities & Colleges Sport (BUCS) Surf Championships in Newquay, Cornwall.

The 21year-old Marketing student, who grew up in Brittany in France, outclassed the opposition from universities and colleges across the UK to bring home the gold medal for the second consecutive year.

As defending champion and competition favourite, Fontaine wowed the thousands watching with some spectacular skills, including a front side carving 360 manoeuvre to beat off a fierce challenge from Falmouth’s Billy Norways in the final.

The BUCS competition is now thought to be the biggest surfing competition in the world with over 350 student surfers from institutions all over the UK taking part over three days.

BUCS Surfing Sports Manager Ed Curran said, “The 2010 BUCS Surf Championships were outstanding once again, with some inspirational displays of skill from the finalists, and all surfers who took part thoroughly enjoying the event. We intend to grow the event further in 2011, as it is a truly special weekend of University Sport.”