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.

One of the most moving moments came when Shanon, a wheelchair user who communicates through her iPad, shared in her team’s winnings. She was so excited to be part of the competition that she still tells her mum every day how much it meant to her. Moments like this captured why the event was about far more than points and prizes.

Surfer and competition organiser Rhys Jones said: “It’s been 13 years since the last Shootout and one of my biggest takeaways was seeing how the standard of surfing across all generations — is still at its highest. You don’t often get the chance to watch everyone surf because you’re usually in the water yourself, so it was a real treat to see South Pembs surfers absolutely ripping. The number of smiles from the first heat to the last award really said it all.”

“Having helped run events with PSR and the first Shootout 13 years ago, I knew this wasn’t going to be an easy task. Surfers can be a non-committal bunch and of course, you’re always relying on Mother Nature to deliver. When Blue Horizons approached me about making it an inclusive event — bringing adaptive and non-adaptive surfers together — I’ll admit my first thought was, this is going to be a real challenge, if not impossible.

“But the Blue Horizons team has a unique skill set in adaptive surfing, and once they explained their plan, it became clear that it could work. We could’ve just run a standard contest with a separate adaptive category, but that wouldn’t have truly been inclusive — surfing is such an individual sport at its core. By running it as a tag team event, it brought a shared sense of teamwork and community that really embodied the spirit of the day.”

“People often think running a surf comp is just about showing up and hitting the waves, but there’s so much more involved — venues, prizes, rash vests, insurance, safety, logistics… It's a huge task. Ollie and Emma brought all their expertise from Blue Horizons, which already caters for adaptive and non-adaptive surfers of all ages and applied it seamlessly. They handled all those unseen elements of organisation while still running their surf school — and that’s what made the event such a success.”

Later, celebrations moved to the Manorbier House Tea Rooms, where 10 x Welsh Champion Greg Owen from Unlimited Wetsuits, Porthcawl, handed out prizes to all competitors, plus extra awards for Best Grom, Best Wave, Best Wipeout, Most Helpful, and Most Stoked.

One of the day’s most unforgettable highlights came when Richard, an adaptive surfer with Down syndrome, was crowned Most Stoked Surfer. Having only been surfing for two years, Richard was celebrated by the whole room singing happy birthday for his 40th – a moment he described as “one of the best days of my life.”

Surfer and co-organiser Mark Rice, reflected on what made the Shootout so special: “For us, it was always about giving as much as we could to make sure every surfer — from the groms to the adaptive riders — feel genuinely welcomed and valued. We wanted everyone to connect, to walk away as familiar faces on the beach rather than strangers sharing waves.”

“About six months ago, Blue Horizons CIC Surf Club approached me and a few of the old PSR crew with an idea for something truly unique — a grassroots, fully inclusive tag team surf competition. To the best of my knowledge, it might even be the first of its kind in the UK. With the incredible support of our local surf community, that idea became reality.

“Leaning on my experiences of supporting my daughter, who competed at an international level in WCMX (wheelchair motorcross) and more recently in competitive swimming at the Commonwealth Games 2022 allowed me to assist Blue Horizons CIC make their event truly inclusive. The skateboarding community truly accepts everyone no matter what their background as long as you’re on wheels having fun. This ethos is something I wished to achieve at the event in surfing terms.

“The tag team format gave each surfer something completely different: the chance to surf in an adapted way as part of a team, where every surfer’s contribution was valued equally. That’s what true inclusion looks like.”

“The smiles, the waves, the teamwork — it reminded us all why surfing is about so much more than competition. Manorbier Shootout truly was a surf comp for everyone.”

For a small community, Pembrokeshire once again showed it has a big heart for surfing.

The Manorbier Tag Team Shootout wasn’t just about competition – it was about showcasing talent, celebrating inclusivity and proving that when the surf’s up, this community knows how to put on a show.