Yesterday was ‘Big Wednesday’ at the Tiree Wave Classic – and the conditions at the Balevullin spot lived up to all expectations. Offshore winds of between 40 and 50 knots lashed across the Hebridean island, whilst waves as high as the mast provided the perfect stage for spectacular manoeuvres. Big aerials and radical turns in critical sections were rewarded, but any mistake in timing could have drastic consequences. In this demanding arena, Miguel Chapuis came out on top in the men’s event and Izzy Adcock in the women’s. Whilst Chapuis crowned his second appearance in Tiree with his first victory, Adcock secured a dramatic last-minute win. The event also produced a surprise: neither world champion Marc Paré nor the number two, Philip Köster, made it through to the Winners’ Final.
Spanish clash in the men’s final
The Winners’ Final turned into an all-Spanish affair between Miguel Chapuis and Marino Gil. Both had made their way through with impressive performances – Gil eliminated Köster, whilst Chapuis defeated Paré. The 25-year-old Chapuis was in top form throughout the day, impressing with his dynamic wave riding and his repertoire of aerial manoeuvres. In the final, he underlined this consistency with two waves, each scored at 7.5 points. Gil, who had shone in the quarter-finals, was unable to replicate that form in the decisive heat. Chapuis returned to Tiree for the first time since 2023, when he had finished second. This time, he did not let the chance to win the famous Claymore sword slip through his fingers.
After being knocked out in the semi-finals, world champion Marc Paré had to prove himself in the third-place play-off against Ben Proffitt. Proffitt had previously already Masters competition on Tuesday has won the title and is a multiple Tiree champion. The contest between the two Simmer team-mates was closely fought, but in the end Paré came out on top and secured third place. Proffitt finished the competition in a strong fourth place. Köster, who had arrived as the world number two, was knocked out in the quarter-finals and shared fifth place with Andy Chambers, James Cox and Vicente Gonzalez.
Adcock’s dramatic victory in the final
In the women’s final, Izzy Adcock staged a remarkable comeback. Frida Miron She had scored the highest individual score of the final with a 7.22-point wave and seemed to be on course for victory. However, her second wave earned her just four points, which kept the door open for Adcock. The British surfer fought her way back into contention with a 6.88-point wave and landed a decisive buzzer-beater shortly before the end. With a lead of just 0.24 points, Adcock secured the prestigious Tiree Sword. Frida Miron had to settle for second place, whilst her sister Emma Miron completed the podium. Cori McFarlane finished fourth.
All heats and results can be found at pwaworldtour.com
