What an incredible week it’s been for Newquay. Last week, our town once again played host to the phenomenal Boardmasters festival, and I’m delighted to say it was a resounding triumph across both the Fistral and Watergate Bay sites. The energy was palpable, and the reintroduction of the skate ramp at Fistral felt like a true homecoming, beautifully reconnecting the event to its core identity as a celebration of all things boardriding.

A personal highlight for me was the immense privilege of handing out the trophies for the prestigious surf competitions on Sunday. The talent on display was awe inspiring, and it filled me with immense pride to see our local heroes dominating the podium. Congratulations to all the competitors, with special applause for our own Russell Winter, the fantastic Willow Smith on her well-deserved women’s competition win, the legendary Ben Skinner, and of course, the phenomenal Lukas Skinner.

Lukas achieving the 'double double' – winning both the youth and men’s competitions for the second consecutive year – is simply historic! The scenes during his final were breathtaking, with thousands lining the water's edge at Fistral, and the atmosphere at the prize giving was truly electric. It was a powerful testament to both his incredible skill and the deep passion our community has for surfing.

Beyond the incredible action on the waves and stages, I was particularly thrilled to see the significant improvements in this year’s traffic management plan deliver a largely congestion-free experience for Newquay and our surrounding areas. This smooth operation is crucial for both residents and visitors alike. Rest assured, I will continue working closely with the festival organisers to capture learnings and incrementally improve year on year, but there are undoubtedly huge positives to take from Boardmasters 2025!

Shifting gears from festival excitement to community heart, I was equally thrilled to spend time this Monday with over 300 local children taking part in a wonderful enrichment day at Newquay Zoo. This fantastic event, run in association with the Cornwall Accessible Activities Programme (a brilliant initiative supported by Active Cornwall), provided such valuable experiences. It was truly wonderful to chat with the families involved and see the joy on the children’s faces. A huge thank you to the team at Newquay Zoo for hosting this amazing group with such warmth and enthusiasm – you are a vital part of our community fabric.

Newquay continues to shine – whether on the global stage during major events like Boardmasters or in the quieter, equally important moments of community connection and inclusion. Let’s keep this fantastic momentum going.

The fine weather continues, light winds, possibly 25 degrees at times. Had a few visiting yachts in the harbour, and anchored outside.

Commercial fishing is steady, lobsters seem to be in demand at the moment. This Saturday “Avalon” are playing at Rowing Club at 9pm. Sunday Black Velvet is playing at 3pm.

Thought for the Week: “Wisdom is born during the quiet moments “