There was no way the pandemic was going to get in the way of the Barton Lynch Blast Off. Now in its 15th year, this year the grommet shred-fest took the action online with the Boost Mobile BL Blast Off Video Challenge.
"Taking the event online allowed us to reach more kids and build the BL Blast Off community globally," explains the 1988 World Champ and WSL commentator.
Established in 2006, the BL Blast Off coaching program and surfing championship is a unique event aimed at sharing the stoke with young surfers and helping them skyrocket their wave-riding abilities.
"I always liked the quote ‘the best surfer is the one having the most fun' and that's what BL Blast Off is about, because the better you get, the more fun you have," Lynch continues.
A fun, interactive online festival of surfing, kids are encouraged to upload the footage they're stoked on and vote on the hundreds of clips jam-packed with frothed-out surfing action. And a star-studded panel will help officiate the proceedings. Who is on it? None other than Jack Robinson, Kyuss King, Vahine Fierro, Mahina Maeda and Eli Hanneman. Oh, and Barton Lynch himself, of course.
So, how does it work? Well, without being able to run physical events this year, young surfers from all over the globe can submit video footage of themselves showing their stoke in the water. Entries are open to boys and girls aged 14 and under (as of October 31). These clips can be a single wave, a single maneuver or edited clips with sound or not.
"Our motto at BL Blast Off has always been that we ‘Coach kids not judge them', and the focus has always been around improving and getting better not winning and losing," Lynch adds.
"In that same way the video challenge is for everyone, not just the rippers but any kid who is stoked on surfing, we wanna see that stoke and then help the kids to improve."
Submissions opened on September 14th and will run through October 31. There have already been 220 entries from groms all over the world. Surfing is a global sport and it's clear there's stoked-out groms in every corner of the globe!
- New Zealand - Sth Island, Nth Island
- USA - Lake Tahoe, Nth Carolina, New Jersey
- Hawaii - Maui, Oahu, Kaui
- Australia - QLD, WA, Victoria, NSW
- Indonesia - Bali, Mentawai
- Sth Africa
- Brazil
- Spain
- Germany
- Belgium
- Portugal
- Russia via Bali
- Wales
- Canary Islands
- Costa Rica
- Japan
Each week there's a winner chosen for "Most Entertaining Clip" and "Kids Who Bring The Most Stoke!" There will also be overall winners announced in the following categories on November 7th:
- People's Choice
- Experts Choice
- Worst Wipe Out
- Best Tube
- Best Air
- Best Wave
- BL's Most Potential
This is a great chance to be part of a global event with surfers who you may one day get to meet and share some waves with on the other side of the globe. And even if you can't enter, all the videos are online here. for you to enjoy!
Always stoked, always smiling, encouraging the next generation, Barton Lynch is a champion in every sense of the word. - WSL / Ed Sloane
After 15 Years, Barton Lynch's Blast Off Is Stoking Out More Groms Than Ever
Ben Collins
There was no way the pandemic was going to get in the way of the Barton Lynch Blast Off. Now in its 15th year, this year the grommet shred-fest took the action online with the Boost Mobile BL Blast Off Video Challenge.
"Taking the event online allowed us to reach more kids and build the BL Blast Off community globally," explains the 1988 World Champ and WSL commentator.
Established in 2006, the BL Blast Off coaching program and surfing championship is a unique event aimed at sharing the stoke with young surfers and helping them skyrocket their wave-riding abilities.
"I always liked the quote ‘the best surfer is the one having the most fun' and that's what BL Blast Off is about, because the better you get, the more fun you have," Lynch continues.
A fun, interactive online festival of surfing, kids are encouraged to upload the footage they're stoked on and vote on the hundreds of clips jam-packed with frothed-out surfing action. And a star-studded panel will help officiate the proceedings. Who is on it? None other than Jack Robinson, Kyuss King, Vahine Fierro, Mahina Maeda and Eli Hanneman. Oh, and Barton Lynch himself, of course.
So, how does it work? Well, without being able to run physical events this year, young surfers from all over the globe can submit video footage of themselves showing their stoke in the water. Entries are open to boys and girls aged 14 and under (as of October 31). These clips can be a single wave, a single maneuver or edited clips with sound or not.
"Our motto at BL Blast Off has always been that we ‘Coach kids not judge them', and the focus has always been around improving and getting better not winning and losing," Lynch adds.
"In that same way the video challenge is for everyone, not just the rippers but any kid who is stoked on surfing, we wanna see that stoke and then help the kids to improve."
Submissions opened on September 14th and will run through October 31. There have already been 220 entries from groms all over the world. Surfing is a global sport and it's clear there's stoked-out groms in every corner of the globe!
Each week there's a winner chosen for "Most Entertaining Clip" and "Kids Who Bring The Most Stoke!" There will also be overall winners announced in the following categories on November 7th:
This is a great chance to be part of a global event with surfers who you may one day get to meet and share some waves with on the other side of the globe. And even if you can't enter, all the videos are online here. for you to enjoy!
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