Gathering of the Clans 2023

Due to the popularity of the Clans in previous years and with the event taking place back on the mainland, the GOTC event format has been modified to allow the event to run in 1 day if necessary, as is often required at East Coast events. The SSF hope that this modification in format will encourage competition and selection at club level, as the level of surfing in Scotland progresses, which although may make it more difficult to be selected to represent your club at this Inter-Club championships, will in turn add to the prestige of being selected and the pride of representing your club in a similar way to the Australian Boardriders Battle.

A minimum of 6 surfers will make up a Clan (Team) to surf in the following divisions:
– 2 x Open Men
– 2 x Open Women
– 1 x Junior Boy (U18 on 1st Jan 2023)
– 1 x Junior Girl (U18 on 1st Jan 2023)
– 1 x Master (35 & Over on 1st Jan 2023)
– 1 x Longboard (>9ft)

*the above format is provisional and the SSF reserve the right to modify after primary entry closing date (22nd September) depending on the level of club/athlete interest.

Teams (unless by formal invitation) are entered via an SSF affiliated surf club by the Clan Chief on ssf.justgo.com from Monday the 11th of September – 22nd of September. Affiliated clubs may merge together to form a team should they require to because of numbers and depending on entries, clubs may not enter more than one team in the first instance but can register their interest to do so at info@thessf.scot should they desire to. Clan Chiefs may also notify the SSF if there is a division they would have preference in adding more athletes. Team members do not need to be Scottish but they should be living in Scotland at the time of the event and must be a member of an affiliated surf club/SSF. Club captains or “Clan Chiefs” should contact the SSF info@thessf.scot after entering the team on ssf.justgo.com . Each surfer must have a valid SSF member licence which you can purchase online at ssf.justgo.com . Your local surf club may also require you to join their club if you wish to participate in their team. For any queries or help in finding your local club please also email info@thessf.scot

Where is it?
Pease Bay, Berwickshire
When is it?
7-8 October 2023

How does it work?
A team of 6 – 8 surfers come together to form a Clan. There are 6 divisions that may be contested Open Men, Open Women, Junior Boys, Junior Girls, Longboard and Masters. Each team member can compete in a division and receive points for their Clan based on how well they surf against others in their division. A maximum of two surfers can compete in up to 2 divisions. The Clan with the most overall points at the end of the event wins the Gathering of the Clans Quiach and Sword.

Hosts: SSF / BHSC / EBSC

How does the Competition work?
The teams are made up of 6-8 competitors with a Captain (Clan chief) and at least 2 entrees capable and willing to judge. Each team will have a total of 8 scores counted in the event. There are 6 divisions that will be contested:
•Open Men
•Open Women
•Junior Girls (under 18 on 01/01)
•Junior Boys (under 18 on 01/01)
•Longboard (minimum 9ft long)
•Masters (Aged 35 or over on 01/01)

Points will be awarded in each division based on the ISA teams scoring system: 1000pts for 1st, 860 for 2nd, 730 for 3rd, 670 for 4th, 610 for =5th etc…

How to register:
Clan Chiefs should register teams in advance by emailing: info@thessf.scot with their full team roster in seeded order and paying the clan entry fee on ssf.justgo.com . Further information will be provided on the registration process in due course. All competitors should ensure their SSF membership is up to date.

If you don’t have a team and would like to compete please contact the SSF who can put you in touch with your local surf club.

Entry will be closed on the 22nd of September. A further announcement will be made if there are any amendments to the event format to maximise opportunity or if there any any spaces which can be filled.

•After all entries are taken the contest director will make the draw for the various divisions.
•If a competitor is unable to make their heat without supplying a legitimate reason their clan will be penalised 500 points. (This will be left to the discretion of the contest director.)
•Judges WILL be needed and we encourage those who can help out to do so – ISA qualified judges should take on a head judging role where appropriate and pass on knowledge to volunteers on the panel
•At least 2 members of each team should be capable and willing to judge or help with other officiating duties such as beach marshalling or priority. If 2 helpers are not made available by each clan the clan will be penalised 500 points.
•It is strongly advised that all those coming to the event should bring warm waterproof clothes.
•Entry will be restricted to representatives currently living in Scotland unless by formal invite from the Scottish Surfing Federation. In other words it is understandable that some teams, in particular university teams, may put forward some competitors representing their area that are not Scottish by descent. This is of course accepted, however these competitors should be capable of proving that they are currently residing in Scotland and are affiliated with their local surf club (e.g. Kelly Slater, should he wish to enter, would have to prove he is a student at a Scottish University or living in Scotland and a member of his local SSF affiliated surf club). The purpose of Gathering of the Clans is to bring the SSF Affiliated Surf Clubs together.