Date: 30/10/2023
From: beehive, Sammie Walsh sammie@beehive-pr.com.au
Event: International Online Video Competition
The BL BLAST OFF VIDEO CHALLENGE returns for an epic fourth year!
Presented by BARTON LYNCH PRO SURFING, THE VIDEO GAME
The evolution of the BL BLAST OFF over the last 18 years has seen it transform into a truly global event.
What started out as in-person physical event in Sydney and Bali is now an international online stokefest!
The BL BLAST OFF VIDEO CHALLENGE developed by 1988 World Surfing Champion Barton Lynch, is a unique and exciting annual opportunity for young surfers from around the world to show off their skills and stoke in the water to a coaching panel of world class surf coaches and a global community of surfing families.
Across its many award categories, the BL BLAST OFF VIDEO CHALLENGE has become a haven of encouragement and support for the young surf community; as well as being a fun and competitive environment for surfers to elevate their skills and land on the radar of the surfing world as the world’s most promising future prospects.
This year, the BL BLAST OFF VIDEO CHALLENGE is presented by another exciting Lynch-led venture, the first ever surfing sports simulated game of its kind, BARTON LYNCH PRO SURFING. The project, developed by Barton Lynch and Western Australian-based studio BUNGARRA SOFTWARE, the game hits PC (Steam), PlayStation5 and XBOX platforms on November 17th 2023.
WATCH 2022 BL BLAST OFF VIDEO CHALLENGE FINALS SHOW
The BL BLAST OFF VIDEO CHALLENGE is open to young surfers 14 years and under and of any skill level – it is a four week coaching program at its core, with a championship component that will see winners decided in multiple categories and age divisions.
At its heart though, the challenge has been established to build community and inspire young surfers to share their stoke for surfing with others. Video submissions can include footage shot at any time during 2023 and feature any style of surfing and on any type of board or craft.
The videos can capture anything from a single wave, or a single manouevre; they can be fully edited, or submitted as is – the only stipulation is that each clip be a maximum of one minute in length.
Submissions open from October 16th through until November 17th 2023, for surfers aged 14 years and under (as of November 17th) and from anywhere around the world.
2023 BL BLAST OFF VIDEO CHALLENGE KEY DATES
Submissions open: October 16th – November 17th 2023
Categories open to be won as part of the BL BLAST OFF VIDEO CHALLENGE, alongside overall divisional winners for 14s, 12s, 10s, 8s and 6s, this year include:
PEOPLES CHOICE
EXPERTS CHOICE
WORST WIPE OUT
BEST TUBE
BEST AIR
BEST WAVE
OVERALL ‘BEST EDIT’ PRESENTED BY GoPro
BEST GoPro POV
as well as a new category in…
A NEW EARTH CLEAN UP (AND GOOD WILL)
In conjunction with sustainability partner, A NEW EARTH PROJECT, kids will show us the great work they have done in their community by helping others or the environment.
The 2022 VIDEO CHALLENGE saw over 200 videos submitted from surfers in over 26 countries. Over 90 prize packs were awarded to kids around the world – in 2023, the event aims to connect with even more groms and families globally!
Says Barton Lynch of the return of the video challenge in 2023,
“My Blast Off is an initiative to spread stoke among groms that has been running since 2006.
That’s when we first ran our Sydney Blast Off in the physical event form and that quickly turned into the most stoked event on the Australian surf calendar annually, with 330 kids taking part. When we took the concept online in 2020, we automatically reached a much broader and more diverse audience and spread the Blast Off stoke around the world.
The Blast Off community and event has long been the breeding ground for tomorrow’s champions, with many former Blast Off alumni going on to be world champs at the highest level, this is something that I am very stoked about. This is the fourth year of the video challenge and I can’t wait to see the videos from very best and most stoked under 14s surfers in the world and encourage you to tune in and support the kids by heading to www.bartonlynch.com”
BARTON LYNCH
2023 BL BLAST OFF VIDEO CHALLENGE SPONSORS
BARTON LYNCH PRO SURFING
GOPRO
A NEW EARTH PROJECT
PERFECT WAVE TRAVEL
SUNBUM
FUTURES FINS
SHARK BANZ
SPY OPTICS
CREATURES OF LEISURE
MARINE FLORENCE X
AMAZON POWER ACAI
CHANNEL ISLAND SURFBOARDS
LOST MAYHEM SURFBOARDS
#blblastoff #BOVC23
