The Guernsey surf kayak team, from left to right, Lorraine Koller, Gary Allen, Ruth Briggs, David du Port and Adam Harvey. (Picture by Steve Sarre, 0637537)

GUERNSEY’S surf kayaking team are at their first major competition. The week-long British Canoe Home International Surf Kayak began on Saturday in Ile d’Oleron, near La Rochelle.

The local team will be up against junior, female and male paddlers from England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and Jersey.

Guernsey’s best hopes going into the event were two of their junior competitors, Adam Harvey and David du Port.

Harvey is following in the footsteps of older brother Chris, who is currently ranked among the best in the world at high-performance surf kayaking and who will be leading the team in this event.

Following this challenge, Chris will also be competing in the Surf Kayak World Cup final, which this year he is hoping to win.