Hebridean island joins Hawaii on surf map

The shore near Barvas and Bru on the island of Lewis may not look like Bondi Beach but after this week it may become as much a part of the surfing map as the famous stretch of Australian coastline.

More than 160 of the world's top surfers are in Lewis for the first Hebridean Surf Festival, which is being heralded as one of the sport's most important fixtures of the year. It is hoped that the spectators, television crews and surfing groupies that the organisers anticipate arriving for the event could generate more than £100,000 for the local economy.

Alongside experienced competitors such as Tom Curren, a former world champion, and Lee Bartlett, a four-time British champion, is Derek Macleod, Lewis's own leading surfing personality and organiser of the festival. He and his partner, Coilie Macleod, have been trying to develop a new niche market for the isolated islanders with what has been described as "the world's most futuristic surfing contest".

Mr Macleod said: "We are pioneering a new judging format, which will revolutionise surfing as a competitive sport. We are trying to celebrate individualism and push the boundaries of surfing as a sport."