Headworx

Matt is without doubt the most exciting British surfer to emerge from the junior scene for many years. Headworx’ freshest young rider has sickening amounts of natural talent, women hanging off both arms, and – despite burning the candle at every end – superhuman levels of energy and enthusiasm.

Matt pulls in when nobody else wants to, goes vertical every time, and takes the inevitable beatings with wreckless pleasure. At Headworx we think Matty is made out of kryptonite…

Matt kicked off 2008 by dividing his time between Hawaii, Scotland and Bali in a mixture of photoshoots, training and competing. After a couple of months in Oz to grab some new boards and get in some homeland training in late 2007, Capel flew straight to Hawaii for the Headworx photoshoot where the team riders produced some amazing water shots at Off the Wall, Backdoor, Rockpiles and Pipeline.

From the warmth of the Northshore Matt landed back in the UK, strapped on a 6/4 and headed straight up to Thurso to record some video for he upcoming UK surf vid, Substance. Not one to hang around long, Capel then jetted off to Indonesia for a Wavelenght photo trip special on Bali, and then onto Lakeys Peak, Sumbawa, to grab some sick footage for the forthcoming vid, MVP2. Watch this space for some footage from that session, eddited by Matt himself!

Since the beggining of the 2008 contest season, Matt has put himself in the final of his last three events, taking the podium at the Fat Face Night Surf, the Headwor English Nationals and the Saltrock BPSA Croyde.

The Animal British Cup at a pumping Fistral Beach in 2007 saw Matt in a fiery man on man final against local legend Russell Winter. Matt came a respectful second, adding shiney cup to his bulging trophy shelf.

Matt has won virtually every contest on the UK junior circuit. In 2005 he made the big step up to the senior circuit with his usual confidence and since then he has established himself as one of Britain’s top pros, finishing 4th on the BPSA UK Pro Tour in 2006. This phenomenal achievement came despite missing three events with injury, with Matt winning both the Headworx Welsh Open and the South Coast Challenge to keep himself in contention right up to the final event.

2006 also saw Matt claim the BPSA Junior (U21) Tour for the second time. He was rewarded with maximum respect at the UK Surf Awards in November 2006 when he was voted ‘The Riders Choice’ - the surfers’ Most Outstanding Surfer for the second year running - in a poll of all Britain’s top pros.

Matt has grown up in the water, learning to surf at the age of nine. In his ten years surfing, Matt has developed a truly unique style that reflects huge natural talent and total commitment. He’s also a bit of a nutter, taking on Teahupoo (one of the world’s heaviest and scariest waves, in Tahiti) aged 17!