Surfing's world number six, Jordy Smith, visited Surf Snowdonia last week.

Smith, who was also a former world number one on the World Surf League (WSL) circuit, visited the inland surf site in Dolgarrog last week spending four days coaching the O'Neill Rookie Rippers boot camp.

Attending the camp were 12 of Europe's best young surfers (seven boys and five girls) coming from France, Spain and Portugal.

US Olympic surf coach Chris Gallagher Stone also attended the boot camp.

This is the third time the South African surfer has made a trip to the Conwy Valley site and he said he "loves it".

Talking to the Pioneer, Smith said: "It's so cool and so different to anywhere else I go all year. I love it.

"The kids have been awesome. It puts a smile on my face - I get to see it through some fresh eyes.

"It makes me appreciate my life and what what I have going, and I enjoy the lovely sport of surfing."

He said Surf Snowdonia was a great place for people to learn how to surf with the controlled environment allowing riders more time to stand up on the board compared to in the ocean.

Smith has claimed seven WSL titles since 2010 and is set to become the first South African to compete at an Olympic games in surfing with the sport to be included for the first time in 2020.

He added: "It's absolutely mind blowing. I remember when I was a kid just talking about it and watching the guys running or doing hurdles, imaging that surfing would be a part of it.

"The fact its going to happen in my life time, I'm over the moon."