Gwithian Academy of Surfing

Half Term

2012-02-15T12:57:00.002-08:00

Half term is upon us so its time to get things up and running for a week or so. Cornwall is still a little on the quiet side despite the kids having broken up for a week. This is not unusual for this time of year - there may be a few more people around but its barely noticeable. I guess if you are thinking of a holiday at this time of year most people would prefer to hit the slopes in Europe rather than a Cornish beach holiday.

There are still a few brave souls on the beach but then the Great British holiday maker has to be an optimist. I even saw some people swimming in shorts yesterday despite the mizzle and the 8˚ water. For the record I won't even go in the water in shorts unless its over 20˚ and the middle of August. And even then I won't last much more than 20 minutes. I'm just too used to wetsuits and warmth these days to even consider it - pathetic, I know.
Meanwhile we are making the most of the quiet time to give the surf school a lick of paint, a very deep clean and rearrange things to make the most of the space we have.
We also have a ASI surf coach course coming up on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th of March so we will be putting some new trainee coaches through their paces and getting them ready for what will hopefully be a lifetime of surf coaching. There are still a few spots open if you're keen!

The Next Generation

2012-02-04T14:20:00.000-08:00

To mark the beginning of what must surely be the best week of weather for the entire winter I did something extraordinary on Tuesday. I witnessed the birth of my son Finn Luke Bear Greenaway who weighed in at a healthy 7 lbs 10. Clearly I haven't been getting in the waves at all this week and from the screaming I heard earlier its doubtful if I'll get back in the water for a week or two but for the first time in my life I think I have found something that rivals surfing. I just hope the boy will love surfing as much as I do and we can spend a whole lot of time at the beach.

By pure chance this week coincided with a chap asking if he could bring a four year old for a lesson this summer. Normally we won't teach anyone under the age of six but it got me thinking how young an age could you begin surfing at. I've seen footage of a three year old riding tandem with his father - hell, I've even seen a kid barely able to take his own weight surf tandem but in both cases the children were being held in place and didn't have to actually do anything themselves other than admire the view.

I guess that providing a surf coach or an adult could get the surfboard to knee depth on a very small surf day then it would be safe enough for a four year old to catch a couple of waves and stand up unassisted. I suspect a lot depends on the four year old in question. I also think that if the conditions were anything less than perfect then it could put the child off surfing for life and who wants to risk that?

The funny thing is that any 5 - 7 year old can stand up with almost no assistance whatsoever. They seem to be able to stand on any board and on any wave but they do need help with getting their surfboard out to knee/waist depth water and catching waves.

It's great to be young, eh?

Storm Force Ten

2012-01-27T11:50:00.000-08:00

There was I prattling on about how good the weather had been when all of a sudden the heavens opened. Its been a bit damp and stormy for the last couple of weeks to say the least and we have been stuck in a Westerly wind cycle. Westerlies are the 'pointless' winds in this part of the world. They just bring rain in the winter and there are no coves where you can shelter unless the swell is so large that you can surf on the English Channel side of the Lizard peninsula. And that don't never 'appen!

There has been the odd break in the winds though. Usually when a storm passes overhead you get a few hours respite with light winds, ideally from an easterly direction, like in the above photo. This little beauty was taken a few weeks ago now but it was one hell of a weekend. Swell, good winds and good banks. Its rare to get three of those at the same time in January so to get good weather as well is nothing short of a miracle.
As for the coming weekend its looking like a cold one. Northerly winds and clear skies. Surfing in this weather means its almost impossible to get enough feeling into your hands after a surf to grips your car keys and unlock the doors. Thank God for central locking infra-red key fobs - without them I'd still be in the car park now.

New Year

2012-01-06T10:48:00.000-08:00

We are well and truly into 2012 and it looks like at long last there is going to be a break in the cycle of westerly winds that blight Cornish surfing.
And hurrah for that.

A nice big high pressure is looming into view but she just needs to track north past Portugal and over our fair shores. It'll bring some cold weather thought the winds will be much lighter; definitely lighter than the 100mph gusts that have been wreaking havoc in Scotland and the North and destroying the sandbanks that had been developing on our beaches since Autumn.
Today is the first day in a week that it hasn't rained and there is nothing like getting changed in a damp car park to completely take away any enthusiasm you might have for a winter surf.
When the wind and weather is like what we have had since Christmas then all you can do is drive around hoping that you can find a sheltered cove that will make sense of the swell with cliffs high enough to take the edge off the wind. Then you've just got to steel yourself for the hellish five minute struggle into your wetsuit!

There is a cracking wave that breaks into St Ives harbour (pictured above last April) but it's rare that you get tide, swell and wind all working together for this little beauty to fire up. It almost got going on Tuesday but by the time the tide was right it was dark but at least Praa Sands has offered up a few waves during the week.
I'll keep my fingers crossed for the coming week!

Bye Bye 2011

2011-12-29T14:20:00.000-08:00

And 2011 draws to a close. Not with the bang that the early Autumn swells promised but with a bit of a whimper. There has been surf during December but there hasn't been a lot on offer other than some surfs down at Hayle on Boxing Day and the 27th and a few, by and large, diabolical surfs at Praa Sands.
Overall though you'd have to say that 2011 was a good year. Surf-wise its been an incredibly violent time in the Atlantic and so long as there is enough swell you can always find a sheltered cove somewhere that will make sense of it.

Even the summer provided plenty of waves but next year some more sun would be nice!
If next year is as good I'll be stoked - we've got a child due at the end of January, our first, so I have a feeling it will be a good one. Though I'm told very tiring. I guess I wont be surfing as much as this year!
Well, have a great 2012 from all of us at Gwithian Academy of Surfing - hope it gives you loads of waves and sunshine.

Old Timers

2011-12-03T10:14:00.001-08:00

I so hope this isn't a fake.

Junior Surf Club Continues

2011-11-20T04:50:00.001-08:00

For the first time that I can remember the waves and weather have ensured that we have been able to continue with our Junior Surf Club right up in to November. Normally by early winter the beach is being demolished by colossal storm swells and the chance of taking a lesson out is very slim indeed.

This year however, unseasonably warm (it was snowing this time last year) weather and good quality groundswells have meant its been perfectly safe to continue doing lessons. Even the sea temperature hasn't dropped off the scale yet. This is the first year that you can still surf in a summer suit in November. I still haven't even put on my wetsuit boots yet and I usually dust them off in October.
Long may it continue. I just hope we don't pay for it with a diabolical cold snap or a lousy summer.

Surf Vouchers

2011-11-14T11:19:00.001-08:00

It's fast approaching Christmas so why not give the gift of surfing? Let us take the strain out of the festive season and free yourself to sort out the lunch/booze/annoying relatives.
Our surfing gift vouchers can be purchased online and then all you have to do is sit back and wait for the grateful recipients to send their thank you letters!
Remember to order before the Post Office's last delivery date and we will get it out by first class post free of charge.

South Easterlies

2011-11-14T10:25:00.001-08:00

Some epic waves have been smashing into the South Coast today and due to the angle of the swell it has caught a lot of people cold. While most have been gazing out at ankle high waves at Gwithian and other West facing beach breaks on the North Coast those in the know, and those who had a tip off such as myself, have been presented with overhead waves the likes of which only break during a once in a lifetime swell.

Actually thats a huge exaggeration but they don't break very often. Optimists might refer to these breaks as secret spots but glass half empty types, a sub-category that I definitely fall into, think of them more as infrequent spots. Everyone knows about them but they are so rare that unless you are right on the ball the first you here about them they are prefixed with 'You shoulda been here yesterday'.
The top picture you should be able to work out where it is but the bottom one.... well, it's a secret isn't it? You'd never believe me if I told you anyway.

Fireworks in the ocean!

2011-11-06T02:47:00.000-08:00

The Autumn swells are continuing to roll in and, frankly, this year is one of the best I can remember. I've spent most of the last week surfing all the out of the way breaks that hardly ever get swell and even the big British newspapers (Telegraph, Express and Mail) have featured the colossal swell that came through last Sunday. I just hope that it can continue right through winter.
This crazy week of swell actually started on the Saturday which happily coincided with the British Nationals that were taking place at Newquay.

Congratulations to local lad Harry De Roth who caught some double overhead (not that hard when you're only 4'6 tall) waves and surfed them to a well deserved victory in the under 14's category. GAS employee Paddy Daniel also managed a creditable 3rd in the under 18's category.
Good on you both.
Meanwhile back at Gwithian we are continuing with our Junior Surf Club for as long as conditions allow. The surf has dropped of a little this weekend but there is still plenty of quality surf to be had. Better yet the forecast for next week is a beauty - offshore winds and reasonable swell.
And the weather?
Who cares, I'm gonna get wet anyway.

2011-10-10T06:35:00.000-07:00

The nights are drawing in and the Indian summer seems to have drawn to a close but the surf is continuing nicely. The quality might not be quite as good as you'd expect for this time of year but at least the water is still fairly warm and with a little bit of local knowledge you can get a quiet, clean wave to yourself.

This and May/June is also the best time to learn to surf and you can do it in the knowledge that you will probably be the only people on the beach. It may seem lonely but you will have loads of space to stretch out in and the waves to yourself.
I have added a video of the Open final from the Europeans last month in Ireland for you to look at. Our chap in white, Newquay's Alan Stokes, didn't have a lot of luck with waves in the final but he got a 6.6 out of 10 for one manoeuvre - pretty impressive when the other surfers were getting 5's and 6's for performing four manoeuvres on a wave.
It was one hell of a manoeuvre.
Its a crying shame that he didn't get a solid back up wave or he might have been England's first European in the Open division for decades. He is still young has plenty more goes left though - who know's, maybe he come through in 2013. I really hope so as Stokesy is one of the nicest blokes you could possibly meet and I can't think of anyone who's surfing deserves it more.
Meanwhile, back at home the British Nationals are coming up at the end of the month. There is an old farts division (over 35's) so I'll probably have a crack at that. I'll keep my fingers crossed for good waves!

2011-10-02T11:16:00.000-07:00

England have achieved a creditable fourth position in the European Surfing Championships and for the first time in a while have a European Champion. Sarah Beardmore smashed the opposition in a fantastic display at Bundoran (Donegal, Ireland) this afternoon and is one of those rare moments that I can proudly say 'I was there when...' Good on you.

Stokesy put in a spirited performance in the Open and got a third place finish and Ben Howarth got second in the Longboards. I feel genuinely stoked to have somehow got in this team, so much quality in every division and all of my team mates were top blokes (and ladies) too.
As for me I got sixth overall. In the end I couldn't quite get into the final which was the goal I set myself. Can't have everything my own way I guess.
Tonight its time for a little celebration however. I've been in Ireland for ten days and haven't touched a drop of the black stuff. Thats all gonna change in about 10 minutes.

Training

2011-09-20T06:15:00.000-07:00

Still no sign of the promised Indian summer but at least the waves (accompanied by howling wind) are with us.
This is proving to be good from a training point of view allowing me to get at least two surfs a day and because the surf is so lousy I can pretty much guarantee I'm the only one in the sea.

The wave where the competition is due to take place is a beautiful reef in County Donegal called Bundoran Peak. I've managed to surf there on previous trips to Ireland and it has always been well worth a visit. There are no waves in this area of Cornwall that offer the same kind of ride so finding something to practise on has been tricky but I have at least managed a few surfs at Porthleven. 'Lev is also a peaky reef break but that is where any similarity ends - it tends to be short and sweet but at least the bottom surface is the same. Reefs tend to be more powerful than the beach breaks that Cornish surfers are used to and by my reasoning anything that is even vaguely similar has got to be helpful. I'll keep my fingers crossed there!
The other more humdrum aspects of preparation for the comp involve filling out indemnity forms and letting the relevant authorities know that any asthma medication I take is not performance enhancing! It certainly doesn't help me breathe underwater.
Five days to go.

Competition

2011-09-15T10:29:00.000-07:00

Summer is well and truly over but the waves are making a welcome appearance. We have had a load of swell in the last week or so and the weather seams to have settled down a little bit. The odd shower here and there but by and large dry.

We managed to run the No pro on Saturday 10th (full right up here) and young Adam Bayfield, 15, from St Ives won the junior and open categories - a first in the 17 years that we have been running it.
We also ran a Masters (over 35's) for the first time and local boy (not really a boy at 36 but whatever) Pete Williams was the victor. Meanwhile Maisie Marshall took out the womens. One massive talking point was the prizes generously provided by Hurley. Oh my God, they were unbelievable. Wetsuits, clobber the lot. Better yet is that they are keen to sponsor the event again next year. Can't wait.

Staying with the theme of competition surfing I have been invited to surf in the European Surfing Champs in Ireland. Im in the Seniors (over 28's) so I could well be up against some comparatively young guys (sadly I am 37!) but I can't wait to get amongst it. I've been training pretty hard since I got the invite so who knows. I managed to get 3rd last time around so I'd be delighted to get around that mark again. My goal is to get the final - if I do that I'll be stoked.
If other fat-bloke related news I snagged a quick surf with Gwithian surf school pioneer (among a million other things) Graeme Bailey down at Hayle. He had the first surf school in this area in 1995 but stopped to run some phenomenally popular flats. Good on 'im!

Hurricane Season

2011-08-31T02:00:00.000-07:00

No one likes hurricanes. As one of the most destructive forces on the planet they seem to bring only misery and despair to anyone caught in their paths.

No one except surfers that is. Even surfers on the East Coast of the US look forward to hurricanes as while they can be devastating they also create perfect, powerful surf for their normally wave starved shores. It's no coincidence that the East Coast's Pro surf competitions are all held in hurricane season. European surfers benefit even more from them. For us surfers the perfect hurricane starts in the Gulf of Mexico, moves straight out in to the Atlantic and starts bowling surf towards us. No destruction, all creation.

Hurricane swells are distinct in that they have a really long swell period (wavelength for those who did GCSE physics) which is great for all surfers, whether beginning or experienced. That extra few seconds between waves (up to 18 seconds) makes a huge difference to swell quality; beginners get a little bit more time to get on their boards and start paddling, advanced surfers get longer paddle time between waves and get 'out back' easier.

Hurricane Irene unfortunately tracked up the East Coast causing mayhem in Connecticut and other US states before moving out to sea but now it looks like it's going to send us some great swell. September is traditionally the best time of year for the Cornish surfer - loads of swell, relatively calm weather and the water is almost at its warmest.

It may be flat today but I reckon this weekend could be epic.

No Pro 2011

2011-08-10T08:39:00.000-07:00

The long summer days are slowly blending into Autumn so naturally ones thoughts turn to the No Pro. The comp is now in its 17th year and we are proud to have Hurley as our event sponsor so the prizes this year are going to be amazing.

The event is a grass roots competition for surfers who don't fancy the dog eat dog world of pro surfing but wouldn't mind having a crack at surfing against their mates while hopefully having an enjoyable day at the beach.
This year the event is on Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th of September at Godrevy Beach and their are Open, Women's and 16 and Under categories.

Bit of History

2011-08-02T09:02:00.000-07:00

It's not often that a little bit of surfing history turns up at the surf school but I guess if it was going to happen it would be this week.

The surf and weather have been stupendous for the last week so naturally we have been fairy busy. In theory this week is the busiest of the year - something of a hangover when factories used to close the doors for their two week summer holidays 100 or so years ago.
Anyway, yesterday a chap brings in a 30 year old board that by the looks of it has spent the last 29 &3/4 years in his attic. Better yet it was shaped by British surfing legend Bill Bailey, now sadly deceased. Bilbo, as he was known, was Britain's first surfboard manufacturer and had the original surf shop in the UK and while the board doesn't really cut the mustard in terms of todays high performance surfboards as a token of British surfing history it is almost unique.
After a bit of haggling the board is now mine but what to do? Do I surf it as was always intended? Or do I put it up on the wall as a bit of art?
If the board was a battered old dog I reckon I'd be straight out on her but now I'm not so sure. Its looking like she will never see saltwater again.
Am I wrong? Does a board deserve to be used?

School's Out for the Summer

2011-07-23T06:48:00.000-07:00

The schools have released their prisoners and they are all heading for a beach near you!
It doesn't seem like it was only 20 years ago that I too was released onto the streets with barely a GCSE to my name.

Luckily surfing has been good to me. After a brief foray with John Major's Surf Team I was fortunate to work in the surf industry in some capacity. Tragically it's just as unglamorous as working in any other industry - loads or paperwork, emails etc - but at least no one gives you a second glance when you turn up to work in bare feet and smelling of dried seaweed.
After the school activity weeks it now feels like its gone quiet but this is, of course, our busiest period. Last week we had one of the local schools in for a whole week of surfing and while it does get stressful dealing with 40 kids fuelled on nothing but energy drinks and crisps its great to see the improvement that you get with an intensive surf course.
From now on it will be mainly families who will be surfing with us which is far more relaxing!
The school holidays have certainly started well - its beautiful weather today and looks like the surf should be around waisthigh for the next week or so.
Perfect for surf school.

Large and Unruly

2011-07-17T10:51:00.000-07:00

There were some big, big waves hoofing through at Gwithian today. Way too big to run a safe surfing lesson so we decamped down to Praa Sands on Cornwall's south coast. There it was an oasis of calm amongst what was, for Cornwall in summer anyway, a hefty storm.

The beauty of Praa is that is a great bolt-hole for surfers. While the North coast is raging during winter storms and howling NW winds you can be reasonably sure that Praa will offer up some small, clean and manageable surf. While the waves aren't perfect for learners - the beach is quite steep causing waves to break suddenly and powerfully - they are whole lot better than not surfing at all. More experienced surfers, however, love it here. Those grunty waves that might smother a beginner provide a perfect launchpad for good surfers out there.
There was quite a crew out - it's always busy here when there are waves - but there were plenty of waves if you were sat in the right spot.
The waves and weather are due to calm down a bit tomorrow so it's all systems go at Gwithers again. Home, sweet, home!

Surfing Schools!

2011-07-12T04:31:00.000-07:00

A spectacular week of sun and surf has drawn to a close. There are still a few waves to be had but its definitely dropped off a bit now. Cornwall is, however, beginning to get busier - the roads through Hayle are rammed in the morning and early evenings and you even have to queue to get a pasty. A dire state of affairs if ever there was one.

Meanwhile at the surf school we have been busy with the local, and not so local, schools. I'm sure I've mentioned it before that school was way different in my day (which wasn't that long ago!). The last week of term was invariably filled up with playing hangman, watching videos - usually a Lenny Henry vehicle of some kind - and waiting for the school bell to ring for the final time.
Now they get to go surfing. For the whole week.
And boy, oh boy do some kids take to it well. We have had perfect surf for the school kids this year. People often think that big powerful waves are best for the surf school lesson but in fact knee to waist high waves are best. You can achieve so much during a surf lesson in this kind of surf - its not too big to frighten anyone but the waves still have enough push to get the students up and riding.
Better yet, the student can go 'out the back' and ride the unbroken green waves.
Our previous record for getting someone cutting across the green wave was three surfing lessons.
Now it is two! A couple of young surfers from Bristol Steiners School were absolutely ripping. It kind of makes me wonder how many good surfers we would have if a big city like London or Manchester had the same ease of access to good surf as Sydney or San Diego. We may even have had a World Champion or two.
Ah, well. Enough of the dreaming and back to work.

Summer

2011-07-03T13:57:00.000-07:00

Whisper it, but I think summer may have arrived. The surf has been trundling through at a very respectable headhigh, the winds are offshore and even the weather is cooperating.
The usual signatures of summer can be clearly seen. There is a healthy layer of sand in the porch, some surf wax has been trodden into the carpet and my nose and neck are blistered wrecks. Even the surf school tortoise is looking spry and energetic in the balmy mid day sun.

Of course the clearest sign that summer is well and truly among us is the crowds. The local kids haven't broken up from school yet but there are plenty of Scots around and the roads are filling up. The beautiful thing about Gwithian is if you time it right you can still get plenty of waves and a bit of solitude - a three mile beach can usually spread the people out nicely.
I managed a little surf up the coast today at Perran Sands. Now that place is super quiet - probably something to do with the shin busting 1 mile walk over sand dunes to get back to your car but hey ho.
Tomorrow I'm going to give Gwenvor down by Lands End a go before work. I'll keep you posted.

Cornwall School Games

2011-06-28T12:55:00.000-07:00

Under normal circumstances I would never let a joke go by without endlessly repeating it until it just isn't funny anymore or murdering the punchline .....
And today is no different.

Last Sunday as the one day heatwave reached its zenith the GAS team were slaving away, clipboards in hands, stopwatch running and gazing out to sea through sun ravaged eyes as they focused on the cream of the surfing crop from Cornwall's schools.

We had been asked to run a one day surfing extravaganza - a stand alone event of the Cornwall School Games. Schools from all over the county had entered teams in several different disciplines such as netball, beach volleyball, sailing and, of course, the king of sports - surfing. Each school competed for team points to be declared the official top Cornish school sports team. Judging by the surfing Wadebridge has one hell of a good school for sports - even better than the traditional powerhouse of Newquay.
It must be great to walk into school on a Monday morning as a Cornwall School Surfing champ. It certainly puts my 1987 victory in the 3rd year egg & spoon race into perspective.
And the joke?
Well, once again the comp was powered by GAS. By GAS. Geddit?
Hello. Hello, are you still there? Anyone?
Just me then.

ASI Course

2011-06-20T06:08:00.000-07:00

The Level 1 ASI surf coach course that we ran this weekend has to go down as an unqualified success. All seven of the candidates were successful and achieved their Level 1 qualification and will be released on an unsuspecting public this summer.

We had a great mix on the course - everyone from ageing hellmen like big wave surfer Dan Joel to local 16 year old ripper Paddy Daniel, lifeguards Richie Platt and Josh Daniel and resting Brazilian actor (he's in between projects at the moment) Fabrizio Postiglione.
Dan Joel is starting up his own surf school over at Poldhu on the Lizard peninsula this summer and we wish him every success - well, maybe not every success but, y'know, a bit.
If you are coming for a surfing lesson this summer then no doubt you will be meeting one or more of them as they embark on what is hopefully a life of surf coaching.

Back to school

2011-06-07T14:25:00.000-07:00

Half term is over and the whole place has calmed down again. Its eerily quiet in the village at the moment, hardly any cars driving through and all is generally very restrained.
Still doing a few lessons but the surf isn't really cooperating at present. It's small and windy which is fine for beginner lessons but not so great if you want to venture beyond the whitewater. At least it's a lot hotter now and if you can get out of the wind (the surf school is in a windless sun trap so its always boiling there) its toasty warm.

We are getting some mad weather too - June really is the best time to be in Cornwall I reckon. Peaceful, relaxed and empty.
And finally, I've just cobbled together a video of the flat that I was renovating this winter. Check it out.

Rider Slip Slider

2011-06-02T11:57:00.000-07:00

Check out the footage of the Rider Slip Slider held at Porthmeor in May. This is just the teaser, full video is coming soon.
Looking good but then it was powered by GAS. By GAS! Geddit. Ha, powered by GAS indeed. Ahhhhh.

Crazy Weather

2011-05-26T11:06:00.000-07:00

Some absolutely colossal waves coming through at Godrevy today. It wasn't a great day for surfing, just far too windy and way too much swell for Gwithian to be anything other than a mass of bubbling, foaming mayhem. A good day to catch up with paper work and sneak off to Praa Sands for a quick high tide surf though.

Its looking like there will be a fair bit of mayhem on land this weekend with the 'We are One' Festival taking place at the Sandsifter this weekend. The big marquees are up and it should be a busy one.
Meanwhile in Peru Paddy Daniel has been dealing with some hefty waves too. Sadly he has been knocked out of the comp now but he took a few scalps while making his way to the fourth round. By my reckoning this makes him about 40th in the world for Under 16 surfers and that ain't bad. A few Brits are still left in the comp with Jobe Harris in action later this evening. Keep your fingers crossed for him and the rest of the British Team. A 10th place or higher finish, and therefore better seeding, would make things a lot easier for next years team.

ISA World Juniors

2011-05-19T20:20:00.000-07:00

Our trainee surf coach Paddy Daniel is off in Peru competing for Britain in the ISA World Junior Surfing Games at the moment. The boy has been ripping lately so its great to see he is getting some tangible rewards for his efforts.

Check out www.isasurf.org for a link to the main comp website and have a gander at the live video webcast.
Britain has a strong team this year and hopefully we can regain a top ten position and get a good seeding for future years. It all kicks off tomorrow so good luck to the boys and girls in the British Team.

New Website Online Now

2011-05-15T03:02:00.000-07:00

Its taken a long time but the new website is finally online. What began with a trip to Jon (a really good St Ives surfer) at Fuse2 8 months ago for a cup of tea and a chat about a 'few minor tweaks' mushroomed into a full scale revamp that involved the designers at Dis-similar and a month hunched over a keyboard, eyeballs bleeding and a severe case of repetitive strain injury from date input.

I have to say I am pretty pleased with he results so far but its clear that I am going to have to devote a bit more time to keeping this baby up and running - more time out of the water but I reckon its worth it.
The plan was to make the site a little more interactive rather than just be an advert for our services and to have more interesting video content for our customers to look at. There will be loads more videos getting posted up there in the coming weeks.
It ain't Facebook but it ain't bad either. I hope you enjoy it and if you have any ideas on how it could be improved then send me a message.
In other news Paddy Daniel, our young aspiring surf coach, has been sent to Peru to compete in the World Junior Surfing Games and we wish him the best of luck.
Go Paddy!

Godrevy Pro Junior

2011-05-08T12:24:00.000-07:00

The Godrevy Pro Junior was completed earlier today in obscenely poor conditions. Howling South winds smashing the rights to bits and making the lefts, to my mind, all but un-surfable - but the groms proved me wrong.

They took to it with gusto and I have to single out a young chap called Jobe Harris who tore what remained of the waves to shreds. He won both the Under 16's and Under 18's (no mean feat for a 16 year old) and impressed anyone who watched him - except the other competitors of course. He's got a really mature and powerful style so I reckon he could be one to watch.
He's off to Peru in mid May with local lad Paddy Daniel to compete for Britain in the World Junior Surfing Games so keep an eye out for them in the coming weeks.
Well done to the National Trust, Robyn Davies and Nick Holden for putting on such a great event. Can't wait till next year.

Under 18 Girls
1st Tassy Swalow
2nd Emily Currie
3rd Peoni Knight
4th Flora Lawton

Under 16 Boys
1st Jobe Harris
2nd Miles Lee Hargreaves
3rd Paddy Daniel
4th Max Payne

Under 18 Boys
1st Jobe Harris
2nd Miles Lee Hargreaves
3rd Harry de Roth
4th Taz Knight

The Weather, the Surf & Other Stuff

2011-04-26T04:09:00.000-07:00

I am gutted because April will never be the same again. It was that good.
The best run of swell, sandbanks and good weather and all at the beginning of the season when the place is still relatively quiet. So much so that I am now pretty much surfed out and when I check the waves they have to be pretty good for me to bother! A very rare feeling.

The surf went off the boil for a couple of days over the Easter weekend but the wind has swung offshore again and it looks like it will stay that way for the rest of the week at least. More sunshine is predicted but they reckon it may be a bit cooler. Thats just the way it goes with Easterly winds normally but if thats the sacrifice I have to make for good surf then I guess I'll have to take it.
Meanwhile Gabbi (surf school manager and my right hand man - its short for Ian Gabbitas) and I have to go up to Padstow in the week to do a course that will allow us to teach the new Academy of Surfing Instructors surf coach awards. They are a super high standard award so it will be a hard day I reckon but totally worth it. We have always prided ourselves on keeping the standards high with our surf coaches and the ASI is the gold standard of surf coaching in Australia - as good as it gets to my mind. The Australians certainly take surfing seriously and the surf coach awards are properly backed up by quality infrastructure and a decent support network. It can only benefit us to work more closely with them.
In other news my wife (and by association, me also) has re-homed a tortoise called Ged. It broke out of his pen in 2 minutes so we had to strengthen that straight away. Apparently he was too aggressive for its previous owner. I'm not too sure how this aggression manifests itself but I'll keep you posted. Ged already hates the cat, perhaps recognising that he is a fat, lazy, feckless (though loveable) gadabout and hisses at him whenever he come nearby. If nothing else at least he is a good judge of character.

Open

2011-04-25T08:09:00.001-07:00

I know we've been open for a while now but I've just got around to sorting out the accompanying video. Check it out.

2011-04-21T12:58:00.000-07:00

Yeah, I know. A week has passed and I haven't updated. But look outside - its sunny, the sunniest April ever perhaps - and the surf has been un-be-lievable. Basically we have had almost two weeks of perfect surf which for the first time ever has coincided with the Easter holidays so we have been super busy. Best of all the sandbanks (or swell direction, whatever) have been as good as it gets. I have run out of superlatives to describe it.
As you can see.

The Easter weekend is now almost upon us and my good mate Dave has come back from his new home in London to share some of the waves again. Despite not surfing for the last three months he was out at 7am this morning and ripping it up like he used to when we were growing up (he lived two doors up from me as a kid). He's had three surfs today and every land based minute was spent sunbathing so I'm guessing that the pint we are about to have in the Red River Inn will floor him. At least it will be a cheap night.
In other news we are sponsoring the Godrevy Pro Junior again. Its on in a fortnights time (7th and 8th of May) and should be good to watch. You won't be able to catch this one online so get down the beach and watch the best juniors in Britain surfing in the flesh.

The Boy's Done Good

2011-04-13T13:22:00.000-07:00

An amazing day of surf in Thurso for the O'Neill Coldwater Classic. Big waves, offshore winds and one of the best waves in the world (and its on this humble island of ours) have made this the best start to the Coldwater Classic ever.

The really pleasing thing for me is that two local lads who I have been lucky enough to work with over the years and in the event and one has made it to the next round (St Ives lad Jayce Robinson) and the other is in a heat tomorrow morning. Patrick Daniel is in heat 23 and is well worth keeping an eye on for the future. He hasn't even done his GCSE's yet so give him support online at http://www.oneill.com/cwc/Live.html.

Failing that, ask him how he got on when he takes you for a lesson this summer! He was a coaching assistant for us last year and he's going to fit in a few lessons for us this year when he's not on the road launching his fledgling career.

Go son!

Paddy Daniel in action at Gwithian last summer.

PE

2011-04-07T13:30:00.000-07:00

Y'know, when I were a lad a PE session was something to be feared. It inevitably involved a very long walk to the school field, getting smashed in a scrum by recalcitrant sixth formers or 8 laps around the school with a victorian gym teacher screaming abuse at you.
Woe betide you if you 'forgot' your kit. Then you could pretty much guarantee doing the above in 'skins' and a grey pleated skirt. Barefoot.

And if you thought you could do the 8 laps at a walking pace and got busted you'd have to do it again but at break time.
Things have changed now I tell thee.
Check out this vid of how they get assessed for GCSE PE which now includes surfing and not just sports that are thinly disguised acts of random violence.
Why wasn't it like this back in the late 80's?

Fewer Pounds

2011-04-04T12:41:00.000-07:00

Clay Marzo - The Comeback from Heavy Mayo on Vimeo.

I've lost a stone since Christmas. How come I'm still crap?

Its All Over

2011-03-31T13:49:00.000-07:00

No sooner had I blathered on about how the good and consistent and generally amazing the surf has been and whad'ya know. The SW's rear up and blow the beach back to its normal winter time chaos.
And, yes, I'm back to referring to it as winter again. The beginning of summer is being heralded by rain, mizzle and a host of other words that describe dampness.

Footie has been cancelled for the last two weeks - a consequence of getting knocked out of all the cup competitions in the first round - and it looks like this week the pitch will be waterlogged. Still, at least I can catch up with some work.

Flats are finally finished (well, all but one) so it's time to concentrate on the surfing again. This summers stock is due to arrive this week and there are a hell of a lot of wetties and clothing that need unpacking, pricing up and putting on the shelves.
The new website is due to go online in the next week or so as well. It looks like an absolute beauty in the design stage, hopefully it will work as good as it looks. Fingers crossed.
Busy, busy, busy.

The End of Winter

2011-03-27T07:52:00.000-07:00

So winter has finally drawn to a close and the heady days of summer are fast closing in. Shame no one told the weather that as for the first time in about two weeks its gone cold and the sun has been obscured by mist.
The real boon of the last few weeks has been the swell though. Its hasn't been monstrous but its been clean almost everyday and small summer like swells have been rolling through. Just have a gander at our Facebook page and Twitter feeds for documentary evidence.

The other benefit has been seeing people enjoying the beach once again with a bit of sun on their backs. Of course most of them have been wearing woolly hats but if you can find a little sun-trap somewhere I reckon you could almost get a tan.
Maybe.
As for me I am just killing time while someone brings some kit they have hired back to the shop then I am getting in the sea to make the most of the extra hour.
Lovin' it.

Blistering

2011-03-23T15:02:00.000-07:00

Just outrageously warm today. Even the howling easterly wind was hot and that just never happens. This time a couple of years ago we had a really early Easter. I think it fell in mid to late March but it was one of the coldest Easters ever. A few hardy souls came for surfing lessons back then and still went in despite snow and thoroughly inclement conditions but I actually felt sorry for them.
This March has been altogether more clement. The water is still blooming cold mind.

Hope the budget worked out well for you today, apparently I will get £45 extra over the coming year. That may just about cover a fortnight of fuel price rises. The best part of the budget for me was forcing two 17 year olds who I was taking surfing to listen to the full George Osborne budget speech on Radio 4. Perhaps the worst kind of punishment that any 17 year old could take. Although they listened with good grace they did raise their eyebrows over the extra £100m (could have been £200m so don't quote me) that George has granted the nation for fixing potholes. One of them also observed that the jeering in the background of the House of Commons just made the politicians sound like junior school pupils.
Wisdom beyond their tender years.

Surf Movie

2011-03-20T16:02:00.000-07:00

Check out this bad boy. Might be interesting when it comes out.

Talented Painter

2011-03-18T15:56:00.000-07:00

Not me, the guy who I am skivvying for in the flats. Turns out the swine can paint, surf, is clever enough to get into Camborne School of Mines (very hard - only 30 spaces a year worldwide for the course he is on) and he knows his way around a guitar.
Git.
http://listn.to/SenseOfSerenity/player#t=0&pos=952&s=613491

Trago Mills

2011-03-17T14:44:00.000-07:00

Bugger, missed some pretty good surf today as once again I was chained to a roller/bit of sandpaper/hammer for the best part of 12 hours. The only respite was a brief sojourn to the Falmouth branch of Trago Mills.

I cant quite decide whether I love or hate the place - Trago that is. Its got a lot going for it. You can buy almost anything you could want from kitchens to carpet to light bulbs to sweets to shoes and all at very reasonable, dare I say it, rock bottom prices.

The problem is the quiet desperation of every staff member. I suspect they are joyful people most of the time but are transformed by a Trago staff manual that demands that all staff must routinely ignore customers by pretending they are doing something important. This 'something important' can be anything from shouting across the shop floor about the crapness of their own senior and middle management or just opening one of their work desks to gaze at a cupboard door festooned with soft pornography that they have lovingly sellotaped to it.

The overall atmosphere is not unlike stepping back in time to when all pubs were dark, had sticky carpet and a 'Big D' peanut dispenser that upon selling the last pack revealed a naked lady. There is an added political dimension as the owner is a diehard UKIP supporter so most of the inside walls, and occasionally the outside walls, feature some anti-Europe propaganda.

After it was off to Rick Steins newly opened chippy. Polite staff, clean airy surroundings and beautiful food. Its just a shame that they don't sell vinyl matt magnolia in 10L tubs.

Come on Rick, sort it out.

So yeah, basically the prices do keep you going to Trago but its kind of like a guilty pleasure as well. A 'can't live with them, can't live without them' type thing perhaps?

New board

2011-03-13T13:21:00.000-07:00

Hmmm, early surfs suggest that this board could be an absolute beauty. Does all the simple stuff well (you wouldn't believe how many boards don't) and even an old duffer such as myself can attempt some of the not so simple stuff. I still don't complete many of the harder moves but its a start!
I'll try and get some video.
More painting and whatnot down at the surf school today. Beautiful weather down there as well. If you got out of the breeze then you could get a tan I reckon. My nose is burnt to a crisp!

The Surfers Life

2011-03-11T13:27:00.000-08:00

I promised that this blog was going to be about surfing and I think I have been led astray a bit lately. Most of my posts seem to mention decorating at one point or another and I have a horroible feeling its going to be mentioned again today.

Finally finished the laundry room that I started a whole month ago just as I had returned from Bali (and that seems like light years away) and the flats are, in general, coming along nicely. The main consequence of all this decorating is that I am missing out on a few surfs here and there. From the sounds of it Porthmeor was firing this morning but from the forecast I reckon Gwithian is going to have some nice little waves tomorrow. Can't wait as I have just forked out a few quid for a new DHD Project 15. My nemesis (every surfer has a nemesis - another surfer who can by their very presence guarantee a lousy surf. They don't have to do anything, they don't have to say anything, they just have to be within a mile or so. Just a glimpse of their car as they check the surf is sometimes all it takes) got one a few months ago and was raving about it so I felt I should fight fire with fire Since I handed over my wallet to Trevorua at DTL it has either been flat or completely off its grid but tomorrow could be the day. Fingers crossed, it'll be a flyer.
Below is a bit of info on the board and some Aussie geezer surfing one. I doubt I will be surfing it like that but if Slater can get a world title at 40 yrs then there is hope for me yet.
Not much though, obviously.

More work, less surf, some tee shirts.

2011-03-10T13:07:00.000-08:00

Shocking surf at Gwithers today so it's back to the grindstone getting everything ready in the flats. Basically this means helping the carpenter to saw my fingers off and throwing dust-sheets over the furniture in anticipation of tomorrows painting bonanza.
Meanwhile in one of the few bits of time I had spare I was off up to Newquay to order this summers tee shirts and hoodies.
One thing I am having trouble with is choosing which designs to use and to be honest I could do with your help (yes, you - the reader).

We have got some new designs in for this summer which are shown above. It would be great to know what you think of them. The leash and lightning bolts are my favourites at the mo but the wave is growing on me too.
But what would you prefer? And what colour tees? It doesn't have to be the ones I have shown here, they can literally be any colour tee with any colour print.
Any help would be gratefully received.

2011-03-09T02:11:00.001-08:00

Yeah, he did it again.

Bali and Bands

2011-03-08T11:09:00.000-08:00

I have finally got around to putting together the footage from Bali. Theres isn't too much but it gives a flavour of the place.
Another day of painting and convalescing from my recent battle with manflu (a very serious form I might add). Its a bit of a stinker that I was (very, very) ill as the surf has jumped up again. Some absolutely beautiful waves were coming through this morning. You'd think it was summer if it weren't for the temperature - clear blue skies, overhead surf with light sea breezes.

Meanwhile at the Quik Pro in Australia Slater has been romping through his heats. He is still the best there is even at 40 years old. Every time I think that he has pushed surfing as far as it can go he comes along and breaks another new boundary.
After 10 world titles his new goal? To win the title again but by only using one board. A mind boggling feat when you consider the different types of waves and surf that he will come up against in the next year. I doubt that there will be too many people betting against him doing it though.
Speaking of the Quik Pro they are playing some awesome tunes on the 'Heats on Demand' section of the website. Check out this tune.

The Goldhearted - Mayday by The Goldhearted

2011-03-07T14:08:00.000-08:00

Well, I have to say that I have been a little remiss with my blogging lately. Sad to say but I have just been too busy. The apartments are undergoing a bit of a refit (new bathrooms in the double apartments/new decor etc) and I have been laying a new floor in the surf school. Its gonna look great when its all done but it seems a long way away at the moment. Which is a worry as Easter is fast approaching. Its good to have a deadline thought isn't it?
Isn't it?

The surf has been pretty ok for the last few days as well, nothing massive but good fun little waves and the banks at Godrevy aren't too bad.
Busy, busy, busy.
Surf is flat now which should let me concentrate on the work for a few days. However I may have rash and bought a new board. A DHD Project 15. The perfect summer board they reckon.
Heres hoping.

2011-02-01T13:53:00.000-08:00

Well, I've been back for a week now and I have to say that all is not as bad as it could be. The weather is mild but damp and the surf is pretty reasonable. Haven't done any surfing lessons at Gwithian for a little while but Cornwall can be a bit like that in the winter - the exposed westerly facing beaches just can't handle all of the swell that they have been getting lately so I just have to hope that Porthleven and the sheltered surf breaks that are dotted around the county can make some sense of it all.
Fingers crossed.

2011-01-29T13:42:00.000-08:00

Pretty much burnt to a crisp now. Some thumping waves over the last couple of days. First at Uluwatu yesterday and then Nusa Dua today. According to the swell buoys it's 6ft at 19 (yes nineteen) seconds. A 19 second swell period is about a good as you could hope for in surfing (the longer the period the more organised and defined the waves are). Needless to say I surfed as much as possible aware of the fact that in five short days I'll be on my jourey home to Gwithian.
Must be getting old though, my shoulders are aching and my 36 yr old skin is starting to resemble an elephants.
Always wear sunscreen kids.

2011-01-24T13:40:00.000-08:00

A very quiet day spent inside my room cowering from horizontal rain and howling gales. Not what I expected when I booked the tickets but kinda cool anyway.

2011-01-23T13:38:00.000-08:00

I am hearing lots of good things about the surf back in Cornwall but I promise you, surfing in shorts is much better! The waves have been good here for the past week or so but then, how often is it bad out in Bali? Headhigh waves at least everyday, not breath of wind until the early afternoon and colossal thunderstorms every night. The afternoon sea breeze has kicked in at the moment but there are still some beauty waves coming through with no one out at all.

Only a week and a half before I have to make the long journey home. I’ve got to make the most of the time I have out here so in between the surfs I have managed to sow the seeds of a future venture. Time to get into the importing game!
This summer will see a few more bits of beautiful surf jewelry arriving in our shop. If you look at them closely enough and breath in you can almost smell the waves.
You’re gonna love ‘em!

2011-01-13T13:37:00.000-08:00

Hello from Bali blog fan. Five days in to the holiday and I have a few observations to share with you on Bali.
Boy oh boy does stuff happen quick out here. Last time I was in this part of Bali (just over two years ago) you had to get petrol from a bloke selling it in milk bottles from the back of his restaurant while chain smoking clove cigarettes.
Now there are brand new service stations everywhere and they pour the petrol for you just like they did in Britain in the 80's. Quite a luxury I can tell you.

The other thing that was quite eye opening is the amount of people traveling with laptops. Not unusal in itself but what is surprising is that from 5 star tourists to dreadlocked backpackers they are all sat around tip-tapping at there keyboards whether they be by the pool or at the beach. Just seems weird to be at beach and be on Facebook at the same time.
Speaking of Facebook I saw the 'Social Network' on the plane. Naughty Mark Zuckerburg, naughty.
And the surf? Its pretty good, not classic but whole lot better than putting on a dripping wet wetsuit and shaking the ice out of your booties.

2011-01-04T13:35:00.000-08:00

Well I've sorted out where I'm off for my holidays and its gonna be Bali again. The woolie wetsuit is good but you can't beat surfing in shorts in powerful waves and re-energising between surfs with a ridiculously cheap fruit juice and egg fried rice.
Surf has taken a turn for the worse again and its looking like the usual winter waves getting blown in on the back of a 30mph westerly wind is the best we can expect for a while.
Not that I care, I'm off on Friday.
Yewwwwww!

2010-12-30T13:32:00.000-08:00

Some surf to see out the year. Not massive but clean and fairly quiet considering its the holidays and everyone is off work.
Better still I got a brand new wetsuit through the post as well. And not just any wetsuit. A Patagonia, reputedly the best wetsuit that money can buy. Only 3 mil but apparently that is all you need with these suits as they have a merino wool lining (that will smell nice at the end of the winter!). It looks mighty fine too - understated, black neoprene with a small decal on the chest and built in hood.
Looks like its going to be a little bit on the small side tomorrow but New Years day is going to be an absolute barnstormer on the south coast so the suit will definitely get a test run in the next two days.
No resolutions planned yet other than the usual drink less/ eat better/ surf more rubbish that I come up with every year. Hope you had a good Christmas and wish you a great 2011.

2010-12-26T13:45:00.000-08:00

2010-12-16T13:32:00.000-08:00

Its very easy to get blase about your surroundings I think, especially when you are born in a pretty special part of the country. What I mean is that I drive (though I should cycle) to work past open countryside and pitch up at a beach (today Church Cove over on the Lizard) and don't seem to notice the sheer beauty of where I live. I think I need to wake myself up to this a bit more often. Cornwall is great and I love it. Love it, love it, love it.

2010-12-06T13:30:00.000-08:00

At then there was surf. The Atlantic roared into life on the south coast at Porthleven today. Smoking overhead barrels poured in at Wrestles (the swell was missing the main reef for some reason) and surfers from all over the county made the most of it. Newquay ripper Tom Butler was a standout and St Ives boy (and, ahem, ex academy surfer) Jayce Robinson got some absolute belters. Fingers crossed and the swell will stay around for a few days.

2010-11-29T13:28:00.000-08:00

Another insanely cold day here with absolutely no surf again. When will this madness end? The weather is set to be here for a while but the only hope for surf could be an onshore sesh at Carbis Bay. So there we are - freezing cold, howling onshore with snow on the ground is the best I can hope for this week. Its -4 as I write. Brrr.
Still, at least the rest of the winter will feel comparatively warm. Unless it keeps getting colder......oh dear God.

2010-11-23T13:27:00.000-08:00

The flat spell continues and the usual things are happening - relationships are strained but at least some work gets done! There is a tiny bit of swell due tomorrow and it can't come soon enough. This down time should probably be used productively but I can't face Christmas shopping yet so procrastination and beach walks are the order of the day - which is where I saw this fella. C'mon swell!

2010-11-22T13:23:00.000-08:00

We are a mere 5 weeks from Christmas so you are probably already thinking about presents for loved ones. To make things slightly easier for you gift vouchers are available for you to purchase from our shop and we'll send them out to your nearest and dearest at no extra charge.
The vouchers are redeemable against all of the services that we provide whether it be surf lessons, hire or even a new surfboard.
Make the most of this while the surf is flat cause the elves will take ages to deliver if the surf is up!