Press release:
31st October – 1st November 2009, Rest Bay, Porthcawl Wales
www.ukprosurf.com
The Welsh leg of the UK Pro Surf Tour is fast approaching. The elite of UK Surfers will be making their way to Porthcawl for the biggest surfing event in Wales this year.
Winners from the past have included: Nathan Phillips (Llantwit) Mark Harris (Newquay), Matt Capel (S Devon) and Russell Winter (Newquay) all of which will be competing for this year’s title.
For the first time there will be an Under 16 Boys division. Current tour leader Leon Mansfield (Newquay) will be up against local favourite Max Tucker (Porthcawl) amongst many others vying for the inaugural title.
For further information please contact: Dave Reed 01637 854854 or visit the website: www.ukprosurf.com
Thursday, 22 October 2009
Wednesday, 21 October 2009
Muddy waters
Swell: 1.6m
Period: 17 seconds!
Wind: Light SE
Tides: HT 8.48am, 9.7m
The alarm buzzed at 6am and a quick glance out of the window showed a nice SE breeze. the period was up but the swell size was not as big as predicted.
I'd arranged to meet Doc and Larry @ our local, well mine now I've moved and after quickly trawling through the 10+ messages from everyone asking where I was going, what was I having for brekkie, had I had a dump yet? I made my way out of the house.
New wetty in hand and my faithful single fin pintail under my arm, off I went.
Drove the 5 mins to the car park and proceeded to wait... It was pitch black and I was beginning to wonder if anyone was going to show up?!
It turned out that Larry had the fear about wave size at x and Doc had opted to go silly @ Rhosilli instead? No comment.... XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
The clock was ticking so at 7.05am precisely I bailed for spot No deux as I didn't fancy x at probably overhead size in the dark, on my own.
I have a son now so have to be a little bit more responsible! ;)
It only took me 15 mins to get to spot 2, a nice set up which I'd watched over the years but always found to be a bit slow and crowded so never bothered with.
Good to see the 'beach' family once again - they don't seem to sleep either!
I'd hoped for a solid 6ft swell but clean 3-4ft lines were stroking through (on sets) and the tide was racing in so I joined squid lips and his posse for a quick paddle out.
It took a while to get into it mainly due to a wave hogging SUP rider who snagged every single set wave that came our way. The 'ancients' would not have approved of his spirit! Aloha my arse..
Once he'd buggered off I got into a few. Nice long, right handers, head high and clean as a whistle. I even tried to pull under a few lips...
The sun poked through and suddenly the world felt alright! Surprisingly warm there.
I was expecting it to be colder a but it was nice and snug and a new 5/3 wetty helped.
I saw guys out in full winter suits, boots and gloves today?
No idea what that is all about as the sea is still a good 15 degs.
Lefts and rights were coming through but tending to shut down in the middle sections so you had to be quite choosy but I slid into a couple of beauties eventually.
Had a couple of hrs in before it was time for work. I only had around 5 good waves but surfing somewhere new can often provide a stoke that you just don't get from surfing classic waves at your local break.
As I left I discovered the exit was a little more challenging than I'd expected and the main peak had become very crowded indeedy!
Harv sent this one in of Rest Bay on the drop at 1pm today:
Looked lovely as I left so hopefully claire beach has some nice pics I can link to shortly.
Drop in's galore and plenty of kooks but a few good rides to be had.
I'll def go back (groan from the locals) but only on a bigger swell! (hurray)
Tomorrow is another day...
Gull
Period: 17 seconds!
Wind: Light SE
Tides: HT 8.48am, 9.7m
The alarm buzzed at 6am and a quick glance out of the window showed a nice SE breeze. the period was up but the swell size was not as big as predicted.
I'd arranged to meet Doc and Larry @ our local, well mine now I've moved and after quickly trawling through the 10+ messages from everyone asking where I was going, what was I having for brekkie, had I had a dump yet? I made my way out of the house.
New wetty in hand and my faithful single fin pintail under my arm, off I went.
Drove the 5 mins to the car park and proceeded to wait... It was pitch black and I was beginning to wonder if anyone was going to show up?!
It turned out that Larry had the fear about wave size at x and Doc had opted to go silly @ Rhosilli instead? No comment.... XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
The clock was ticking so at 7.05am precisely I bailed for spot No deux as I didn't fancy x at probably overhead size in the dark, on my own.
I have a son now so have to be a little bit more responsible! ;)
It only took me 15 mins to get to spot 2, a nice set up which I'd watched over the years but always found to be a bit slow and crowded so never bothered with.
Good to see the 'beach' family once again - they don't seem to sleep either!
I'd hoped for a solid 6ft swell but clean 3-4ft lines were stroking through (on sets) and the tide was racing in so I joined squid lips and his posse for a quick paddle out.
It took a while to get into it mainly due to a wave hogging SUP rider who snagged every single set wave that came our way. The 'ancients' would not have approved of his spirit! Aloha my arse..
Once he'd buggered off I got into a few. Nice long, right handers, head high and clean as a whistle. I even tried to pull under a few lips...
The sun poked through and suddenly the world felt alright! Surprisingly warm there.
I was expecting it to be colder a but it was nice and snug and a new 5/3 wetty helped.
I saw guys out in full winter suits, boots and gloves today?
No idea what that is all about as the sea is still a good 15 degs.
Lefts and rights were coming through but tending to shut down in the middle sections so you had to be quite choosy but I slid into a couple of beauties eventually.
Had a couple of hrs in before it was time for work. I only had around 5 good waves but surfing somewhere new can often provide a stoke that you just don't get from surfing classic waves at your local break.
As I left I discovered the exit was a little more challenging than I'd expected and the main peak had become very crowded indeedy!
Harv sent this one in of Rest Bay on the drop at 1pm today:
Looked lovely as I left so hopefully claire beach has some nice pics I can link to shortly.
Drop in's galore and plenty of kooks but a few good rides to be had.
I'll def go back (groan from the locals) but only on a bigger swell! (hurray)
Tomorrow is another day...
Gull
Monday, 19 October 2009
Kong's island
A recent jaunt to a remote Gower reef. Photos courtesy of lensman, Bic.
It's a long old hike, followed by a steep climb down and a nice shallow set up. Amazing scenery though! I was joined by Mike and Harv on this trip.
As we neared the cliffs my heart sank...Nice clean swell lines but no real size. The tides were big, 12m+ and high pressure was pushing in rapidly.
We sat down and prayed to Huey to deliver us from evil...
The waves were unfortunately very small. Last time I surfed it, I had my ass handed back to me on a plate on more than one occasion so I was expecting more of the same.
I'd been telling Harv all about the steep sucky take off's and hollow heaving pits breaking over the slab for those daring enough to go deep.
'Sharing one' with mike 'laid back larry':
We waited and waited for the big tide to race back but as it did, it took the swell with it and we were left with at times dry reef and a 2ft+ wave on sets.
Pig dogging my way into a minuscule cover up:
I'd taken my single fin as I was expecting some gut wrenching drops into 'gaping pits of doom' so was a little over gunned for this particular day but it paddled into waves nicely.
Generating a wee bit of spray:
Getting a wave was one thing. Staying with it and getting a turn out of it was another but I gave it my best shot.
The long hike home:
All pics by Mark 'Bic' Evans
Friday, 16 October 2009
Autumn treat
The clocks go back on 25 Oct but don't despair it's not winter yet!
This week we've had a small clean swell and a decent wave period for much of it. Things improve from around Sunday onwards but it's the next little low that is getting exciting:
To summarise - next week is set to pump!
And the winds should be fairly kind too with a good stiff measure of offshore thrown in.
The water is still warm, around 16 degs c but anything with a N or E in the wind and it can feel decidedly chilly now especially once the sun starts to get low in the sky.
I've come out shivering a little the last few surfs I've had.
As a result I invested in some warmth - last year's 5/3/ O'Neill Epic for £100 from Boardriders
I figured you can't go wrong for that price and it's a good fit so my gamble paid off. I just need to christen it now...
Off to get my ears moulded tomorrow for some surfplugs - £65 a pop but worth it as you can't really replace your hearing.
Check out the recent dolphin footie footage on my nature site.
That's it for now
Gull
This week we've had a small clean swell and a decent wave period for much of it. Things improve from around Sunday onwards but it's the next little low that is getting exciting:
To summarise - next week is set to pump!
And the winds should be fairly kind too with a good stiff measure of offshore thrown in.
The water is still warm, around 16 degs c but anything with a N or E in the wind and it can feel decidedly chilly now especially once the sun starts to get low in the sky.
I've come out shivering a little the last few surfs I've had.
As a result I invested in some warmth - last year's 5/3/ O'Neill Epic for £100 from Boardriders
I figured you can't go wrong for that price and it's a good fit so my gamble paid off. I just need to christen it now...
Off to get my ears moulded tomorrow for some surfplugs - £65 a pop but worth it as you can't really replace your hearing.
Check out the recent dolphin footie footage on my nature site.
That's it for now
Gull
Tuesday, 13 October 2009
Friday, 9 October 2009
Elusive Welsh Open this weekend
The Pro Tour is coming to town, so Rest Bay will be rammed this weekend.
Should have some decent swell too and the winds aren't too bad so should make for an entertaining comp.
Keep an eye out for car thieves, the local police have started a crack down but be vigilant all the same and don't leave keys under the car - 'they are watching you'.
All the info is on my BBC blog.
Saves me repeating myself!
Enjoy the comp if you head down and mail me some pics if you do: wales.surfing@bbc.co.uk
Goodluck to the Welsh guys entering!
Gull
Should have some decent swell too and the winds aren't too bad so should make for an entertaining comp.
Keep an eye out for car thieves, the local police have started a crack down but be vigilant all the same and don't leave keys under the car - 'they are watching you'.
All the info is on my BBC blog.
Saves me repeating myself!
Enjoy the comp if you head down and mail me some pics if you do: wales.surfing@bbc.co.uk
Goodluck to the Welsh guys entering!
Gull
Tuesday, 6 October 2009
What next?
I was this '' close to ordering my new bonzer recently.
Malcolm Campbell was over in Cornwall shaping at Nigel Semmens factory.
I found out a bit late in the day and contacted UK rep Guy Penwarden.
After a long chat, I was given till the next day 'at the latest' to consider my options but they'd "def squeeze a board in for me". Great :)
Would it be a contemporary bonzer shape, something in the 6'3"x19x2/5/8 region taking me back to my thruster roots - heaven forbid!
But I do occasionally wonder how I'd go on a skinnier board once more...
Once you've learnt to generate speed and spray on a bumblebee stub, everything else feels like a toy with little effort required.
Then Guy began to wax lyrical about the new bumble bee with pulled in narrower tail and less volume...might be worth considering?
I'd make up my mind and made the call early on the following day.
No reply...
3 more calls, a voice message and 2 texts later I gave up.
There's only so much chasing a man can do!
So there we go - No new bonzer - A shame but at least it's saved me some money.
To say I was pissed off with Mr Penwarden would be an understatement ;)
You can't represent Bonzer vehicles UK - 'be mindful', 'be peaceful' and all that other gubbins and then piss off some of your more 'mindful' customers by ignoring their phone calls and board orders.
My last board took 2yrs to arrive and came with the wrong rear fin.
He then buggered off early on the very day I was due to collect the damn thing - A 4 hr drive for me, so I had to wait a further 3 weeks for it!
How are we supposed to order boards - using telepathy?!
Does this spell the end of my love affair with the bonzer concept - No.
Will I be ordering boards via Guy in the UK - probably not.
I think I'll take the hit and pay for import charges instead from now on.
What was I going to order? Time will tell
But I am beginning to realise now why the humble bonzer has not taken off in the way it should have done, 'globally'.
Malcolm Campbell was over in Cornwall shaping at Nigel Semmens factory.
I found out a bit late in the day and contacted UK rep Guy Penwarden.
After a long chat, I was given till the next day 'at the latest' to consider my options but they'd "def squeeze a board in for me". Great :)
Would it be a contemporary bonzer shape, something in the 6'3"x19x2/5/8 region taking me back to my thruster roots - heaven forbid!
But I do occasionally wonder how I'd go on a skinnier board once more...
Once you've learnt to generate speed and spray on a bumblebee stub, everything else feels like a toy with little effort required.
Then Guy began to wax lyrical about the new bumble bee with pulled in narrower tail and less volume...might be worth considering?
I'd make up my mind and made the call early on the following day.
No reply...
3 more calls, a voice message and 2 texts later I gave up.
There's only so much chasing a man can do!
So there we go - No new bonzer - A shame but at least it's saved me some money.
To say I was pissed off with Mr Penwarden would be an understatement ;)
You can't represent Bonzer vehicles UK - 'be mindful', 'be peaceful' and all that other gubbins and then piss off some of your more 'mindful' customers by ignoring their phone calls and board orders.
My last board took 2yrs to arrive and came with the wrong rear fin.
He then buggered off early on the very day I was due to collect the damn thing - A 4 hr drive for me, so I had to wait a further 3 weeks for it!
How are we supposed to order boards - using telepathy?!
Does this spell the end of my love affair with the bonzer concept - No.
Will I be ordering boards via Guy in the UK - probably not.
I think I'll take the hit and pay for import charges instead from now on.
What was I going to order? Time will tell
But I am beginning to realise now why the humble bonzer has not taken off in the way it should have done, 'globally'.
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