Sneaking off

Sharing the love

I think comments on my blog really keep me going sometimes. So I am trying to find out how people can leave comments in a rather less painstaking way.

So in the meantime I have posted an excerpt from an email ...as his positive vibe was too good not to share.

"Looked at your blog and thought it was great,but couldn't`t comment as I only have my work email.


Also in reply to your comment regarding the surf and how you enjoyed it.

You don't need great surf to make it a great surf. It was the day,the surprise surf I never expected, you and Mat and sharing your stoke and smile on that long ride you had.Sometimes some one else's enjoyment can be better than your own, or at the very least help to fuel the enjoyment of those around you. Believe it or not it was one of those I will remember, so thank you.

As I said I didn't`t realise how big it was and the attached picture from you made me realise.

Cheers and see you soon."

Hardy

I don't really consider myself particularly hardy, especially when you see things like 'Deadliest catch ' and 'Ice road truckers'. In fact watching such treacherous conditions really makes me think whats wrong with windsurfing in sub zero temps and why isn't everyone else out. With that said, there was still a good core of us sailing vs. those with the excuses. Matt is charging on his New Ezzy Wave Panther and I managed to crease my new Ezzy with an enourmous catapult, and am now nursing some really sore shoulders.

Thanks

Really great to paddle out today on what I was expecting to be somewhere around 4-5 foot. Instead the interval meant an easy paddle out and small but powerful sets pushed through. The rides I shared today were so much fun, that it was like learning to surf all over again. I just really can't even begin to explain what it meant to ride with someone kind enough to share a wave and yet tear it to pieces at the same time. Thank you Justin and all the others that have helped me paddle in to such beautiful places. Whilst they have been keen to share, the threat of violence has never been far away to those uninvited. Whether this is dished out by the wave, or the dark sentinels waiting quietly in the lanes.

Under cover

Photos I should have posted in the week.

The low down

at the Ho! Bumped into an old friend and couldn't help but admire his new board and shoot the breeze. Meanwhile my wife and favourite photographer was snapping the sunset and our little chat.

Housing

I haven't really considered getting a camera housing, that is until Luke showed me his shots from the water after yesterdays session. Of course, it also means you can't actually take your child strapped to your back, but the end product is amazing.

Today

The world of JSD

Dropped in to see Justin (of the elusive JSD surfboards) on my way back from the guys at Homeblown. Great to see such an impressive shaping room, and the new biofoam blanks are just about to be put in to action. Will post up when we have some consistent looking shapes in the coming weeks.

Solo session.

It was a funny old session as I was the only one out - Paul reckoned he was waiting in for a boiler service, Andy somewhere in central China, and Dan complaining of a sore knee (so acting photog). Very gusty at the start but smallish clean sets pushed through, and pretty 'warm' for Jan.


Despite this and being overly finned (and board for that matter) I only just squeezed my boots into the footstraps, but didn't want to come in to correct. When Dan left shortly after, and the camera firmly put away, I reset the footstraps making it SO much easier to wave ride. The second session felt so much better and really dialled and just as I started to relax, I took a set on the head and a board straight to my nose. Not sure if its broken, but my new Ezzy 5.2 is covered in blood : )

Not quite the christening I had in mind, but a lovely sail considering it was gusting between 17-30 mph (according to XC weather).

The whimper

Today, I have to be straight and tell you that it wasn't my best day. The forecast as usual had me a touch nervous with the thought that the reef would be eating me for breakfast. And on that note, it is without my weetabix that I entered the water, a grave mistake.

In my case, empty stomach means low confidence. I just don't feel strong and my inner lion, feels more like an inner lamb. With that I whimpered as Luke kindly showed me the channel and I made it out back. However each time the set loomed I paddled further out and found myself avoiding the sets rather than chanrging them. No bad thing, as sometimes its best to sit and wait your turn both emotionally as well as physically. Eventually I admitted defeat and waited for a lull in the sets to paddle back in, convinced that a hollow monster was about to chase me down and send me over the falls.

But just as my kind hearted mentors advised 'keep to the right and it will be alright'. I did actually catch something rideable on the way in and of course when I was back on dry land - i REALLY wondered what all the fuss was about.

Thanks guys.

God Save the Wind

Thanks to the guys at God Save the Wind for this.
Watch it for so many reasons; Massive waves at Reunion, technical moves almost unfathomable, or maybe just because Windsurfing holds its pride of place alongside the sport of kings!

Guava Jelly

Found this site through a friend and its really worth checking out. What really is amazing is that all of these shots are in England. Seeing the images of Spot X (the Tab on his website - not the shot above) reminds me of all the reasons I fell in love with windsurfing almost 20 years ago.
http://www.guavajelly.co.uk

The wrong break

Nice swell, but a really long paddle and I felt worn out from too much training. Thirty minutes of duck diving and paddling made me turn around and head back in, however this is where I should have been !

New things

Many thanks to Edge Watersports who are having a blow out sale, and are seliing off lots of windsurf kit cheap - check them at www.edgewaterpsorts.com
Very good prices !!!
Meanwhile my New Ezzy Wave Panthers have arrived and are just itching to sail in the Southerly forecast for the weekend. Another equally inspiring addition, is Bend to Baja - as recommended on the Adventures in Trim blog (see blog links). This book has already got me planning a climb/surf trip on our own North Devon cliffs (3 day hike as soon as things warm up).

Got tangled up with too much other than surfing today, but still managed to steal 5 minutes to watch the action.

Pete Devries

I recently found this in Huck magazine and had to post. Pete Devries won the Oneill cold Water classic in Tofino, Vancouver Island. Maybe not particularly interesting, until you realise he wasn't a pro, didn't have a sponsor, and was down on his luck with iminent duties of fatherhood approaching. Hence when he defeated numerous World class pro surfers, he not only won the event, but won Canada's first ever Pro surf contest, instantly becoming a national hero. Go Pete !

Guilty Pleasures

I hate to admit that I that I found this site a little while ago...and was surprised to see it in the Times list (apologies but it is Sunday and flat) of things going up. I hate to think that humour should come at the expense of others, but somethings are too good to miss.
Go visit The peopleofWalmart, although you might have to click through a few pages to get the full effect.

Oscar rips !

Didn't really get the best of yesterday, so dusted off the long board for some classic trim moments today. Meanwhile Oscar took his Dad's 7'2 and I paddled out alongside. It was just nice being in the water, despite the cold, but really good to see Oscar getting the best out the small stuff. I think he has a bright future for only twelve years young.



Meanwhile I was still getting to grips with a the difference between surfing a 6'2 fish and a 9'2 pig.

Couple of cold ones

with friends has been the perfect tonic for cabin fever. The waves could not have been cleaner, but its definitely hood weather. Enjoy the weekend, more waves to follow this week, and am loving the space in the water.

Physics...

was never my favourite subject, but with this guy as my teacher, I might have got a better grade. Mr. J conducts a dry land tow-in experiment during a rare flat spell. Nice job.

Save Bowmont

and wear Finisterre. Finisterre clothing have recently been striving to source all the Merino wool for their clothing within North Devon. The Bowmont sheep have been close to extinction for some time, and it was only after creating a demand for this wool, and Finisterre's eye for detail; that the Bowmont might be on the rise once again.

Westward Sno

No wind other than cold cold Northerly winds, mediocre swell, and a small blizzard this morning. Will be swapping the board for some Telemark skiis tomorrow.

Happy New Year

Wishing each and everyone of you, wind and waves for 2010.