Monday 31 May 2010


Small and clean swell this evening with a real prospect for something larger to develop during the week. Sadly I only have another few hours with it, so I took my 10'2 to the beach to see if I could up my wave count. Instead it felt almost too big, so I quickly went back to the 6'4. To jump from two completely different boards in such a short space of time felt utterly ridiculous, but it wasn't long before the fish was just as effective at picking off the small swell. Justin you make great boards, I am really just beginning to appreciate all the efforts of your shaping .

Cloud Walk


Found this great book a little while ago, and as luck would have it, I finally found cause to use it. As we wandered out to walk the kids before bed time, I found this perfect formation that I would have normally described as 'cotton wool like'. Still not entirely sure on what cloud formation it may be, but I guess you don't need to name it to enjoy it.

Sunday 30 May 2010

Pot Walloping


In the time honored tradition of W. Ho ! it was Pot walloping weekend, and the beer was flowing almost as much as the blood (being spilt). As I wondered to meet fellow wind weary windsurfers from the day, we stood back and enjoyed the music and carnage that unfolded. Its a great evening and with a spectacular real ale tent, it actually makes the top three free music festivals in the UK. Sadly, it also seems a remarkably good excuse for fighting (for some), but it still keeps drawing us back each year.

Mikey



At last the wind blew and reminded us all that there are other things to life, not just surfing : ). I was a little late down, and caught the tail end of most of the action, although the wind seemed to contine to build. Really just the smallest of waves offering the occassional ramp and great to catch up with Mikey(Weston) and my dear old friend Gripper.

Saturday 29 May 2010

Friday 28 May 2010

Traffic Jam


North Devon has a unique approach to most things, but this is one of my favourite. As the sheep ambled past, I turned off the engine and just chuckled. 5 minutes later, and itching to get my new 10'2 Tris in the small stuff, I was at the beach and paddling out amongst the occasional shoulder high set. Seems like it could be last of the blue skies for a while, but the wind looks set to blow any day now.

Saturday 22 May 2010

Small and Clean



Wow - what a fantastic day, and if you were up early enough the swell actually beat the prediction. I really had very little expectation as the swell seemed to tail off pretty fast. That said, when I faced the paddle out the swell seemed a lot bigger, and it was only after I got these shots that I was clear it was overhead at times.

BST



British Summer Time is officially here, and it really hit home when I travelled up to the busy shores of Woolacombe on Friday. Whilst it certainly wasn't like mid summer rush, it still seemed busy and had a real buzz about the place. The wave was just great with a nice little punch, but it was odd to see so many people in the water, whilst the line up was relatively empty. Certainly not a complaint, and a great surf despite the horror of SUP's on the horizon.

Thursday 20 May 2010

 
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Today started off pretty hazy, with a feeling like the fog would lift, but by the time I finally got in the water it was still there. I dutifully performed camera duties in the morning whilst playing babysitter, and watched Dan get all the fun. But by the time I paddled out the waves were like glass and the odd set was feeling pretty solid. I scored day three on the 6'11 Tris and all things seemed good, sometimes it helps to just have one board !

Rippin' Rob


Rob is Atlantic Watersports newest intern, and after a brief visit to the beach today, I could see why he is ranked 9th on the Junior BPSA. He is actively looking for a board sponsor, or just about any sponsor. Please email if you can help.

Tuesday 18 May 2010

Glassy perfection


...was how this morning was described to me. However by the time I returned from Cornwall a little breeze had kicked up and the swell was not quite as clean. Nice chest high little swell, and would have stayed in for longer if my leash hadn't snapped ! Really enjoyed the repaired Tris Thruster, but evertyime I take it out, something seems to go wrong. Long swim in, boardless ! More to follow in the morning.

Monday 17 May 2010

Waiting





Its been nice to read all the different posts from all the great blogs out there, particularly after such a long flat spot. But whats really great, is picking up on everyones enthusiasm of the week that could be. Fingers crossed, and practice whatever superstition you might need to make sure this week happens.

Sunday 16 May 2010

Make a board, shape a board or just get creative.


Get Inspired
Get your blank,
Shape it (or get it machine cut to your dimensions)
Get it glassed (or contact your local shaper to glass and finish.
Not only will have created something in part with your own journey, but you are continuing to support a local shaper and in turn the UK surf industry. There is so much talent here, not to mention it will cost you a fraction of the price.

The Office.


Yesterday was small and sunny,
Today is rain and gloom.
I think this could be my ideal office,
The perfect setting for a work room.

Wednesday 12 May 2010

Northern grit

Doggerland - February from Doggerland on Vimeo.

I found this little gem on a site called The chronicles of Doggerland, and before you ask I didn't google 'dogging. The link wasn't on some dodgy site, instead it was on the higly respectable Royal Surfboards, and it just makes me think why don't I travel up there more often.

Tuesday 11 May 2010

Lindsay Lord


Before I spoke with the very talented Tim Mason today, I had no idea of just how important Lindsay Lord was. In short he wrote a book titled the Naval Architecture of Planing hulls, which was treasured by seminal Californian board builder, Bob Simmons.
'Many of the models and diagrams appear similar to Simmons' famous wide tailed Spoons of the early 1950's, emphasizing the increase in lift by incorprating parallel running lines. The shot above is the M2 which featured nose scoop, concave bottom and twin keel fins. The chapter on rudders, illustrates a thick foil that resembles some examples of Bob Simmons' fins, and another on Hull Structure promoting the use of resin laminates, particularly plywood, as an emerging and superior construction technique.

Contemporary reports indicate that others surfers were aware of the book, but (not surprisingly) none could understand it.'

Check out Tim's boards, I really really want to surf a Simmons !

Sunday 9 May 2010

The return


The brothers are back from Indo, all ready to serve our beaches. The arrival of the hut always reminds me that the swell has dropped and the winds turned off till Autumn.

The glide


This week hs seen some pretty small swell, although reports of shoulder to head high have been enjoyed, for those with the knowledge of where to go. However with a week full of commitments, it was a pleasure to dust down the 9'2 on Friday and score an hour or so in the clean waist high swell. It always surprises me just how much fun you can have in the small stuff, sharing waves and catching up with old friends.

Wednesday 5 May 2010

Shorter


Will from work told me about this link on the Kookbox website, and although Joel Tudor's name might be infamous with longboarding and Jiu Jitsu, I still feel I know so little about him. So many different shapes to try, with even more implications on style and ability to surf, yet so little time.

Linen



In the best interests of R&D we are the first to be stocking and using new Linen cloth which actually offers improved strength (unlike Hemp/Bamboo) in laminations over traditional fibreglass. This is a new 10'2 I will be trying and testing over the coming weeks.
Oh and of course, needless to say it is organically sourced and takes a further step towards greening the surf manufacturing business.

Saturday 1 May 2010

Whilst I was away...

Well, have been back a week now, and begining to feel the need for some serious wind. Kind of hopeful for tomorrow, but we will have to wait and see. In the meantime, Andrew kindly sent me this link of Aussie Tim's session on our home turf, but whilst I was stuck with Mickey and friends in Florida. Glad I didn't see this from over there.