Submariner Clothing

With some great input from some kind friends, Submariner.cc was born last month.  The aim is just simply develop a new brand and have a little bit of fun in the process. If you get a chance please drop by, and going forward the Fisher Viking blog will now move to Submariner.

Paddle out for Tom 

Small but really clean in the very first hours of sunlight today. 

Its feels like its been a while since I last posted, and to be fair the lack of wind and swell has meant a shift of focus more towards work and outstanding jobs around the house. Never a bad thing, as its only with hard work that I afford the free time to surf, and in a sense earn the freedom. However with the latest swell to hit our shores,  it has also brought my good friend Will; returning from Bali. Each return visit making me want to to surf more,  road trip as much as possible and wallow in the dull pain of aching joints complete with  the 50 yrd 'stoner' stare. Long may this continue.

WG just flew in, with news that he has just returned from Bali for good (this time !). It was pretty difficult to avoid his infectious enthusiasm as we pulled in to endless peeling rights in the first light of a beautiful day. Wave count went through the roof today and the new CI Neck beard just flies. How it will handle overhead I don't know, but it will be a good excuse to get back to the Seedhouse 6'4 with tomorrows perfect looking conditions. Hope you got out there.

BIGFOOT COUNTRY: The Adventures of Woody and the Blue Ox from Woody and the Blue Ox on Vimeo.

Borrowed from this Look and Sea, and had to share. I love this !

Today at least, spring has sprung. Blue skies, and warm sun with 2-3 ft made everything seem just perfect.

Finally succumbed to the lure of the estuary, amidst stories of Saunton being in excess of mast high and outback being as far as a mile or so out. The little place, felt colder due to the fresh water, but so very safe and protected with just the smallest of ramps to launch off. A good way to spend a sunday morning, and an even better warmup for a pretty full on forecast this week.

A friend sent me this from the Red Bull storm chase over the weekend, at Gwithian in Cornwall. If there is any event to follow in the windsurf global calendar, this one is perhaps more defining (albeit the extreme side) of what British sailors experience.

However behind the scenes is where you really see the true metal of the event, and seeing this guys face on the safety team must be both assuring and concerning at the same time.

Had the real pleasure of bumping into Mikey Corker today in pretty perfect spring like conditions. Fresh from his travels in Portugal (literally flying in from Nazare 7 hours before) with the rapidly becoming world famous Andrew Cotton.  It was pretty mind blowing to hear how the swell was so big during the session that only two waves were ridden all day; both by Cotty. Looks like yesterday's session has now been entered in to the XXL awards, so heres to hoping for our man from North Devon.

Yesterday was great fun through the squalls, the only issue being you had to trail a hand through the gybes just to warm them up in the slightly less freezing sea.

I promised myself (and the rest of the family) that I would stay out the water before we go skiing this year. However this little wave has me back each day with the bear; always searching for more. Today was classic yet again.

Have been following some great Patagonia photographers/adventurers via instagram. Last nights clear winter skies inspired me to try to replicate some of the amazing images I have seen. It might not be the desert with zero light pollution, but it is North Devon and its 30 seconds worth of open shutter. Photographing on the roof of the house made me realise how many nights like this must go unnoticed as  the great masses tune in to the lull of the television.

Caught up with old friend Richard last night, who eased me out of my alcohol ban with a couple of great bottles of red. So the last thing on my mind was getting up too early to catch the morning glass. However true to form, Will rolled up at 'way too early o'clock'  and talked me in to a paddle. Really glad for friends like this, as I had no expectations and it turned into the most glorious morning. 

I have taken more beatings, caught less waves and surfed this spot more in the last 14 days than I have in two years. Finally I have come to terms with its reputation and can honestly say I love it. The power is completely addictive and whilst this is my closest thing to a local spot, its taken a long time to come to understand it. Tides, winds, swell and gatekeepers make it so much more than just another wave you can drop into. Happy new year, 14 days sober and counting.

Don't usually publish multiple pictures of the same day, but today was special. Just to nip out back and score some quiet waves is a growing hobby, but it felt better than usual for some reason. I think the blue skies really helped and the wind going offshore might have played a factor too. Almost feels like spring is round the corner.

As Code red is issued for the swell in the Atlantic and Hurricane Hercules pushes through, it seems like the waves today were a fitting end to the run of consistent ferocity that December has seen. Local knowledge and a degree of adventure has produced some amazing spots that I never thought or knew possible. Happy New year and long may this continue.