Surf Safety Tips for Gower Surfing this Winter

Surf Safety Tips for Gower Surfing this Winter provided by www.thesurfersmap.co.uk

Prevention rather than cure this winter.

Here are some quick tips that are relevant to all surfers, the water is colder and the waves more powerful which helps amplify situations which may occur also note that the RNLI lifeguards have finished until April so please:

1)  Surf with a buddy

2) The surfer on the wave has priority, so get out of their way

3) If paddling out and a surfer is heading towards you, simply head into the impact zone (or soup), thereby not ruining the surfers ride

4) If surfing a wave like the 'reef' at Langland Bay, never cut corners, paddle all the way around the break so as to stay clear of the surfing zone

5) Do not sit on your surfboard in front of the take off spot as if someone catches a wave on the outside they have a really good chance of running you over 

6) Ensure that the equipment you are using is 'fit for the purpose' and that you have a leg rope as it is irresponsible to surf a longboard/shortboard/ in busy surf breaks without a leg rope

7) If you are hiring a surfboard ensure that you have had a surfing lesson from a Licensed operator prior and then only hire softboards which will help you catch more waves safely

8) Know the beach/coastline you are going to surf before you jump in, speak to locals, if in doubt do not paddle out, also check info on websites such as Gowersurfersmap, Beachwizard, Magicseaweed

 

 

 

SurfGSD - Gower Surf School featured on Visit Wales TV advert campaign..stoked!

SurfGSD are so stoked to have been part of the team involved on promoting our amazing country on the @visitwales tv advert campaign...

New Year resolutions, Learn To Surf? Then visit our surf school

Get fit, meet new people and make new circle of friends with surfing you can meet all these New Years resolutions. We provide all the equipment and expert coaching from a Licensed surf school based at Caswell Bay, Swansea or Rhossili beach on Gower.

Surfing lessons can be booked via the following link > Surf Lessons

Book online by clicking image below

 

 

The great escape and are the surf media to blame?

The great escape and are the surf media to blame?

A young lad from France turned up in the village  this morning saw the nice lines and right colours, asked the local café owner where to paddle out then in he went.

On most days at most surf spots you will get away with this type of cavalier approach, I was pushing Millie along the prom and could see him paddling against the current for nearly an hour on his surfboard which would go great at most surf spots, but, not here.

Unfortunately for this chap he had not asked the café owner how to get back in as there is no sand here just large rocks that you can not escape up.

Consequently, after a time he gave up paddling sat out in the big blue ocean and a passing  navy boat which was in the area performed a rescue of the young French surfer, I do not think he will ever come back to the Island.

An hour later myself and a fellow surfer jumped into the ocean for a crack at the waves on rhino chasers. All I will say about this is ‘Victory @ Sea’ the swell got even bigger, we could not get into the waves and I had a great escape as I attempted paddling into a 5 meter ‘in betweener’ only to get sucked up the face quicker than I could paddle down it. Luckily for me I did not go over the falls as I could hear screams and whistles.

Which tells you to paddle hard to the horizon, I swung my board around and headed out as I was faced with an approaching 6-7 meter set consisting of seven waves. That was it for me, the ocean had won I did not want to get a set like that on the head so headed in which took over 30 minutes.

Lesson learned don’t paddle for the smaller 5 meter waves as I have no doubt God was looking after me today, if I had of gone on that wave I would have been left in a spot that combined with a 7 meter set would have left me in a bad position.

The question must be asked why would a young lad just jump into the ocean on a board that needed to be at least 5 foot bigger and think he was going to have a fun surf?  Should those that profit from telling tales from this special place include in their articles; Surfers beware drowning is a very real possibility. Or would this just be like waving a red flag to all the nutters out there that want to push life to the limit?

Perhaps the best thing to do is not do articles on this place and let it look after itself?  I think this is a great option and would like to see the mags and hoes go elsewhere.

p.s would like to have seen the Long brothers or Erik Landry here today they would have gone big.

Live, Surf and Travel….

 

 

Welcome 2012 the swell is here

18 second period arrived last night which has given most of us a chance to shake of the awesome New Years Eve party on the 11th floor of a super cool hotel.

Thanks to T-Dog & Rosa for sorting it out and helping out with little M

Surfs up!

 

London commuters encouraged to ride clean peaceful tubes

Escape the over crowded stinking tube system and Visit Swansea > Fancy Riding  A Different Tube?

Last minute Christmas Gift Vouchers

Last minute Christmas Gift Vouchers

The gift vouchers last for one year from date of purchase, there are several price options for different surf courses. Simply go to this link surfing gift vouchers and choose the voucher you wish to give as a Christmas Present.

Click on voucher, pay online via our secure online server and you will receive a receipt of purchase which you can simply print out and pop in a Christmas card.

To book the surfing lesson using the voucher simply email us a week prior and we will get the booking sorted for the voucher holder.

Pretty simple and a great last minute gift!!

See you on the beach next season

Live, Surf & Travel

 

 

 

Future Gower Surfista getting use to the winter time waves

As with her big sister (Izzy, who can do hand stands on her surfboard aged 10) little Millie has had her training in the bath and with the thanks to her Circle one Baby wetsuit has recently been enjoying small wave swimming practice.

The wetsuit has kept her warm despite the water being around 18 c which of course is about the best it gets on Gower in the summer.

On the surf front the waves have been epic, and am glad of a day off today to just chill and enjoy the sun.

Anyway, no more news for the moment the atlantic appears to be taking a break for Christmas, well I guess it needs a break after the epic waves it has been sending out to Europe!!

Live, Surf Travel...

My ears are ringing and it ain't due to meat loaf....

We had a nice 4 meter swell with perfect conditions, unfortunately for me and the other surfers a group of pros chasing the pics turned up with it, and ruined the generally fun atmosphere in the water. It also forced me to take off on the first wave of a set which I never do here, but, had to due to the new arrivals.

Unfortunately my lack of surfing in real waves for 2 months led to getting a lip on the head when I tried to get a cover up, followed by five more set waves landing on me. It was a pretty bad beating and my ears are still in bad shape. 

Anyway we have a day off now before the next swell in the 5 meter range will light up the coastline again, lets hope I have learned not to go on the first wave as do not want that sort of punishment again for a while.

A couple of super cool Basque surfers were ripping and a joy to be in the water with, I have heaps of pics that will post when I get more time.

Live, Surf and Travel

Give the gift of surfing as a present this Christmas

Give the gift of surfing to someone special this Christmas, no going to the shops simply click on  surfing gift vouchers link, you will have a several different options to choose from dependant on how much you would like to spend.

The vouchers last for one year from date of purchase and all surfing equipment is included!