surf Blog, gower surfing, surf travel, surf information, surfing holidays,surfing pictures,learn to surf,swansea surf school, gower surf school, surfgsd, women's surfing, blog for surfers

Fat Face release dates for Night Surf 2008 in Newquay, Cornwall

UK Pro Surf Tour (UK PST)
Stop No 2 of 9 on 2008 UK PST
27^th 28^th 29^th June, 2008
Lusty Glaze Beach, Newquay Cornwall www.bpsauktour.com Fat Face, the active lifestyle brand, has confirmed the dates for this year’s Fat Face Night Surf as 27-29^th June, which will take place at Lusty Glaze Beach in Newquay.

Part of the UKPSA (UK Pro Surf Association) Surf Tour, last year’s event attracted over 150 competitors – with Pros riding alongside the amateurs - with the limited swell testing the competitors to the absolute max.

Australia’s Jarrad Sullivan claimed the Men’s Night Surf Open Title, just stealing it from local boy, Russ Winter! Fat Face Team Rider, Chris Thomson won the Longboard competition and Holly Donnelly won the women’s final.  There was also a hotly contested Grommits Comp with Harry Timson, maintaining his title as U12 winner and Gwen Spurlock taking the trophy home in the U16 girl’s event.

Ian Williams, Fat Face Events Manager, comments: “The Fat Face Night Surf is one of the most testing events on the UKPSA tour due to the major lack of ability to see the waves coming in. Night surfing relies on natural ability to react to the flow and possible changes in direction of any given wave let alone the off putting shadows thrown by the lights.”

Dave Reed, Contest Director from the UKPSA comments: “ This is the eigth annual Night Surfing event, the only one in the UK, the event gets bigger and bigger each year and the importance of it on the tour also increases as it retains a two star status with more prize money and points available for the Open division.” Adding “Every year we have put the event on it has been sponsored by Fat Face and supported by the Adventure Centre at Lusty Glaze, without their help the event would not take place, we on the tour would like to thank them both for the commitment they give to help the growth of Professional Surfing”

Last year the Red Arrows graced the skies above and entertained the crowds, who turned up in their droves to enjoy one of the only sunny weekends last summer!

Competitors and spectators alike can be sure to be part of another awesome weekend of top surfing, a chilled environment, fireworks and the best parties, long into the night!

Fat Face will be providing free surf lessons, for would be surf hopefuls, with Team Riders offering words of advice and vital tips. Having just launched its own range of surfboards (Mini Mal, Classic Nose Rider and Fish), Fat Face will be showcasing its gear and encouraging people to have a go, regardless of experience.

With the event growing at an incredible rate over the past few years, proving overwhelmingly popular, organisers are, for the second year, making the Fat Face Night Surf a ticket only event. Full details of how to get your tickets are available from www.fatface.com/events 

In addition to all the prizes given Relentless Energy Drink will be awarding £250 to the surfer who performs the best floater of the contest, which could come from the Open, Women’s, Longboard or Grommet divisions.

For further information please contact: Dave Reed 01637 854854 or visit the website: www.bpsauktour.com

Northcore East coast drift 08: Snow and surf

Easter morning of the Northcore East coast Drift surf competition saw some areas of the UK East coast covered in over 4” of fresh powder so a snowboard competition could have been an alternative if the swell hadn't shown as forecast. Fortunately the waves did arrive and there was a strong turnout with surfers competing from Tyneside, Scarborough and Lincolnshire at Scarborough's South bay which held a cleanish 2-4ft swell with strengthening cold NW winds making conditions more challenging as the day progressed. With 35 surfers competing there were Junior, shortboard, longboard and veterans division heats held throughout the day between 10am and 4pm, with the finals held in difficult high tide waves influenced by a heavy seawall backwash which competitors tackled head on.
All the final winners were from Scarborough with the winner of the Juniors, James (Riv) Kirk, the Veterans winner was Ian (stix) Kirk with Mark (grom) Dickinson winning both the shortboard and Longboard open, receiving a Northcore shortboard as first prize.
For more information visit www.northcore-europe.com

NORTHCORE EAST COAST DRIFT SURF COMPETITION IS ON THIS WEEKEND

 The forecast is for a 6ft+ Northerly swell with offshore winds so competition organisors have given the thumbs up for the go ahead of the Northcore East Coast Drift, which hopefully see some of the regions best surfers competing in conditions which look really promising

This year will be the first Northcore East Coast Drift surf event to host an Inter-clubs competition between, Tynemouth, Saltburn, Scarborough and Lincolnshire surf clubs. Northcore Europe Surf Co. spokesman says of the event “We're holding this years event on the 23^rd March at Scarborough's South Bay and we're really pleased to be getting involved by supporting the competition with a few prizes. Surfing in the NE area is no where near as main stream as it is in Devon and Cornwall, the scene here is much more at a grass roots level with less corporate involvement. The conditions in the North East are harsher with colder water and air temperatures being common and the infrastructure isn't as well developed, but the waves can be as good as anywhere in the South West and the year round surfers here are amongst the most dedicated and hardcore in the country”

For more information about competing in or watching the Northcore East Coast Drift surf competition 2008 please visit:
www.northcore-europe.com or email contact@northcore-europe.com

Welsh surfers help required by Cardiff Uni and Surf coaches wanted by SurfGSD to run Learn to surf lessons this year

Surfers required to take part in questionnaire which is part of a project undertaken by Cardiff University and sponsored by the Sports Council for Wales. It is designed to determine levels of participation, motivations for surfing, and problems encountered by surfers in Wales. Click here: Surfers In Wales



We need surf coaches for this season excellent rates of pay and trade price surfing equipment and clothes. Coaches must have minimum BSA Level 1 and Beach Lifeguard Qualification along with CRB certificate contact me if you are interested to join the team: Surf coaches wanted

Northcore Europe sponsor top junior surfer from Newquay, Cornwall

Northcore Europe are pleased to introduce Lewis Clinton to their riders team for 2008. Lewis is a talented British Junior Team member based in Newquay, Cornwall and although he is only 16 he's bringing a lot of experience and skill with him.This year Lewis will be travelling to the testing grounds of California and Hawaii for 6 weeks during February and March both to get away from the UK cold and to surf some more challenging waves whilst watching and learning from some of the best surfers in the world.

During the summer Lewis will be seen travelling along the Atlantic coastlines of France, Spain and Portugal following the pro junior circuit maintaining his goal to compete in as many events as possible to improve upon his previous years ranking, and also to keep his seeding in the events.

Lewis's successes have included top 3 placings during 2007 in The English Nationals, The Rip Curl Grom Search and a first in the Gul Newquay Open. Northcore spokesman said “We are really pleased that Lewis has joined our team, he has a drive to succeed in surfing, a professional attitude and a clear goal to join the WQS tour and eventually to even compete amongst the WCT elite. We're looking forward to working with Lewis and supporting him in his developing career”

UK Pro Surf Tour 2008 getting ready to blast off

In 2008 the UK Pro Surf Tour will be bigger and better. Events will be held throughout the UK at locations from Thurso East to Cornwall, giving the opportunity for surfers to compete at the highest level and push their skills to the limit. The tour will raise not just the profile of the individual surfers but also the venues for the events. With the inclusion of Men’s, Women’s, Pro Junior and Grommet divisions the tour will help encourage the development of competitive surfing across the UK 

This year we have formed the UK Pro Surf Association, registered through company house, to provide a non-profit, democratic organisation to govern the tour. Which will include providing the rules and regulations for how the surfers compete. From now on all members will also have an opportunity to decide how the tour develops.

Chairman of UK Pro Surf Association, John Owen said “Forming this association is an important step to help the growth of the tour” adding “surfers will now have the opportunity to help control the direction the tour will take”

Marketing for the tour will be taken on by Evo Management. They will be actively seeking support and sponsorship for each leg of the tour.

Television coverage will be produced through Method Production and broadcast on Sky Sports in the UK, Fox Fuel – Australia, Outdoorlife Network – Canada, Globosat – Brazil, Stream – Italy and Fox Fuel – USA.

Many thanks go out to all the sponsors of the tour for last and this year: Skinners, G Shock, Relentless, K38, The Bay Hotel, Saltrock, Fat Face, Hot Tuna, Elusive, Circle One, Ocean Warriors, Gul International, Wavelength Magazine, Carve Magazine, Slide Magazine, Pitpilot Magazine and Surfers Village

For further information please contact:

UK PSA - CEO Dave Reed 01637 854854

Solid surf in the West with offshore winds

If you not on the road get going, west coast beaches reached about 6ft today and offshore! The swell is going to peak by the looks 2morrow night with a good swell period could see for some excellent conditions saturday p.m and sunday morning, so glad it is the carve christmas party this saturday should ensure that the water will be empty early on.

The word on the street is that the big wave contest could be held on sunday in the expected 8-10 ft plus fistral beach surf, should be fun to watch if it is called on will keep you posted.

Top spots for weekend:  Lahinch, North coast kernow, Fresh west, llangennith beach, have fun and be safe.

Big surf still on course to pound us this weekend and later next week

All our junior surfing courses have been cancelled this weekend and there will be no surf hire sorry, better safe than sorry. The chances are that the swell will not be as big as predicted via magicseaweed, you can keep an eye on all the action via www.gowerlive.co.uk as it happens. The old timers think that it will come in with too much wind and hopefully Monday the day after the blow will still be large enough to have fun with the nw winds blowing.

Other useful sites to keep an eye on include wind guru and storm surf more news on Friday, off out crab for a swell board session, have a good day.. Simon @ GSD

In honour of Eddie, the chosen few have been announced

Quiksilver have announced the chosen few, I am hoping I will be there to spectate again as have been lucky enough to watch two of these events. For the first time the opening ceremony will be available on live web cast for more info on this event and to sign up click here, 'eddie would go'

As the pro surfers hit Fistral beach for the battle of the boardmasters, Alex and Andy dispute that we are a surf nation

Surfing is an individual pursuit which, if you want to, you can share with those that are close to you. Surfing offers a plethora of achievable goals/targets, learning, standing up, going along the wave, surfing at weekends, surfing only in the summer, hard core, soft core, big waves, small waves, scary waves.... The list goes on and you must keep reminding  yourself that what you find fun, i.e Sunset beach, Jardim do Mar and Crab island, could be the next guys idea of hell on earth.

Two British literary surf gurus and their supporters have been fighting the battle of 'surf nation' asking are there really waves in the UK. Even the national quality press has been sucked into it, whilst the tabloids focus on jaws visiting St Ives (for a look at some art and a Cornish pasty).

In fact both the Times and Observer today (Sunday 5th August) devote pages to surfing and the growth of the sport, big waves, and even a diagram of how to tow surf. The Observer however goes one step further as the article is written by Andy Martin and carries on the battle regarding (click on 'surf nation' for a view from Alex Wades corner and ... click here for a read of the article 'hype turns ripples into waves') Andy Martin's perspective.

How Do I feel about it all?

To catch the best surf you need to be ready and willing to put yourself in the location waiting for it. Now of course 99.9% of surfers have 'responsibilities' and therefore pray for the magic day at their local beach or beach they visit on weekends/days off to be sick.

The majority of the time the surf is absolute pants and in the last 15 years I can only really remember 4 or 5 classic Crab days that would compare to anywhere in the world. (Plenty of random fun days but not classic.)

To put things on a personal surf/waves perspective scale
1) One wave out Crab Island, worth 50 at other spots on Gower
2) One set wave at Sunset beach or Jardim, worth ten years of surfing in the UK
3) Surfing stormy Caswell on swell boards with the boys, priceless
4) Sat in Joe's bar, frango piri piri with Capt Mike, Zane et al even better

However, Andy, to get to various points on your chosen scale you need to learn your trade and I think that the UK offers a fantastic set of opportunities to those taking surfing up. We have the best surf school system and coaching courses in the World thanks to the British Surfing Association.  Add this to the excellent locations for surf coaching, for example Caswell beach is the best place to learn anywhere- it is the shallow end of the swimming pool. Llangennith beach on Gower also offers safe soft rolling waves for longboarders and beginner - intermediates alike.

Grandad, a real local Gower surfing legend, fed up with me moaning about the surf here in the UK said the following to me '...that you have to make the most of what you have available to you..'

Therefore, I am glad that Alex has produced this fine book and highlighted the many waves available to British surfers whom are hard core travellers and die hards that day in day out through thick and thin hit the water hoping to catch that one wave.   

I would say that it sounds like Andy has been spoiled, he has surfed many times in Hawaii on the North Shore with the world famous Willis brothers. Andy probably surfed like Amos did in a pair of boardies and a rash vest with the tropical sun beating down, nice. 

The problem is Andy, if I came home from my surf trips and didn't surf because the water was cold or the waves too small then my next trip would be wasted as the only way to stay surf fit is to surf.

One year I took Grandad's comments on board and I spent a whole summer and autumn only surfing swell and INT soft boards out at Crab Island as I found them challenging to surf and made me feel like I was surfing real waves. Even though a local surf legend was not happy and called the swell board a piece of cheese. Surfing the planks kept me stoked and fit and got me ready for the real time.

I see everything I do here in the UK as training for that one wave that I will catch every winter, that one wave that will last me through the hard times of hype and work, that one wave of pure stoke, love emotion, bonding... It only takes one wave.

I am a British surfer, based in Britain at the moment and developed in British waves, I and my company are a part of UK SURF NATION and long may we ride on.

p.s. Andy see you in Hawaii...Alex is keen to come out too, so perhaps we could hold a board meeting out at Sunset beach, as Pipe will be too busy.

Fly the flag for British surfing, you can buy them online from mr flag a  Welsh company