SurfGSD, Learn to Surf, British Surfing School,surf coaching, surf lessons, gower surfing lessons, ,surf blog, surfing blog,

Men’s 5 Star WQS Surf competition kicked off today Fistral beach in Cornwall

Relentless Boardmasters in Association with Vans - surfing has begun

 

Day 1

 

The Men’s 5 Star WQS Surf competition kicked off today, signalling the start of the Relentless Boardmasters in association with Vans 2010. Crowds on the beach at Fistral were witness to the best surfers in the world taking on the solid 3-4ft waves crashing on the Newquay shore. It was a wet cloudy start to the morning, but that didn’t stop the talent from shining. The waves were coming consistently all day, which ensured high performance surfing was the only key to progression through the heats.

 

Newquay resident and the UK’s most successful surfer Russell Winter won his heat with ease posting the highest heat score of the day (15.33), follow closely by 2009 ASP European Junior Champion Marc Lacomare (15.00) who also scored the highest single scoring wave of the day (8.50). WCT surfer Travis Logie currently No.30 on the World Tour also cruised his heat booking himself a place in the next round. Another Brit to win a spot in round 2 was Sam Lamiroy who battled through a close heat to come out on top. 2009 RBM finalist Txaber Trojaola looks motivated to go one further this year and become the Relentless Boardmasters 2010 Champion.

 

Tomorrow will see the opening of the Beach Bar at Fistral with The Futureheads, Baddies, Tall Ships and The Quails performing at the Relentless Energy Drink Beach Sessions (tickets still available £15). The Trade Village will open its doors to the public on the beach trading from 10am – 7pm and the vert and mini-ramp will see the riders practicing their tricks with skate jam on the mini-ramp at 2pm.

Surf update and live surf webcast

Looks like waves 2morrow at last here on Gower it has been a poor couple of weeks with just enough for surf schools and practice on logs.

The sun appears to have departed the South west coast again as soon as the schools broke up, but, at least this year the water is warm thanks to the settled period of good weather prior to school holidays.

Anyway, it is summer and only 5 weeks left and the season will start up again let's pray for some good long range hurricane swells this year.

The US open of surfing is on and can be viewed live via a webcast here is the link should be some world class performances > US open of surfing 

The best surf contests now have live web casts and those that don't need to catch up with the rest!

Click here for places to stay swansea bay or  Places to eat Swansea and for information on getting to Gower and Swansea bay area click here: Transport links to Swansea bay and Gower

For more info on our surfing lessons or booking a taster session > Click on picture below

 
 

Junior surfers enjoy good conditions at Fistral beach, Newquay for British surf champs

Billabong British Junior Championships 2010 in association with Calypso and Fistral Blue Britain’s best junior surfers descended on Fistral Beach this weekend to compete for the coveted British title, Saturday saw small conditions in the morning but it improved through the day Saturday the younger competitors took to the water, with improving conditions forecast the decision was made to hold the under 18s on Sunday.

Harry De Roth took the under 12 title with a strong performance but Liam Murray Strout was a standout, finishing second in the under 12s and winning the under 14s title. 

Laura Crane and Tassy Swallow continued their battle with Laura winning the day, last year winning the under 14s division, this year she is the under 18s Champion.

The weekend belonged to Luke Dillon, Luke looked strong through the contest, not content with winning the under 16s division he was looking to add the under 18s title, he had his work cut out, Toby Donachie was trying to defend his title, Max Tucker was looking to win his second event in as many weeks and Jobe Harris who has been surfing so well this year we’re all out to stop him.

High tide proved to be difficult Jobe and Max surfed well but could not find the waves that would allow them to get high enough scores, Toby and Luke got longer better waves, but it was to be Luke’s day Luke surfed his way to a great victory and is the new under 16s and 18s British Champion.

Simon Tucker representing Billabong said this weekend was fantastic, the beach was full of spectators, listening to live scores from RideScoreSystem making the event so exciting, I would like to thank the B.S.A, Calypso and Fistral Blue for making the event possible, we look forward to seeing you all in 2011

 If you fancy getting into surfing like Luke here age 7 then join on to our famous junior surfing camp at Caswell bay, Swansea click here > Junior Surfing, lessons for Junior surfers

 

Click here for places to stay swansea bay or  Places to eat Swansea and for information on getting to Gower and Swansea bay area click here: Transport links to Swansea bay and Gower

For more info on our surfing lessons or booking a taster session > Click on picture below

Professional help (UKPSA) called in to help to develop the GB Junior Team Selection Process

The British Surfing Association are pleased to announce that they will be working with the UK Pro Surf Association in 2010 to develop and select the British Junior Team for the 2011 world championships and beyond

The GB team selection process has been rewritten to include 5 events, and now includes 3 of the events on the UK Pro Surf Tour, as well the BSA sanctioned British Schools Championships and the British Junior Championships

The move is seen as a step forward in the development of youth surfing in the UK, and will encourage those young surfers who want to represent their country to surf against some of the best pro surfers in the UK and Europe. The UK Pro Surf Tour is the professional arm of UK surfing attracting surfers from all over the world to compete. This year a full tour of Pro Junior (under 20s) events is scheduled as well as women’s events meaning that our young UK surfers have the opportunity to surf above their division and compete against some excellent surfer and ultimately raise their surfing ability

The qualifying events have also been chosen because of their geographic location, with events in Cornwall, Devon, Porthcawl Wales, Tynemouth (NE England) and Fraserburgh (Scotland), giving the BSA the opportunity to spread the net wide when it comes to team selection and hopefully discover talent in these traditionally under represented areas

The BSA sees this as the first step of bringing professional development and performance into the GB squad and also re-engaging all the young surfers of Great Britain

Dave Reed of the UKPSA told us “I am pleased that 3 of the events will be qualifying events for the GB team. The quality of surfing on the Pro Tour has gone up year by year and we are now getting interest from surfers who live abroad and want to come to the UK to compete; this will ultimately raise the level even higher and give our home-grown young surfers the ability to surf against internationals without having to leave the UK.

“We are putting together a coaching and development programme for our young surfers” said Mark Wesson of the BSA “This new selection process and partnership with the UKPSA will give the young UK surfers the opportunity to perform at a higher level, and will lead on to further development of all the young talent in the whole of the UK. The BSA are always looking to develop surfing and provide a route pathway into competitive surfing and this step is an integral part of that”.

For further information on the UKPSA see www.ukprosurf.com

N.B > Junior surfing development courses and contest training are available with surfgsd

Night surf contest announced for Fistral Beach, Newquay in June 2010

 Pic by Jason Feast of Mark Harris

Gul Announces proud sponsorship of UKPSA Night Surf at Fistral Beach for the second year

 Stop No 3 of 9 on 2010 UK PST

Fistral Beach, Cornwall

18th – 20th  June 2010

www.ukprosurf.com 
 
 

Gul has announced that it will for the second year running be the headline sponsor for the UK Pro Surf Tour Night Surf to be held again at Fistral Beach Newquay on the 18/19/20 of June 2010. The event last year was moved from Lusty glaze as the capacity was so high over the last three years that the event had to be ticketed. Fistral is the perfect venue to expand and make the event truly memorable. 

Attracting the best British surfers and many international competitors. If there is any surf event to put in your calendar this year the Gul Night Surf is the one!. Set over three days and three nights the event will hold Men’s, Women’s and Longboard as well as the Grom tour and the addition of a SUPB (Stand up paddle board) competition sponsored by Custard Point. There will be beach games including beach volley ball, and product test centres throughout the weekend. The closing party will be on the Saturday night with a firework display and live music.

“We are delighted to be putting on the Gul night surf for a second year. We started life back in 1967 on Fistral beach, and we are very proud to be hosting what is set to be the biggest Surf event on the UK Pro Surf Tour on our home break. We are now the longest sponsor of the UK Pro Surf Tour and it is very important to us that we can continue our support” Jake Patterson (Gul Brand Manager) 

Mark Harris 2002 Tour champion said “Last year we had the best night surf event so far, being at Fistral beach offers the opportunity for quality waves and great for spectators which brings out the best surfing. Everyone will be on top of there game as its one of the most important contests of the year with a great vibe' 

Dave Reed director of UK Pro Surf Tour said “We would like to thank Gul for sponsoring this event and keep one of the most popular events on the tour running. Also we would like to thank the other sponsors: Fistral Blu, The Beach Night Club, Anne’s Cottage, Custard Point Surfboards, the National Surfing Centre Complex and Nick Bryant. Without their support and sponsorship the event would undoubtedly not have taken place this year”.  

For further information please contact Dave Reed on 01637 854854 or dave@ukprosurf.com, also visit the website www.ukprosurf.com

Or Jake Patterson Gul International JakeP@GUL.co.uk

Surf coaching and lifeguard courses here in the UK

We have been getting plenty of enquiries about people becoming surf coaches and beach lifeguards here in the UK so thought I would do a quick post on it for you:

You will need to take and pass the following:  BSA Level one surf instructor course, Beach Lifeguard qualification (or equivilant, check with BSA)  also you must be enhanced checked for CRB certificate if you are working with young people.

There are as with most service sectors the odd mickey mouse provider which you would do well to stay clear of as they will regress your skills rather than progress them.

I always tell people to go and have a course with Barry Hall down in Newquay he is the guru of training surf coaches and you will get  great value for money learning from him.

For your beach lifeguard qualification you can do this by joining your local surf lifesaving club and getting involved with excellent clubs such as Mumbles, Aberavon, St Agnes etc

Or you can do an intensive course with salt water training, Lusty glaze or Dean Gough @ Outer reef.

The CRB check can be done through the BSA or Local Council.

One last thing, you have to be a member of the BSA for all of the above to ensure you are a qualified surfing coach!

Good luck and happy surf coaching

Live, surf and travel

Are we all victims or simply dishonest with our surfing abilty levels?

Every year it is the same story here in Portugal, guys turn up with their brand new custom surfboards and after going in the water, being filmed getting marmalized, the question is asked > 'Is your surfboard right for your level, ability and type of waves surfed?'  

A common theme appears to be emerging, that:

a) After a surfing lesson people rush out and buy a surfboard. (Generally one that looks cool)
b) The surfboard is 9 times out of 10 wrong for the particular stage they are at.

How does this happen?  Why don't guys stay on softboards for a longer period which will help them build more water skills, surf fitness and higher wave counts which of course will equal faster development.

How could the custom boards be so wrong for the guys on this particular surf trip?  Well there has been an obvious breakdown in communication between the shaper and the surfer. Has the shaper built a board that he/she thinks is best for the surfer?  Or has the surfer been sparing with the truth about their particular surfing ability?  EG:  Two guys this week have custom boards that are designed for a higher level of surfer, Chris V had a go on one as did Ben and they struggled on them, so, in this case what are two beginners doing on them?

Anyway please do not become a victim:
1) Have a surfing lesson
2) Hire softboards and practice for a few months
3) Speak to your surfing coach about surfboards that best suit you
4) Only buy a board when you are at a level to go that 'next step'
5) Never be afraid to go back on softboards when the surf is small to practice paddling/catching waves
6) If your catching loads of waves your surfing will improve really fast and then it could be time for the next surfboard
7) How about getting someone to video you in a variety of conditions so that you can show your surfboard shaper. The truth will empower  a good shaper to create a surfboard that will help you progress and gain confidence.

Here is a good link regarding surfboard information > Surfboard for Novice

One of the guys took this shot of me which I found highly amusing, why?  Well after several chats held in the evenings about surfboards ideal for beginners and those that are not etc I watched perfect 2-3 ft  waves breaking with sun and offshore winds being ridden by the few that listened, those that did not may as well have been with Gunther...

Live, Surf and Travel....

Sunshine and superheroes make A1Surf and Wittering Surf Shop Retro Board Challenge a huge success

Sunday 19th October saw hundreds of surfers descend on East Wittering for the A1Surf Retro Board Challenge, held in conjunction with Wittering Surf Shop.

Around 50 competitors from across the South Coast and further afield, battled it out on the waves, which were at first on the small side, but by the latter stages the surf was a contestable couple of feet.

Hundreds of spectators watched the likes of Spiderman, King Neptune and a bridesmaid surf on some classic retro boards to try and progress through to the final. The fleet of retro boards were put forward by Nick Cheshire of Wittering Surf Shop.

South African Jonathan Tuck, dressed as Batman, walked away with the first prize, a fantastic Black & White Fish that was shaped by Paul Walters on the beach and signed by all of the competitors. Jonathan’s victory was sweeter as he had only been in the UK for three weeks and entered after seeing the details on A1Surf.com.

Jonathan said afterwards: “Once again, thanks for an awesome day and a super cool prize. I can't believe it, it's still sinking in!”.

The other finalists were Tom Rapley (2nd), Brian Haugh (3rd) and Keith Rathbone (4th).

David Somerville from A1Surf said: “The day was a huge success. It was great to see so many people there, whether to compete or simply to watch the fun. The feedback we have had from those taking part, plus the suppliers who exhibited to on the day has been fantastic.”

Nick Cheshire from Wittering Surf Shop said: “The best part of the event for me is seeing people enjoying surfing some of my retro boards; after all they are meant to be used rather than just admired.

The Retro Board Challenge always brings out the real spirit of surfing, having fun is what it's all about!”

And Lizzie Warren, also from Wittering Surf shop said: “It was great to see such an array of people at the event. The way everyone mucked in and had a laugh is a real testament to the strength of the surfing community.”

Proceeds from the competition entry and the prize raffle day raised over £500 for the local Selsey RNLI lifeboat station.

A film of the day’s events can be viewed at www.wavedreamer.co.uk

After a weekend of excellent waves here in Cornwall, time to sit back and watch the ISA 2008

Before the next swells start hitting us, here is the live feed for the ISA 2008 contest, click here> World surfing games 2008

This Thursday, I am heading back down to Newquay with the Swansea Met surf team for 3 days as they are in the BUSA 2008 at Fistral Beach.

If you are heading down here is a list on places to stay Newquay, our surfing lessons only run May to September in Newquay but there are plenty of hire places still open.

See you down there!

Top surfing pros heading to St Ives this weekend thanks to Gul and the BPSA tour

The Gul International is staging its tour event at Porthmeor Beach in St Ives Cornwall on the 30th and 31st of August. Once again the UKPST and Gul are teaming up together to promote British surfing and continue to assist in developing the surfing talents we have in Europe. 

The competition its self comprises of several categories showcasing the best in both men’s and ladies open surfing as well as allowing the groms to display their skills and talents. The competition will attract the UK’s Top professional surfers and various international competitors from around the globe all with their eyes firmly fixed on the £2850 prize purse and the valuable tour ranking points.  Also ‘Relentless’ energy drink, one of the Pro Surf Tours main sponsors will be giving a cash prize for the best move of the competition.

British champion and Gul team rider Mark Egor Harris he says, “I’m really looking forward to the event and getting back to the top of the leader board”. For more information checkout the following site:  BPSA tour