This Weeks Sessions

God I love lighter evenings - seem to be getting more than my fair share of waves this week - Rush home from work, in the water by 6.15 and paddle away until almost 9pm. Fantastic. Been going to Pete's Point mainly because the tides have been late evening highs, (springs) and there is always a bit of shelter from the wind under the cliff. Bonus factor is that there is always fewer people due to the yomp across and down the cliff.

Really getting to grips with the board now, every time seems better than the previous and my tolerance of poor conditions seem to be increasing. Gavin has been 'off it' a bit recently so arranged to borrow the 9'0 demo board to refuel his stoke. We paddled it out for the first time into a crowded middle beach break with a howling 20mph 'cross off, shore wind. This was not shaping up to be fun. How wrong can you be the waves were steep and the tide was pushing up the beach - we had our moments, just staying on the boards was a result and paddling into the wind was VERY hard but we both scored waves, not dozens but those we had were soooo good.

We swapped boards and I wobbled about on the 9'0 - stability at rest was minimal under way she was fine and turned at will, dropping into a wave at the last minute was a real hoot. I am a fairly lazy person and have gotten used to the 9'8, the 9'0 was harder work for me - the conditions were grim but I felt a bit more comfy on mine. Gavin seemed to get the bit between his teeth though.

From being fairly crowded most people got out around 8pm - the wind had dropped a bit and I stayed on until almost 9pm. Great fun.

Saturday evening the wind had dropped significantly and the swell had built. I had Pete's point pretty much to myself. This was just one of those sessions - I hate to use the word 'Epic' but it was Epic.

This morning (Sunday) I met Gavin at Gwithian at 8.45 and we toddled off to Pete's again with the 9'0. Although it looked shite it cleaned up really well and we were both on fire (relative term) - I was surfing better than I have ever surfed I think. I have some dodgey video but as I don't seem to be able to work out how to make the last one work it might be a while before anyone see's it, plus with the now much improved camera mount (bungee corded onto my belt) I have 2 minutes of surfboard in shot. Zero perspective of waves due to the camera hanging low. It's getting there. OOps here it goes and . . . . cue music



Music is by the Jesus and Mary Chain - top stuff!

Again we swapped boards - The 9'0 is no doubt the better surf board although I think that both boards are limited by their width and as a result I have a tendency sometimes to catch the outside rail in the steeper sections of some waves. I also saw Gavin do this once.

Gavin got totally dialled with the board this session - no prizes for guessing which one is going to live with Gavin on a more permanent basis.

We surfed on until almost 12 pretty much on our own - looking over to Godrevy we could see that it was rammed - nice.

Elegantly catching Up with a few Sessions

Been out a few times over the past month or so but in the main the conditions have been shite. In fact probably the worst since I started - consistent onshore high winds coinciding with my free time. Still one or two sessions have been excellent and we managed a really mellow high tide paddle from Gwithian to Godrevy back to Pete's Point, in and out of the stacks at the head of the beach and back to Godrevy.

BLAIR WITCH PADDLE BOARD



The video is very shakey as the camera was swinging from my belt - to edit it I had to cut it in sections, turn it and stitch it up again. This is a first off hopefully they will get better or I will give up. Audio is poor as well - sounds like I ran over a seagull half way. BUT I managed to cover up most with a damn fine Radiohead track. The underwater stuff was when we swapped boards. I know its all a bit crap but I figure that if this blog is going to be at all credible it should contain the entire journey not just the best bits.

Pumped up the ULI for the flat water paddle - what a blast - it was good to be able to get it down the cliff without any fear of 'mashing' it as well. Swapped the ULI with Gavin for a short while - amazing the difference that the 'bounce' in the ULI makes when there is a bit of chop on the water. Just love that board it makes me smile every time I ride it. There was a bit of swell running - just enough to catch a few waves at Pete's point and Godrevy. The beach was pretty rocky at the top and again there was no worry about running the board up the beach. Also managed to 'sneak' in a very small wave sesh at Perranuthnoe - the beach was empty and the sun was going down fast but I had a bit of a blast on the 1' clean waves that were pushing through with the tide. If it was not for the SUP I would not have got in at all - and my shoulders were so work sore after. You (read I) seem to go harder in smaller stuff. It's just endless. Managed to get a wave in with Steve from Sunset one Sunday - again took the ULI but there was so much chop the smaller board would probably have been a better bet. Caught a few waves the 'bounce' effect made itself felt by burying the nose on a couple of waves. I am guessing that the 10'er - the 'Steamroller Model' is a bit stiffer. Loads of fun though - Steve is borrowing it to take it to Lake Geneva and then on to Cyprus - it's going to be a well travelled board. Had a few sessions at Godrevy - one was a bit busy but had some decent waves - the other was a 2' clean evening glass off. Hardly anyone in and endless little waves. Great work out. Stunning sunset. Managed a decent wave at Pete's Point last night - wasn't going to go in but decided to at the last minute - shared such a good wave with half a dozen surfer's and bodyboarders - thought I did alright - don't think I disgraced myself anyway. Stayed in till dark. Onshore and mushy at Gwithian this morning - bit of a laugh though - plenty of waves albeit hard work. A guy came up to me in the car park afterwards and questioned me about the board and general stand up stuff - mainly how do you get out in bigger waves. You just do. He seemed genuinely interested - then he said he thought it looked elegant - ELEGANT me?? Like a dog in an ashtray. (I'm married with kids right) - Blokes my weight don't do elegant or dainty - we do beasting and driving and powering and hawking and scratching and . . . . anyway thanks whoever you are. If you read this - and don't leave a comment - I'll be so hacked off that I will stop being elegant!! Come on you read it - comment.