They're putting on an event at Gwithian on 3rd and 4th September - this weekend! I'll see if I can make the Sunday :)
Showing posts with label longboarding. Show all posts
Showing posts with label longboarding. Show all posts
Thursday, 1 September 2011
Hip Wigglers
Came across these guys today Hip Wiggling Society.
They're putting on an event at Gwithian on 3rd and 4th September - this weekend! I'll see if I can make the Sunday :)
They're putting on an event at Gwithian on 3rd and 4th September - this weekend! I'll see if I can make the Sunday :)
Wednesday, 31 August 2011
Wednesday, 20 April 2011
European Longboard Tour 2011
Monday, 10 January 2011
Standard New Year Post
I haven't blogged in ages - it's shocking and odd feeling really. I suppose the crux of it is that nothing too crazy/interesting has been happening or has it??
Seemed to have had a pretty busy December (got me new board!) and took a trip to La Plagne snowboarding in France :) Well, sort of. In so much as I will ill in bed for most of it boo :( It dumped massively for a couple of days, so some of the guys were having a proper ace time in the "puff". Nic was loving the new snowboard after a slow start and I performed the worlds best crash. Managed to land upside down in a tree - eek! Quite funny :)
Christmas day was spent with Nic's family and then headed down to my lot in Hereford for Boxing Day. After a wine spilt New Years eve with Alex and Caz we headed to Cornwall to stay with Jo, Andy and Nina and I got to finally to try out the new longboard and what a little beaut it was :)
Back to work now - boo!
I don't do New Year resolutions, but maybe this year should be more surfing, kiting, snowboarding and find a job that's fun...
Seemed to have had a pretty busy December (got me new board!) and took a trip to La Plagne snowboarding in France :) Well, sort of. In so much as I will ill in bed for most of it boo :( It dumped massively for a couple of days, so some of the guys were having a proper ace time in the "puff". Nic was loving the new snowboard after a slow start and I performed the worlds best crash. Managed to land upside down in a tree - eek! Quite funny :)
Christmas day was spent with Nic's family and then headed down to my lot in Hereford for Boxing Day. After a wine spilt New Years eve with Alex and Caz we headed to Cornwall to stay with Jo, Andy and Nina and I got to finally to try out the new longboard and what a little beaut it was :)
Back to work now - boo!
I don't do New Year resolutions, but maybe this year should be more surfing, kiting, snowboarding and find a job that's fun...
Monday, 6 December 2010
The Complete Opposite
As I look out the window, my environment couldn't more the complete opposite of this...
New Addition to the Family
I am pleased to announce the latest addition to the family :) A 9'6" Gulf Stream Saunton Foil. Firstly sorry for the really rubbish pictures! It's so cold outside, there's just no way I was taking it out there to photo it. I will have to do some more when I take it out for a sesh.
This is the best one and this is the one I took in the shop with my phone. It's a mustard yellow with black and white pin stripes. Here's a another couple..
And if you look closely (again - rubbish pic sorry!), it says "For Rob by Jools" - sweet :)
This is hopefully going to be a life long relationship and I'm sure we will have our ups and downs. But right now, I need some nice small to medium clean waves so we can get to know each other a little better...
Big thanks to Skelly at Gulf Stream for being a great help in helping get what I wanted and helping Nic work out what design to have on it and a big thumbs to Jools for the shaping magic :)
Once we've settled in, I'll give Finshack a shout to line up some alternative fin action as well :)
Tuesday, 12 October 2010
Roctober North Devon Session
Just back from another great weekend in Devon. The weather and waves were great.
In fact, I can't believe how good the weather was. We were shorts and t-shirts and sat out in the evening. Now we all know how chilly Nic gets - well, she was even out and only had a normal number of layers on - not the usual 4,400!
Nic & I arrived Friday morning, a bit ahead of Craig and Kerry. They had had an "alarm clock issue" and didn't quite get up at the right time - oops! We messed about a bit and then watched the Saunton waves peeling down the beach. C&K rocked up in what sounded like a B52 bomber. There had been exhaust issues. These issues raised their head again on the way home and they didn't get to leave Barnstaple until 5 in the evening when they set off at 1 in the afternoon.
Friday, Saturday and Sunday were all great sea days (Monday was flat - checked Woolacombe area but still no joy). I think Magicseaweed must have been bigging up the conditions as it was packed! It was like a summers day out there. We ended up leaving it later and later each day. Fewer people about and to be honest the conditions were nicer.
Croyde was pretty big a couple of the days. Far too big for me! None the less, Craig and I went in very early on Sunday morning (or was it Saturday - can't remember). It was a bit boisterous so it was only a quick one...
Kerry had a few goes as well. This was her first time in quite a few years. The last time involved an incident with a board and her nose - ouch! But with a bit more time, she'll get the burn back ;)
Nic successfully managed to negotiate using my longboard again. She's getting on really well with it. Looks like I may be loosing that one in the near future - Gulfstream here I come :)
We had a nice surprise on Saturday when Steve & Nick (we met in Newquoi in September) popped by to say hello. They were at Oktoberfest near Cheddar. So cups of tea and a walk down to the pumping break at Croyde made for a relaxing afternoon.
The splitty ran well! hoohah! Having done a couple more tweaks, the overheating has stopped - finally! He's going to get tucked up now for winter, but he'll have a few Christmas presents to be added in the new year :)
So, yet another nice break :)
In fact, I can't believe how good the weather was. We were shorts and t-shirts and sat out in the evening. Now we all know how chilly Nic gets - well, she was even out and only had a normal number of layers on - not the usual 4,400!
Nic & I arrived Friday morning, a bit ahead of Craig and Kerry. They had had an "alarm clock issue" and didn't quite get up at the right time - oops! We messed about a bit and then watched the Saunton waves peeling down the beach. C&K rocked up in what sounded like a B52 bomber. There had been exhaust issues. These issues raised their head again on the way home and they didn't get to leave Barnstaple until 5 in the evening when they set off at 1 in the afternoon.
Croyde was pretty big a couple of the days. Far too big for me! None the less, Craig and I went in very early on Sunday morning (or was it Saturday - can't remember). It was a bit boisterous so it was only a quick one...
Kerry had a few goes as well. This was her first time in quite a few years. The last time involved an incident with a board and her nose - ouch! But with a bit more time, she'll get the burn back ;)
Nic successfully managed to negotiate using my longboard again. She's getting on really well with it. Looks like I may be loosing that one in the near future - Gulfstream here I come :)
We had a nice surprise on Saturday when Steve & Nick (we met in Newquoi in September) popped by to say hello. They were at Oktoberfest near Cheddar. So cups of tea and a walk down to the pumping break at Croyde made for a relaxing afternoon.
The splitty ran well! hoohah! Having done a couple more tweaks, the overheating has stopped - finally! He's going to get tucked up now for winter, but he'll have a few Christmas presents to be added in the new year :)
Tuesday, 28 September 2010
Corduroy Lines: Issue 12
Issue 12 of Corduroy Lines is out! It's a limited edition print run this time round. Needless to say, mine was ordered sometime ago ;)
Tuesday, 21 September 2010
Monday, 20 September 2010
Sunny September in the South West
Not long back from our regular September run to Cornwall.Two weeks this time, as opposed to the usual one week. It was great doing the extra week and we managed to relax and chill out (I believe the new word on the streets is chillax - real hip!).
The week started off well with our visit to see Gavin at Finshack and the purchase of a sneaky new fin. What a beaut! I tried it out at Polzeath and wow what a difference it made :) Honestly, I didn't think I would notice the difference - but the first wave and the board felt completely different - really nice and very happy :) That was one of the few times I got to use my board - more on that later...
Polzeath was busy, so after a major rain storm we moved on and ended up in the dizzy heights of Newquoi. We'd planned to stay near Constantine, but we got major demotivated with the horrific weather, leaking van windows, soaked awning and the red flags at the beach (especially after having the sea so nice in Polzeath). So Newquoi it was.
One thing lead to another and all our plans of cruising around and going to different places never happened and we stayed at trusty old Trencreek the entire time. To be honest, the waves in Newquoi were really nice, so we didn't want to risk moving and not have suxh good conditions. We ventured to Crantock and Gwithian (saw Jo & Andy while we were there of course) and both times convinced us that staying was the way to go!
We met Steve and Nick, who are from Manchester, at the campsite. They had a nice pimped out T4 and a puck (which fared well on a couple of the cooler nights - especially with heating and what have ya!). We had a great time with them, several beverages and a couple of bad heads (mainly me!). No doubt we will be catching up with them very soon :)
Nic spent most of the fortnight on my longboard and made some really good progress. There's no excuse now, she has to come out with me next time we go in. So she had better use out of the new fin than I did. But I can hand on heart say that I got my first real good controlled nose ride! I think that was on the Monday night of the second week. I was made up. The board locked in on the wave, I moved forward and was about 15 cm from the end, held it for a good few seconds and then moved back as the board became a little unstable. Poetry in motion ;)
How did the van go? Up and down really. Still having overheating problems, but we at least managed to get down and back at around 60mph. Which is good, but not good enough! So there's still some work to do there. That aside, he ran around town really well and served us excellently for the whole 2 weeks. Can't grumble.
As we are now getting to be creatures of habit, we did the usual of going via Devon on the way home. So managed to grab a sneaky session on Saturday evening at Saunton (I got on my longboard this time!) and Nic managed a good few waves at Puts, on Sunday, before heading home (on our wedding anniversary).
An excellent two weeks, surfing, sunning and meeting great people :) Roll on next September...
Some other piccies I took...
The week started off well with our visit to see Gavin at Finshack and the purchase of a sneaky new fin. What a beaut! I tried it out at Polzeath and wow what a difference it made :) Honestly, I didn't think I would notice the difference - but the first wave and the board felt completely different - really nice and very happy :) That was one of the few times I got to use my board - more on that later...
Polzeath was busy, so after a major rain storm we moved on and ended up in the dizzy heights of Newquoi. We'd planned to stay near Constantine, but we got major demotivated with the horrific weather, leaking van windows, soaked awning and the red flags at the beach (especially after having the sea so nice in Polzeath). So Newquoi it was.
One thing lead to another and all our plans of cruising around and going to different places never happened and we stayed at trusty old Trencreek the entire time. To be honest, the waves in Newquoi were really nice, so we didn't want to risk moving and not have suxh good conditions. We ventured to Crantock and Gwithian (saw Jo & Andy while we were there of course) and both times convinced us that staying was the way to go!
We met Steve and Nick, who are from Manchester, at the campsite. They had a nice pimped out T4 and a puck (which fared well on a couple of the cooler nights - especially with heating and what have ya!). We had a great time with them, several beverages and a couple of bad heads (mainly me!). No doubt we will be catching up with them very soon :)
(Nick is sporting a slight toe injury in this picture - no more said about that hey Steve!)
Nic spent most of the fortnight on my longboard and made some really good progress. There's no excuse now, she has to come out with me next time we go in. So she had better use out of the new fin than I did. But I can hand on heart say that I got my first real good controlled nose ride! I think that was on the Monday night of the second week. I was made up. The board locked in on the wave, I moved forward and was about 15 cm from the end, held it for a good few seconds and then moved back as the board became a little unstable. Poetry in motion ;)
How did the van go? Up and down really. Still having overheating problems, but we at least managed to get down and back at around 60mph. Which is good, but not good enough! So there's still some work to do there. That aside, he ran around town really well and served us excellently for the whole 2 weeks. Can't grumble.
As we are now getting to be creatures of habit, we did the usual of going via Devon on the way home. So managed to grab a sneaky session on Saturday evening at Saunton (I got on my longboard this time!) and Nic managed a good few waves at Puts, on Sunday, before heading home (on our wedding anniversary).
An excellent two weeks, surfing, sunning and meeting great people :) Roll on next September...
Some other piccies I took...
What a difference the angle made - Nic preparing
A couple there of Nic coming back up the beach - the sky was amazing that night!
Some rare footage of me in the sea - paddling out at Fistral
Spot Steve's T4 and our Split parked up at Pentire
Friday, 27 August 2010
Wednesday, 28 July 2010
Killing Time
I'm supposed to be writing an email logging tool into a website I work on today - but I'm just not feeling the magic happen. So it's officially time killing time! That generally means that Vimeo gets a hammering :)
So here's a vid to help pass that time...the last scene is particularly good where he tries to lob the board over the wave - hehehe...been there once or twice!
So here's a vid to help pass that time...the last scene is particularly good where he tries to lob the board over the wave - hehehe...been there once or twice!
Tuesday, 27 July 2010
Best Wave and Best Ice-Cream
Nic had another appointment at the Docs in Exeter yesterday (Monday), so that obviously meant that we headed once again to Cornwall on Thursday night to the dizzy heights of the pebble dash palace in Connor Downs. Jo, Andy and Nina once again humouring us for a few days - it's like a second home :)
The trusty M5 was closed around J20 something (as it was on the way home as well), thanks to some plebs being dicks - hey ho...
It's clear that school holidays have started - everywhere was rammed. The usual 50 fifty people painfully trying to catch a wave and busy car parks. Check out this pic taken by Finshack...
The trusty M5 was closed around J20 something (as it was on the way home as well), thanks to some plebs being dicks - hey ho...
It's clear that school holidays have started - everywhere was rammed. The usual 50 fifty people painfully trying to catch a wave and busy car parks. Check out this pic taken by Finshack...
Friday saw what was my best wave ever! Long, clean, stable, comfortable, the list goes one. Everything about it was just nice. The build up, the take off and the ride. I was sure I could have gone for a comfortable nose ride, but the wave was too good to potentially spoil. I held it in there and flew gracefully off the back, feeling all smug :)
Saturday and Sunday, as expected, was busy as hell. So on Saturday we dilled around a bit and had a superb ice-cream at Mr B's. Banoffee pie and wild cherry ripple for me thanks :) The waves weren't happening so Sunday was the next session. As per usual, the crowds and kids start heading home when it's foody time, so we donned the suits (wishing I'd brought the boardies and vest - was well hot!) and went in. The tide was quite high, so it was a bit rough. Nic went in for the first time since her op! She struggled a bit, but that was more the conditions than anything. Next time ;)
Unfortunately my granddad died on Thursday night :'( So I felt it apt to dedicate my best wave to date to him :)
Tuesday, 6 July 2010
Paddle Round the Pier - Part 2
So Saturday and Sunday saw our first visit to paddle round the pier in Brighton. We had a great weekend with our friends Danny and Sheri (who have a wicked Type 3 Fastback!).
It all started off for real on Friday when we headed down to The Witterings in what turned out to be an ambitious desire to get in the sea. After a pleasant few hours on the beach, laughing at a chav on a body board, we headed back to Brighton and took a look at the Hot Pipe for a surf. Although small, it was consistent and there were a fair few locals in. Danny hadn't surfed there before even though he has lived in the area for years. So boardies and vest were adourned and we had a great hour or so in the water :) Pizzas and a couple of brewskis in the evening almost instantly made me sleep (which seemed to be a theme for me for the whole weekend - falling asleep that is!).
We headed down to the festival on Saturday after a nice lazy morning. What a cracking event and all for free! There were quite a few exhibitors there, bands playing all day until 10 at night and a fair few things you could have a go at yourself - again free (albeit for a small donation to charity). There were a few guys from a parkour club called Urban Athletics. They were good :)
The RNLI did a demo rescue later in the day. It was slightly delayed as they had to go out with the helicopter to perform a real rescue - eek!
It all started off for real on Friday when we headed down to The Witterings in what turned out to be an ambitious desire to get in the sea. After a pleasant few hours on the beach, laughing at a chav on a body board, we headed back to Brighton and took a look at the Hot Pipe for a surf. Although small, it was consistent and there were a fair few locals in. Danny hadn't surfed there before even though he has lived in the area for years. So boardies and vest were adourned and we had a great hour or so in the water :) Pizzas and a couple of brewskis in the evening almost instantly made me sleep (which seemed to be a theme for me for the whole weekend - falling asleep that is!).
We headed down to the festival on Saturday after a nice lazy morning. What a cracking event and all for free! There were quite a few exhibitors there, bands playing all day until 10 at night and a fair few things you could have a go at yourself - again free (albeit for a small donation to charity). There were a few guys from a parkour club called Urban Athletics. They were good :)
I think this bad boy belonged to Ocean Sports...
The RNLI did a demo rescue later in the day. It was slightly delayed as they had to go out with the helicopter to perform a real rescue - eek!
The weather was superb as well. The sea was rough and although Brighton Watersports were offering free (small charity donation) use of SUPs and kayaks, they had to stop as the surf was pounding the beach and was pretty difficult to get in and out of the sea. Quite amusing to watch though :)
The evening required a quick trip to a supermarket to get some bangers and burgers as the Brighton Watersports crew and the Brighton Surf Lifesaving Club were throwing a "B" and as Danny and Sheri knew them we tagged along ;)
Sunday saw us heading down to the festival again and there was an Animal Relentless bike tour show on. Pretty impressive stuff! We ate jerk chicken and watched the world go by...
Obviously, in the evening, there was a major requirement to have a quick tasting at the Harveys pub :)
An excellent weekend!
ooh! Forgot to mention these guys at Balsa Surfers. Makers of fine balsa surfboards and fins. Truly gorgeous boards and their fins are an inspiration to me!
ooh! Forgot to mention these guys at Balsa Surfers. Makers of fine balsa surfboards and fins. Truly gorgeous boards and their fins are an inspiration to me!
Tuesday, 29 June 2010
Pictures from the BLU Comp at Watergate Bay
What a day Sunday was. It was blazing hot and the surf was pumping. I'm not a regular attendee to surf comps, but as I was around and it was longboarding, it was rude to miss it.
A bit of a school boy error from me really - we arrived at 11ish when the masters heats were just finishing and planned to re-start after 2 to allow the tide to begin it's journey back in. Hey ho - Nic sun bathed and I covered up ;)
The comp was fun and here are some pics I took with Andy's fancy camera...
A bit of a school boy error from me really - we arrived at 11ish when the masters heats were just finishing and planned to re-start after 2 to allow the tide to begin it's journey back in. Hey ho - Nic sun bathed and I covered up ;)
The comp was fun and here are some pics I took with Andy's fancy camera...
Saturday, 26 June 2010
Is Small Always Best?
Had another evening session down at Godrevy tonight. What a great time :) Didn't get down there until half seven, but being summer, the sun was still shining and there were some nice small waves.
Two nights on the trot is has been like this and two nights on the trot I have had a great time. Easy to get out and with a good paddle, the waves caught have been slowly peeling and holding me in nicely.
I've had so many nice sessions when the conditions have been like that - it's becoming my preference. A Californian experience in Cornwall!
Two nights on the trot is has been like this and two nights on the trot I have had a great time. Easy to get out and with a good paddle, the waves caught have been slowly peeling and holding me in nicely.
I've had so many nice sessions when the conditions have been like that - it's becoming my preference. A Californian experience in Cornwall!
Wednesday, 23 June 2010
BLU Event Number 3 2010 at Watergate Bay
Picture courtesy of http://www.british-longboard-union.co.uk
Seems rude not to especially as I am in Cornwall as I type! We're staying with Jo & Andy again for a week or so. Helping Nic recover from her op! Well, that's the excuse anyway!!!
Andy's working this weekend, so will ask if I can borrow his fancy camera and try and get some shots...
Monday, 14 June 2010
Gwithian A Go-Go
We're back from a few days in Cornwall and my first kite session in ages. This wasn't a proper holiday as Nic has had an operation on her shoulder and it was in Exeter. So after a few days there (of me rocking it up in a nice hotel - St.Andrews - Exeter - which by-the by was good value and very nice) we decided to head to our friends in Cornwall. It was closer then going all the way home and nicer! :) Nic mostly slept and I mostly worked.
What a wally! I forgot to take my camera and we spent one night from about 9 til midnight, just sat in Gwithian car park watching the sun go down - it was stunning - as always.
I managed a couple of sessions in the sea. I can't remember what days, but the first session was pumping! Too big for me ;) I stuck at it though with my shorter board and although I was getting tired from the constant bashings, I managed to get some nice waves.
The second and third sessions were back on the log again. I've got to be honest, I always like to think I like the shorter board, but my heart is with the plank. Got a few sweet ones and I was happy.
I used my summer suit for the first time this year - all good! No boots and gloves and the feeling of being almost nude - hehehe! It's such a difference. I dropped of my winter suit off with Adam at Overhead in Newquay (sorry - Newquoi!) to be fixed - the damned thing is falling to bits :( Maybe line a new one up next summer...
We should be heading back down to Exeter again in 5 to 6 weeks for a follow-up for Nic. Fingers crossed we can land it near a weekend to get another sneaky one in ;)
What a wally! I forgot to take my camera and we spent one night from about 9 til midnight, just sat in Gwithian car park watching the sun go down - it was stunning - as always.
I managed a couple of sessions in the sea. I can't remember what days, but the first session was pumping! Too big for me ;) I stuck at it though with my shorter board and although I was getting tired from the constant bashings, I managed to get some nice waves.
The second and third sessions were back on the log again. I've got to be honest, I always like to think I like the shorter board, but my heart is with the plank. Got a few sweet ones and I was happy.
I used my summer suit for the first time this year - all good! No boots and gloves and the feeling of being almost nude - hehehe! It's such a difference. I dropped of my winter suit off with Adam at Overhead in Newquay (sorry - Newquoi!) to be fixed - the damned thing is falling to bits :( Maybe line a new one up next summer...
We should be heading back down to Exeter again in 5 to 6 weeks for a follow-up for Nic. Fingers crossed we can land it near a weekend to get another sneaky one in ;)
Tuesday, 1 June 2010
Made Another Fin
Having had a reasonably good success with Fin 1, I thought I would give another shape a go. We had a piece Alaia wood leftover from a table we made for the hallway so I used that - thanks to he guys at Loose Fit in Braunton.
I'm pretty happy with the way this came out. It was a much nicer wood to work with than the ply. In hind site, I think I would have preferred to have done the other shape with this wood, but it might be a nice addition to the underside of the table ;)
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