SurfGSD, 01792 360 370, Learn To Surf, Love the Beach Leave No Trace, British Surfing School, surfing development, gower surfing, surf travel, surf information,pictures,swansea bay, Ocean education, holidays, online surf shop, surf hire

Rubber Fetish, also a question for you Scum or SUP?

A few posts ago we had several comments regarding wetsuits, well if you have the above magazine it has a fantastic article entitled 'rubber fetish' (p.32,vol 17 No 5)   indeed the bottom line appears to be =  buy a suit that uses the right materials and fits. In fact, the comments by Gower Surfer Keith highlighted a wetsuit company called Matuse who are also mentioned in the Surfers journal.  By the way I also popped in 2 see Malcom at Snugg wetsuits the other day and we talked about modern day wetsuits and the different materials used by the mass wetsuit makers being different to that used by the likes of Snugg and Matuse.   Anyway if you get a chance read the article, custom winter suits are the future if you want to keep really warm.

Scum or SUP?

Well have a look at the links below and why not make your feelings known

2  articles with heaps of comments on regarding SUP surfing, 1) http://www.huckmagazine.com/blog/screw-stand-paddle-boarding/

2) http://www.surfline.com/surf-news/stand-up-paddleboards-classified-as-vessels-by-us-coast-guard-surf-zone-not-affected-stand-up-and-be-counted_19530/

UK Pro Surf Tour 2008

Reubin Pearce (above)  wins 2008 UK Pro Surf Tour

South African Reubin Pearce wins 2008 UK Pro Surf Tour in a dramatic day of surfing at the Animal Newquay Open. Reubin only had an outside chance of clinching the title going into the event; he needed Sam Lamiroy to be eliminated early and then had to reach the final, but must place himself ahead of Alan Stokes. All of which went to plan, although he had a few very nervous moments, for the first ten minutes of the heat he was placed last. But then he picked off a right hander which allowed two very powerful and vertical turns to take victory away from Alan Stokes and allow him to take the tour title despite not winning the event.

The Women’s tour was dominated and won by Irish surfer Nicole Morgan. Back from a year in Australia she only lost one event entered and that was to fellow Irish Surfer Easkey Britton. 

Tom Butler had a remarkable year, despite being over shadowed by Reubyn Ash and Jayce Robinson; he won the 2008 UK PST Pro Junior Title.

The Under 16 Boys division was very competitive throughout the year, however with great determination and incredible ability Toby Donachie took the title.

Despite fantastic performances from many of the Under 16 Girls, Zoe Sheath from Isle of Wight dominated, not loosing one heat all year to take the title.

The future stars of surfing look to be coming from the youngest division. The Under 12 Open this year was very competitive. Two surfers became the major challengers to the title, Dale Foster of Newquay and Ed Smith of Liskeard. They exchanged the lead several times through the course of the year with Dale eventually taking the title.

The 2008 UK Pro Surf Tour culminated in the Surf Awards, supported by the industry, a night to reward surfer’s for their achievements in 2008.
2008 SURF AWARDS – IN ASSOCIATION WITH UK PRO SURF TOUR

Sponsored awards:

   1. Fat Face Most Improved Surfer 2008 –  Winner: Reubyn Ash (Bude)

 

   2. Saltrock Rookie of the Year 2008 – Winner: Jayce Robinson St Ives

 

   3.   Spiezia Skin Care Most Inspirational Women’s Surfer 2008 –

      Winner:     Gwen Spurlock (Swansea)

   4.   Relentless Money Move 2008  - Winner:   Alan Stokes (Newquay)

 

   5.   Skinners Surfers Choice Award 2008 – Winner: Oli Adams (Newquay)

 

   6. Christian Surfers Sportsman Award 2008 –  Winner:    Mark Vaughan (Lantwit)

 

   7. King of Watersports.com King of Waves 2008 – Winner: Alan Stokes (Newquay)

 

8.  The Animal Commitment Award.. – Winner: Mike Young (S Africa)

Media Awards:

   9. Wavelength Most Promising Junior 2008 – Winner: Tom Butler (Newquay)

 

  10. Carve Aerialist 2008 – Winner:     Reubyn Ash (Bude)

 

  11. Surf Girl Most Up and Coming Female Surfer 2008 – Winner: Zoe Sheath (Isle of Wight)

 

  12. A1surf – Most Inspirational Surfer 2008 – Winner: Russell Winter (Newquay)

 

  13. Pit Pilot Underdog award. – Winner: Richard Dodd (S Africa)

 

  14. Newquay Airport Best Brit surfing internationally - Winner: Reubyn Ash (Bude)

 

15. UKPSA Best Surf Judge 2008 - Winner: Tony Good (Newquay)

16. UKPSA Services to the Sport of Surfing 2008 Winner: Nigel Semmens (Newquay)

 

UK PST 2008 Champions.

U12 Open: Dale Foster – (Newquay)

U16 Girls:  Zoe Sheath. (Isle of White)

U16 Boys:  Toby Donachie (St Merryn)

Longboard: Ben Skinner (St Agnes)

Pro Junior: Tom Butler (Newquay)

Women’s: Nicole Morgan (Ireland)

Open: Reubin Pearce (S Africa)

For further information please contact: Dave Reed 01637 879412

K38 UK Water Safety, based in Cornwall offering quality unique courses

Above is Ben G the only authorised K38 Instructor in the Uk and Ireland, he has just had his new website switched on check it out click here > K38 Water Safety UK

Had a good day training yesterday on the North Cornish coast on the skis with Ben, thanks mate.

Day one of the Animal Newquay Open at Fistral Beach

Animal Newquay Open

UKPST - Stop 9 of 9

Fistral Beach, Newquay

15th November 2008

Day one of the Animal Newquay Open at Fistral Beach began with some of the best conditions seen at this event in recent years. The final round of the UK Pro Surf Tour started with the Under 16 Boys and Pro Junior heats in 3-4ft onshore waves. The wind may have been onshore but the clean faces to the waves allowed the surfers to perform some big radical turns.

Toby Donachie from St Merryn surfed consistently well throughout, electing to surf all three possible categories, Under 16, Pro Junior and Open divisions. In doing so he progressed to both the Under 16 and Pro Junior finals. Other surfers that selected to surf multiple categories were Tom Butler (Newquay), Reubyn Ash (Bude) and Jayce Robinson (St Ives), who each surfed the Pro Junior and Open categories. All three made the final of the Pro Junior division along with Toby.  

Eventual champion in the Pro Junior was Reubyn Ash, with the highest individual score and combined score for his best two waves, totalling 9.33 and 17.5 respectively. Second place went to Tom Butler with Jayce Robinson in third and Toby Donachie in fourth.

Reubyn commented, “This is my last year in the pro junior division so I was really pleased to win the final event. I really enjoyed it and had some great waves.”

In the under 16 final along with Toby was Alex Baker, Tom Good and Leon Mansfield. All surfers put on an exceptional display of surfing but eventually taking the title was Alex Baker from Croyde, followed by Toby in second, Leon from Newquay in third and Tom, also from Newquay in fourth

Alex said, “It was a good contest, at least there were some decent waves for it. I didn’t feel like I surfed that well during the event but then I seemed to find my feet and got the waves that counted. It’s a great way to end my season!”

The first round of the Open division saw all the expected seeded surfers progress. Stand outs included past WCT surfer Russell Winter, Nathan Phillips from Llantwit and past world junior champion Jye Gofton from Australia.

Tomorrow is looking to be an epic day with the wind dropping and the main title challengers taking to the water including Animal pro surfer Alan Stokes and tour leader Sam Lamiroy.

The Falcon and Deep six are names of CHD designs custom shaped surfboards

Above, is Danny inspecting his crowd beater a 7' 4 swallow tail with wings and plenty of float to help with catching waves. Next to Danny is the surfboard shaper Chris Harris who describes 'the falcon' as a great board for those that have had a mini mal and would like to move on to a board that will enable them to do more turns and spice up their surfing. P.S If you book a custom shaped board through us Chris will give you a 10% discount click here for more information > Custom shaped surfboards

Below is a 7ft 4 deep six custom shaped for me, Chris said that all the boys in the factory kept looking at it and saying how sick it looks... looking forward to using it in the Atlantic this winter.

Surfboards for those stepping off a foam board, starter surfboard packages

The first step for most novice surfers after a surfing lesson is to practice/hire on soft surfboards for a while until they are standing up and catching waves on a regular basis. Then there are a variety of reasonably priced intermediate boards available, the board rack above shows a variety of boards from a shortboard thruster, a fat boy flyer and a mini mal type of board.

Ask your surf instructor for advice on surfboard suitable for you as they would have seen you surfing and know your ability level in the water.

Surfboard packages are available for starters which include board bag, leg rope, board, and wax prices depend on board shape and size:

Prices from
1)  £300 includes 6ft 8 Swallow tail board, board bag, leg rope and wax   > More info
2)  £330 includes 7ft 6 Mini Mal, board bag, leg rope and wax  > More info
3) £355 includes 7ft 10 Mini Mal, board bag, leg rope and wax > More info

Surfing lessons all year round here in Swansea, indoors or outdoors?

Winter wetsuits are on along with boots for the outdoor surfing sessions aimed at those that enjoy surfing in the more powerful winter waves here on Gower.

For those not into the cold how about stepping into the tropics and surfing indoors with us? No wintersuits required here! 

Talking of wintersuits thanks to Keith a respected Gower surfer for highlighing an excellent wetsuit company called   http://www.matuse.com/

As regards surfing lessons we are now running sessions every weekend at Caswell bay near mumbles to book and pay you can click here > Surf lessons caswell bay

We run sessions after school for junior surfers and parents on the following days: Thursday 17.30, 18.30, 19.30  Fridays 17.30 and 18.30 plus Saturday mornings 10 a.m, 10.45 a.m to book in click here >  Contact the LC     For private surfing sessions with us on the board rider simply  click here > private surf lessons

11 Euros! How Much? Well if you are planning a stag do or Hen do weekend forget Europe, stay in the UK and come to Swansea or Newquay, Cornwall

11 Euros for two half pints of gassy crap French beer!! 13 Euros for two pints of Guiness in Ireland, 12 Euros for two shorts in the Canary Islands!!  

FORGET going away for your last weekend of freedom stay here in the UK. The pints are just under £3's in some of the bars in Newquay and the famous Wind street in Swansea. 

Places to stay start at £30 p.p and eating out is much cheaper than the £25 breakfast for two in a hotel in Paris...Forget the security checks,and the idea of cheap flights just jump on a train which if booked in advance can cost a little as £10 p.p one way. 

Most groups however, have started hiring their own mini bus which is ideal because it gets you to the destination and can be used to get to the beaches for your surfing session with us.

Stay home next summer for your weekend of fun, you know it makes sense!!

See below for quick links:

Places to stay Swansea

Places to stay Newquay

Contact us for info on Newquay stag or hen weekends

Contact us for info on Swansea stag or hen weekends

Fistral Beach will crown the 2008 UK Pro Surf Tour Champion, 15th and 16th November

Fistral Beach, Newquay

The heat is on for the Animal Newquay Open which is set to crown the 2008 UK Pro Surf Tour champions at Fistral on the 15th and 16th of November.

The event will be the 9th and final event on the UK Pro Surf Tour 2008 and it looks set to be a tense title decider with just a few points standing between current tour leaders Sam Lamiroy and Animal rider Alan Stokes.

Both Sam, the defending UKPST champion,  and Animal rider Alan have had a great year on the 2008 tour leaving it right up until the last event to decide who will take the title making it one of the closest tour results ever.

The 1 star event supported by Animal will consist of Men’s Open, Women’s Open, Pro Junior and Under 16 Boys divisions with a prize purse of £2750.

Dave Reed, Director UK PSA comments,

"It is fitting that the last event will decide the outcome of this year’s tour. The two main challengers are Sam and Alan, who have both won the tour title in the past. However there are two other surfers that have a chance; Reubyn Ash from Bude and South African Ruebin Pearce". Adding “again the level of surfing on the tour has been exceptional, surfers have had to compete in extreme and diverse conditions, who ever wins this years title will deserve it”

The weekend will also see the 2008 Surf Awards being held at the Esplanade Hotel at South Fistral on Sunday the 16th of November to celebrate this year’s achievements in surfing and to officially crown the 2008 tour champion. Tickets for the Surf Awards are available now through the UKPST office.

As with surfboards is it time to start buying custom made wetsuits?

  Ok, the wetsuit debate goes on.. I am just going to buy myself a cheap one that will do the job for me this winter as will be away a great deal > What Wetsuit 

However, if I was going to spend most of the winter surfing here in the Uk I would probably order a custom made suit which is going to fit me better than something made in China.

Two top guys in the Uk  that I would think about getting my custom suit from are Malcom @ Snug wetsuits (Newquay)  and Greg Owen @ No Limit (Porthcawl) 

Perhaps as surfers trying to do the right thing for the environment and in turn support local companies it is time to kick expensive brands and surf shops  in to touch and spend that money on British custom made suits and custom shaped surfboards

What do you think?