How Was Your Weekend?

Competition news General Club News St. Ives Surf School events Surf Club Events

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OK. So the morning high tide caused the cancellation of Saturday Kids Club,much to the disappointment of kids, parents and instructors alike! So how did you get your weekend surf thrill?

Well – as it happened – there was lots of surf action to be caught at Porthmeor Beach over the weekend, courtesy of St. Ives Surf School. On Friday night Porthmeor West Beach Bakery hosted the Red Bull Surf Cinema, showing a series of Jamie O’Brien films interspersed with locally made surf films, including the premiere of Harry De Roth’s latest. It’s the best evening of the year for gathering local surfers together, catching up with friends, and for club members young and old to hang out!

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DJ Justo kept us royally entertained with some soulful sounds until the evening sun dropped behind Man’s Head and the screenings began. And he was on duty again on Sunday morning aboard the Red Bull truck as the 5th edition of the famous Fancy Dress Swellboard Shootout commenced at Porthmeor.

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Twenty eight teams reported for battle sporting some amazingly inventive fancy dress ideas, and after displaying for the judges, the whole competition paraded through St. Ives to remind the town that  International Surfing Day was being celebrated at Porthmeor.

I’ll leave the details of the format and regulations as they have been well explained in blogs from recent years – and proceed to the results as announced at the after-party at the Balcony once the beach festivities had ended:

Best fancy dress earned Kiss a £200 prize donated by Maurice Symons of The Sloop Inn

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Kiss headline at Fancy Dress comp.

Jamaican Bob – winners in the water.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Jamaican Bobsleigh Team won the Shootout in the water – boosted enormously by a stonking ride by Adam Bayfield which received two 9’s and a 10 from the judges and earned him a goody bag of Rhythm clothing, and helped earn his team a first prize of a trip to surf the Severn Bore courtesy of Red Bull.

And to demonstrate that the day wasn’t all about surfing prowess –  Eggselence were awarded the wooden spoon for the lowest score of the day – along with some cool clothing!

 

Takedowns and drop-ins are encouraged!

Takedowns and drop-ins are encouraged!

Mi Luds!

Grateful thanks Mi Luds!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We are delighted to once again help Surfers Against Sewage in their great work in campaigning for clean oceans, and heartfelt thanks go out to the sponsors who supported the weekend’s events :  Red Bull, Rhythm Clothing, Korev Lager, Robies Robes, and Porthmeor Beach. Thanks also to Barnie and Joel, RNLI lifeguards who volunteered to provide water cover for the event, and to our distinguished judges – you know who you are!

Watch Luke Pilbeam’s video edit here!

Nick Pumphrey’s photo gallery of the Swellboard Shootout is here

And Harry De Roth’s latest video is here

 

But enough about our weekend – How was yours?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And…   we’re back!

And… we’re back!

General Club News Groms

Our first Saturday Morning Surf Club of 2015 saw an impressive turnout of 112 juniors in the water, and over twenty helpers to register, teach and keep them safe while in the club’s care. There was a great influx of new members, particularly in the Nemo group comprising the youngest children and parents. The waves were a perfect one foot size to offer them a gentle introduction to the water, and after the customary safety talk and demonstration of board handling technique, there was an enthusiastic group ready to make their first forays into the surf.

 

Nemo meet Buddha

Nemo meet Buddha

Know your signals

Know your signals

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Of course, there was the serious matter of the warm-up to be dealt with before leashes could be fastened to ankles! – and some choice routines were demonstrated to the amusement of the watching parents.

 

Toes over the end of the board!

Toes over the end of the board!

Travolta rides again

Travolta rides again

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s fair to say that conditions suited the Swellboard riders better than they did those on their own hardboards – and the elite group in particular found itself doing an extra arduous warm-up of drills including shuttles and burpees which didn’t meet with universal enthusiasm! However, everyone had their share of waves by the end of the two sessions and our first Saturday of 2015 wrapped up with surfers and instructors alike happy to be back in action.

Back in the old routine

Back in the old routine

Too cool for school

Too cool for school

One happy surfer

One happy surfer