Big Spring Beach Clean 2017

Big Spring Beach Clean 2017

General Club News St. Ives Surf School events

Saturday 1st of April was the date of this year’s Big Spring Beach Clean in St. Ives. A large group of volunteers was welcomed on Porthmeor Beach by Lowenna Jones of Surfers Against Sewage and Harris Rothschild of St. Ives Surf School to be briefed on what we might find during the clean-up, and what NGO’s like Surfers Against Sewage are doing to raise awareness of seaborne pollution and to combat the sources of that pollution.

Harris and Lowenna

Once the briefing was complete we split into two groups, one group to work from Porthmeor West across the beach, The Island, Porthgwidden Beach, Bamaluz and the harbour from Smeaton’s Pier while the other group began at Porthminster Point and worked across Porthminster, Pedn Olva rocks and the low tide foreshore from Lambeth Walk and West Pier to meet on the Slipway. Our task was made easier this year as the Spring tide had cleansed the beaches earlier in the morning, and the three principal beaches had already received their usual morning clean from the regular service. However, there was still lots to find around The Island, and plenty of examples of ‘nurdles’, the small plastic balls that are the raw material of the process of making plastics were found along Lambeth Walk where the big tides had flung them up at the high tide mark. Shreds of discarded rope and random metal pieces were prevalent in the harbour along with the persistent menace of cigarette ends and fast food litter.

It was very worthwhile exercise of a couple of hours which reaped a small harvest of marine debris and in the process raised public awareness locally, the event being covered by the St. Ives Times And Echo, and nationally in a piece on Sky TV News featuring Surfers Against Sewage director Hugo Tagholm and St. Ives surfer Jayce Robinson. Thanks and well done to all who took part, many of whom are in our banner picture taken at the conclusion of proceedings by Matty Snelling. All other pictures by Nog.

Anything You Want

Anything You Want

General Club News Groms Surf Profiles

‘Anything You Want” is the title of Harry De Roth’s latest video offering shot and edited by Greg Dennis in 4K and showcasing the best in British surfing and videography. It’s a companion piece to the two videos highlighted in our previous blog, http://www.saintsboardriders.co.uk/rainy-day-videos/ having been shot at the same Thurso Surf Festival in 2016. Taken all together they give a compelling picture of a surfer’s life on the road at a tour competition. Maintaining form over the duration of the event, coping with different waves and sea conditions, getting in some free-surfing and practice between heats, all these elements combined with a nerve for competition are what brings success. Enjoy Harry’s newest vid Anything You Want here! 

Matty Behind The Lens

Matty Behind The Lens

General Club News Surf Club Events

Matty Snelling, ace surf coach and Saturday Surf Club star has launched his new website featuring his photographic work. There’s lots to admire including landscapes, seascapes, surf photography and weddings. Check it out here .

And as a bonus, here are some of his shots from the end-of-season comp last year to remind us what our club is about.Enjoy!

 

A Tesco Fundraiser

A Tesco Fundraiser

General Club News Surf Club Events

 

Emma Jarvis secured a fundraising spot in Tesco St. Ives entrance last Thursday, and our junior surf club stepped up to persuade the public to open their purses on behalf of saints boardriders. A good number of children and parents offered their time in one hour spells to bring the story of our clubhouse construction to the town, and they succeeded in raising several hundred pounds toward the project. Pictured below are just some of those campaigners – my apologies to those who aren’t featured here because everyone’s input was valuable on the day! Many thanks to those who helped, and to those who weren’t able to help on the day, keep an eye out for our next fundraiser and be prepared to offer your services there.

Our heartfelt thanks particularly to Tesco St. Ives for the opportunity to campaign and raise our profile with their customers!

Rainy Day Videos

Rainy Day Videos

General Club News Surf Video

Winter brings us a little more downtime as far as saints boardriders goes, so here are a couple of videos featuring our leading competitors on the British scene. Both were shot at the Thurso Surf Festival at the end of last season by Mr. B Productions. The first covers the whole event in all divisions and offers a measure of what it takes to surf at the highest level on the national  scene. The second features our own Jayce Robinson finding some nuggets in his free-surfing sessions away from the comp site.

Fill your cup with your favourite hot drink, grab a packet of biscuits, click on the image and enjoy!

Our thanks to Mr. B Productions, the UK Pro Surf Tour and Vimeo for these gems.

 

 

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

General Club News

Tradition demanded that there was a show of members turn out over Christmas to fly the flag at Porthmeor. Conditions on the day were most appealing, and over the course of the morning a fair few answered the call. Here are some of those – spines stiffened with a shot of Glayva – who represented this year!

We wish all our members and friends a healthy and prosperous New Year!

 

Saints Boardrider takes UK tour title again

Saints Boardrider takes UK tour title again

General Club News

It’s been a fruitful late Autumn harvest for saints boardrider Harry de Roth as he won the last two events on the UK Pro Surfers Under-18 tour to take the 2016 title. He arrived at the penultimate event at Thurso in Scotland in second place on the rankings, and a handsome win there left him still 10 points behind Bude’s Kit Innes. The last event, Surfing Sumo’s Clash of the Groms at a stormy Fistral Beach Newquay, saw Harry win all his heats on his way to the final where he comboed the field, taking 1000 points for the win over Kit’s 730 for third place, to retain the tour title he won in 2015.

Harry now leaves his junior days behind him and takes to the adult ranks as a pro surfer. His winter schedule encompasses training in Australia before trips to Bali and Hawaii for video shoots. Good luck and ‘Bon Voyage” Harry.

And Harry’s latest film has just been released this week. Beautifully shot and edited by Greg Dennis, watch it here!

A Fundraiser at The Balcony

A Fundraiser at The Balcony

General Club News Surf Club Events

With the Saturday Kids Club wrapped up for the season, our attention now turns to the small matter of raising funds towards the building of the clubhouse. The first initiative of the winter was an End-Of-Season party at The Balcony on 12th November. We were honoured to have the Sandy Acre Seven deliver some spanking dance tunes which had the floor filled and the place rocking from their opening number to the very end of their set!

There was a great turnout from the Saturday morning kids and their parents, and fine support from the wider community, helping to fill the Balcony as well as filling our collection boxes and the raffle ticket sales.

Harris and some Nemos

Harris and some Nemos

Shark Alert!

Shark Alert!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After the band had finished and the kids ( and some of we older hands) had disappeared towards our beds, the fun continued long beyond midnight as the town’s regular Saturday night revellers came to join the party. A great night was had by all, and the club coffers were swelled by over £2000 in the process!

       Thanks to The Sandy Acre Seven for bringing their special party vibe, thanks to The Balcony Bar and St Austell Brewery for the hospitality.

Further thanks are extended to to all the people who gave us raffle prizes; Porthminster Restaurant, The Fire House, Tregenna Castle, The Garrack, Howdens, R&J Supplies, Michelle Footman, Holly Kearey, Alder, Good Folks Barbers, and Burdett Wines.

Also thanks to our doormen Emma and Rebecca (no one would mess with them) and all the other guys and girls who helped on the night. And finally thanks to everyone who came and gave generously. We have a long way to go on the fundraising front, so please watch out for our next extravaganza and be ready to come and help us realise our dream!

 

British Nationals 2016

British Nationals 2016

Competition news General Club News Groms

Perranporth hosted the British National Surfing Championships last weekend and some very contestable surf enabled a high standard of surfing to be seen. There was a hectic schedule, with two peaks in operation all weekend to get through the programme and find champions in fifteen divisions.

All our St. Ives surfers were still in contention going into finals day. We lost our first competitor when Taylor Bairds was edged into third place in the Under-14 Boys quarter final.

Taylor bows out in the quarters.

And that was our only loss as we reached the finals! First up was Eleanor Hewlett in the Under-12 Girls. Finishing in fourth place in her first shot at the nationals, this was a very creditable performance!

Eleanor, first left on the podium

Eleanor, first left on the podium

Our next finalist was a new recruit to saints boardriders, Luke Jannaway in the Mens Masters ( 35 and over). In a hotly contested heat, Luke earned fourth place, crowning a good weekend’s surfing.

Luke first left.

Luke first left.

Next up among the saints boardriders team was Harry De Roth in the Under-18 Boys. Harry has won several National titles as he has moved up through the age groups, and this was his last shot as a junior before moving into the Mens Open bracket. This time he had to settle for second place as Croyde’s Will Bailey took the honours in a keenly anticipated final.

Harry, second left.

Harry, second left.

So there remained only Jayce Robinson in the Mens Open if there was to be a British title coming back to St. Ives this year. And it looked very much on as Jayce found the left-handers to his liking, showing his flowing backhand style and taking the fight to his fellow finalists. His efforts were thwarted at the very end of the contest as Bude’s Jobe Harris, home from his European QS campaign, found a buzzer-beater in the dying seconds to claim his first mens title. It was a great final to cap a great weekend of competition, and our banner picture shows Jayce, second left, within reach of the trophy which was so nearly his!

Well done to all our competitors – it’s been a fine show by everyone!

 

Trophies Are Earned ; Part 2

Trophies Are Earned ; Part 2

Competition news General Club News Groms Surf Club Events

In this second part of the report we’ll see the roll call of those juniors who earned their trophy by their season’s effort. It is difficult to persuade the coaches to make these choices as many of their charges have brought dedication and determination to the sessions, but we hope that those who didn’t collect a prize this time will come back next season with renewed enthusiasm and feel that a prize is within reach this time!

Here are this season’s choices:

Nemos

Surfer of the summer, Amber Kearey

Most committed surfer, Blossom Burdett

Most improved surfer, Milo Kirk-Mackrell

Dorys

Surfer of the summer, Ravi Simmons

Most committed surfer, Sydney and Cody Warner

Most improved surfer, Benjamin Olney

Tunas

Surfer of the summer, Kaitlyn Borghi

Most committed surfer, Milly-Rose Nichols

Most improved surfer, Evie Stattkus

Sea Bass

Surfer of the summer, Alexander Hosking

Most committed surfer, Thai Merrill

Most improved surfer, Bradley Beach

Seals

Surfer of the summer, Chanaelle Aberos

Most committed surfer, Kieran Stattkus

Most improved surfer, Kaya Stattkus

Of course, there’s a real sense that every child who has enjoyed her surfing and is keenly anticipating the next session is a winner. Finding a passion for a sport is a great feeling, and I hope we are introducing more than a few of our juniors to a lifelong association with surfing.

I’ll conclude by thanking those whose help and support made the day go so smoothly: St. Ives Surf School, RNLI Lifeguards, Jabula Tents, Porthmeor Beach Services, Carl and the Take-away crew and our own members who judged, coached and marshalled the event. Jayce Robinson came down to present the trophies – and it’s always a great inspiration to the kids to spend time with our local pros!

More pics!