A Challenge

A Challenge

General Club News Groms Surf Club Events

Our third session of the season presented us with a very different scenario to the first two. With a forecast of strong onshore winds and a lively swell, we had issued early advice that conditions would be challenging. Nevertheless, a determined group of surfers lined up at 9 o’clock to battle it out. Jonny took the Dolphins and Sharks over to Porthgwidden to tackle the peeling left-handers that were on offer over there while the more junior groups smashed into the white water at Meor. Among the Dory and Nemo groups a bodyboard proved a more manageable craft than the swellboard, but the Tuna and Swordfish contingents tackled the surf with their shortboards or swellboards as usual. Our pictures below exclude the Porthgwidden surfers, but they do give a flavour of what we encountered at Mother Meor! We might wish for more settled conditions for the next session on 15th July. And note that we are holding a ‘sausage sizzle’ and putting competition at Porthminster Beach at 5pm later that day. Double bubble! See you at both I hope.

Second Sight

Second Sight

General Club News Groms Surf Club Events

We got a second look at our new season’s chargers last Saturday. There was a friendly wave which could suit all abilities and an early summer warmth to the morning which offered the prospect of a long family day at the beach. The new recruits to the Dolphins were having to sharpen their game in the company of more experienced surfers, and similarly the new arrivals in the Nemos were facing a brand-new learning challenge in moving from prone to a standing position on a surf board. We have a whole summer ahead of us to work things out. Bring it on!

Next session is at 9am on July 1st.

And We’re Off!

And We’re Off!

General Club News Groms Surf Club Events

Sunny skies and a friendly waist-high wave greeted us at Porthmeor for the first Kids Club session of 2023. Surf coaches and helpers were keen to get their chargers into the water and wash away any rust from the winter, and in quite a few cases to appreciate the improvement made over the winter by those brave juniors who surfed throughout the year. It is so heartening and encouraging for the coaches to pick up from last season with young surfers who have progressed their skills and can show new levels of competence coming into the new season. There are a few pictures below from the session and a promise of a fun summer of surfing to come for Saints Boardriders!

Upcoming AGM

Upcoming AGM

General Club News Surf Club Events

Agenda for the AGM to be held at 6.00pm on 8th June 2023 at the clubhouse

1) Apologies for absence.
2) Minutes of the previous AGM.
3) Matters arising from the minutes of the previous AGM.
4) Chairman’s Report

5) Financial report.
6) Head coach’s report.
7) Retirement of elected officers.
8) Election of new committee posts

i) Chairman ii) Secretary iii) Treasurer

9) Election of further committee members to a total agreed by the meeting.

10) Appointment of Head Coach by new committee
11) Set a date for first meeting of the new committee.
12) Any other business.

Please note that everyone interested in Saintsboardriders is welcome to participate in the meeting but only paid-up adult members can vote.

Food Fest Foray

Food Fest Foray

Fundraiser General Club News Surf Club Events

The Saints Boardriders Sausage Sizzle scaled new heights of culinary excellence last weekend when Mr. Sizzle took the show on tour to the St. Ives Food Festival. Mick Smith of Porthminster Beach generously offered the club a Friday evening slot at the beach BBQ bar and this was a fund-raising opportunity not to be missed! The Food Festival is a stand-out attraction on the St. Ives calendar, a mega crowd-pleaser and a chance to put the club in the public eye. We found enthusiastic support from Tregenna Castle kitchen which offered to donate their ace sausages, rolls and a big bag of onions for Emma Jarvis to transform into her irresistible dressing. St. Ives Co-op came up with the sauces and condiments. Porthminster Beach’s resident BBQ chef, John Couch was eager to help and our regular committee swizzlers were keen to pull on the aprons. Rowena Tarplee sketched out the sign boards and in an instant we had a touring show. The evening was a great success and the club thanks Mick Smith, Porthminster Beach and all the above-mentioned for their contributions to a splendid team effort.

First BLUd of 2023

First BLUd of 2023

Competition news General Club News Groms longboarding

Porthmeor saw our first coloured rash vests of the season as Minnow Green brought the Porthmeor Longboard Classic contest to the beach to start the British Longboard Union competitive season over the weekend of April 15th and 16th. It was a busy programme with categories of  Men’s Open, Womens Open, U18, U16, Masters, Grandmasters, Cadets & Single Fin to complete with barely a minute between the finish of one heat and the start of the next. That it passed without a snag is testament to the well-practised teamwork of Minnow’s crew and the enthusiasm of both competitors and officials to make it a joy and a celebration of the noble art of riding the longboard.

We had a few St. Ives locals competing, with Sam Crookshanks taking a win in the blue riband Single Fin class and making the final of the Men’s Open. Ollie Riley and Kaz Phillips made the finals of their respective junior divisions and the Men’s Open saw the competitive debut of Gary Brownsword, and ace bodyboarder Colin Stirling stepping up several board lengths to enjoy a dip along the beach from his familiar Low Tide Boiler locale. Jack Dudley also put in a creditable performance in the Single Fin event. Full results available here.

There are a few pictures from the weekend below and the BLU website has details of their forthcoming events and more to further your interest. Our thanks are due to Porthmeor Beach, St. Ives BID, Tregenna Castle Estate, CTC, 10 Over Surf Shop, Ocean and Earth, Skindog Surfboards and the RNLI Porthmeor lifeguards for their support for the event and Saints Boardriders look forward to hosting the BLU again in the near future for another extravaganza of longboarding on Porthmeor Beach.

Christmas Day 2022

Christmas Day 2022

General Club News Groms Surf Club Events

Our traditional Christmas Day morning bash is increasingly well supported with each passing year. In their eagerness to get into the chest-high waves, many of the participants dropped down the steps at Porthmeor West, missing the gathering at St. Ives Surf School, which is where my camera caught those members and supporters in the pictures below. The banner picture shows Katy and Bruce in full festive regalia bringing that seasonal spirit to the beach. Saints Boardriders wishes all our members and the wider community a Happy New Year and we look forward to seeing you on Porthmeor Beach in 2023.

A Fine Send-Off

A Fine Send-Off

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

We held the postponed end-of-season finale last Saturday in pumping waves under a clear blue sky. We could not ask for better conditions, and a large turn-out was guaranteed to witness the competition to be club champion 2022, the post-season presentations and enjoy the promised ” sausage sizzle” afterwards.

There were regular group sessions for the juniors to enjoy, offering a last chance to impress the coaches and maybe claim ‘surfer of the summer’ in the group.

Over in the competition area some keenly fought heats saw a final four boys emerge to contest their final, after five girls had contested their own final.

And then it was up to the clubhouse to learn who the winners would be, and to honour all our young chargers for their efforts this summer. A packed room cheered the awards as our groups acknowledged winners in three categories: surfer of the summer, most committed surfer and most improved surfer. There were medals for all juniors to commemorate the season, and then the contest surfers received their medals in reverse order, leaving Leila and Teddy as our champions for 2022.

And then it was back out onto the putting green for a “sausage sizzle” in the late-summer sunshine. What a day!

Well that was a most satisfactory way to complete our season. Nature’s elements combined to offer us a perfect day to say farewell to summer 2022.

Many thanks to Tesco St. Ives for their generous support to the BBQ. Thanks to St. Ives Brewery ( again!) for their support on every event day. Thanks also to the contest judges and thank you to the club committee for a fine day, and a fine season. Our gratitude to Porthmeor Beach management and to Porthmeor Beach RNLI lifeguards for their support and encouragement over the season. St. Ives Surf School is the rock on which our Kids Club is built and we owe Harris and his crew a debt we can never hope to repay for their unstinting efforts. And, finally, a word of praise for those Dolphin surfers who gave their Saturday mornings to helping the younger groups into waves: Kaz, Ollie, Marley, Kaitlyn and Bridget are names that readily spring to mind!

To all children and parents who participated over the summer – We have relished your company. ” Thank you ” and we look forward to seeing you all again in 2023!