Thumbs up for Oliver

Thumbs up for Oliver

General Club News Groms Surf Club Events Wave Of The Day

Pretty tricky conditions with a lot of water moving on the inside for Surf Club on Saturday, but a rewarding day nonetheless for those who tackled the conditions. Our banner picture shows Oliver Brunnock earning a ‘wave of the day’ accolade for a ride out back which started as a lumpy right-hander before he re-directed off the bottom to smash the lip a second time going left ( see him again in the gallery below).My pictures  do not do him justice, but they may serve to remind him of this beaut again. There were fun waves ridden on the inside too; see the gallery below for some of those efforts!

 

 

 

Saturday Stars

Saturday Stars

General Club News Groms Surf Club Events Wave Of The Day

As the tide fell off the bank on Saturday morning we again found good conditions for Kids Club. Wave size varied from 1 to 2 foot at the West end of the beach to a meaty 3 foot plus on the sets by the Island. So from chest-high for the Nemos to chest-high for the Sharks, everyone met a similar challenge in their respective groups. It seemed like all the kids wanted to impress, getting out in the deep for a steep take-off, and remembering to work on style once up and riding.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I try to resist calling a ‘Wave of the day” because it’s clear that many of us are reaching new heights in our surfing as the weeks progress. But I’ll give a shout-out to Matt Burrell in our banner picture for his overall performance this week. There’s a gallery of pictures below of some others who impressed this session -we’re seeing great improvement from these guys, though they’re not the finished article yet!

 

 

Sun, Sea, Surf

Sun, Sea, Surf

General Club News Groms Surf Club Events Wave Of The Day

All three elements in the title were present again last Saturday as the Kids Club tackled the punchiest surf of the season so far! Our banner picture shows Josh Martindale executing Simon’s instruction to “Hit the lip” to perfection. There were several candidates for ‘wave of the day’ among the Sharks group on Saturday, but Josh takes the biscuit this time.

Surfer turn out was above 100 again this week, so we should be grateful to the twenty plus coaches, helpers and admin who make it possible to teach such numbers on a weekly basis. One of our pictures this week features two of those volunteers – Tony and Adam Bayfield. You guys are legends! There’s also a picture capturing Harris’s novel ‘wheelbarrow race’ warm-up routine. Don’t expect to see that at a surf comp near you anytime soon!

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The hour long sessions seem to fly by – so it’s vital to concentrate to the full to get the best out of your time in the water. There were lots of examples I could find of members giving their best in that department. Here are a few below:

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And there is joy and satisfaction for both surfer and the helping hands when the pop-up leads to a good ride. Our final few pictures for this week capture some of those moments when that teamwork is in evidence!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Swellboard Shootout 2014

Swellboard Shootout 2014

General Club News St. Ives Surf School events Wave Of The Day

Is this the wave that shook the surfing world last weekend? We’re looking at the Minions – the super groms from Saturday Surf Club who claimed the title of Swellboard Shootout champions of 2014 with this team wave in the final!

Twenty crack teams ( I think I heard that right) began the event that morning with a presentation before the judges for fancy dress points before the parade through Fore Street and The Wharf and back to Porthmeor for a wave-riding extravaganza.

 

Toy Soldiers and Minions stand to attention

 

The first round saw five heats of four teams per heat surfing in tag fashion with surfers earning points for style, innovation, surfing prowess and possibly a mark or two for skullduggery! The surfer in the water claimed his wave when he felt he had achieved a high score and paddled in to be replaced by the next team member. When the fourth member had claimed his individual wave, the rest of his team paddled back out to join him on a team wave. Those surfing scores were added to the fancy dress score to give a complete heat score. A repechage round after round one enable the slow starters to have another crack at mastering the formula before the semis and then the final brought the action to a thrilling climax.

Team Lowe

Team Lowe

There were a good few pros and elite surfers sprinkled through the teams – Big wave rider Tom Lowe and his girlfriend Janni, a champion in her own right were the core of one team. Another, The Gladiators featured English Mens champion, Jayce Robinson, English Under-18 champion, Harry De Roth, Portugal-based pro, Dane Hall and Dale Robinson! There was longboard stylist Mike Lay and former English Schools longboard champ Simon Trebilcock on show as well as a number of ex-junior tour surfers such as Jacob Down,Bert Wright, Jack Whitefield and Adam Bayfield. Tassie Swallow, multiple title winner and Lauren Ringer, former Junior QS competitor brought in pedigree ladies surfing – and I suspect I’ve overlooked other noteworthy performers under the disguises!

The Mummies

The Mummies

Last years’ winners returned as The Mummies but couldn’t resurrect that winning vibe this time around. There were notable comic turns from Victoria’s Oldest Secret, The Tourists and the hot surfing drag act, Doctor’s Orders.

Victoria's Oldest Secret

Victoria’s Oldest Secret

Tourists

Tourists

Naughty!

Naughty!

 

Shotgun Wedding gave family values a reworking as a back-country grotesque while the Shipwrecked Matelots and The Gladiators  offered helpings of smooth swellboard surfing behind a veneer of couldn’t-care-less attitude.

Shipwrecked!

Shipwrecked!

I am Spartacus!

I am Spartacus!

You're goin' marry my daughter!

You’re goin’ marry my daughter!

 

 

A recent outbreak of golf mania in Balcony and Surf School circles may have prompted the Balcony team to adopt that theme. Similarly, the World Cup must have been on the minds of the Ingerland Football Fans in choosing their acutely-observed dress. What inspired the girls in Team Jenna is anybody’s guess – but eye-catching it was, nevertheless.

19th Hole Or Bust

19th Hole Or Bust

Oo-err!

Oo-err!

w We're Gonna Win the Cup

We’re Gonna Win the Cup

 

 

There were superheroes in the shape of the Surfers Against Sewage contingent, and a band of robbers who were anything but stealthy! The Jellies defied definition but were well rewarded for the effort they had spent on their outfits!

We can fly! But can they surf?

We can fly! But can they surf?

Yikes!

Yikes!

Give us the trophy!

Give us the trophy!

 

And then there were those indefinable “What were we thinking of” teams whose enthusiasm to be part of  a fun day over-rode any inhibitions about competing against fancy dress fiends who have agonised for months over what they would wear on the big day.

I hope Nobody from Porthminster sees this

I hope nobody from Porthminster sees this

Schoolboyed it

Schoolboyed it

I'm a ladeeey! At least one of them's lying.

I’m a ladeeey! At least one of them’s lying.

 

We adjourned to the Balcony for the all-important announcement of the final result – and as the placings were called , in reverse order, the excitement boiled. Two teams left – Matelots or Minions for runner-up? Well, I gave that away at the start of the blog! A massive cheer erupted from the gathering as the Minions were declared winners of the 2014 edition of the Swellboard Shootout! Matt Burrell grabbed the mike to make the winners’ speech he’s had ready since he first dreamed of winning the Rugby World Cup, the Pipemasters, the Ashes or maybe even the Swellboard Shootout. He graciously thanked his mum, his teammates and his sponsors, and then the four members of the winning team managed (just!) to hoist the trophy aloft to a hearty cheer from the crowd.

Champions

Champions! Matt Burrell, Taylor Bairds, Josh Martindale and Bridget Wells: pic. Nick Pumphrey

Our thanks to St. Ives Surf School. to Rhythm and to Red Bull, principal sponsors of a great day out. Our continuing support to Surfers Against Sewage for their tireless work to keep our oceans and coastlines pollution free. And our thanks to all the lifeguards, judges, beach marshalls, photographers,participants, spectators and to Porthmeor Beach management and catering for their efforts.

Let’s hope we can build a tradition here!

Job done.

Job done: pic. Nick Pumphrey

 

There is an  early report in Carve magazine including the first video edit to emerge here

A warning to Mums and Dads – this final picture should not be shown to children under the age of 30. Anyone suffering nightmares after viewing please seek medical advice.

 

Ben - is that you? Ben? Ben?

Ben – is that you? Ben? Ben?

 

 

 

 

Wave of the day! Check out El Presidente!

Wave Of The Day

Wave of the Day will be a regular feature on the site. We’ll find a clip or a photo of a member in surfing action to share with our followers. To inaugurate this page, who better than El Presidente himself. He may have a myriad businesses to run and a dodgy hip to nurse, but he can still be found charging at Porthmeor with the usual suspects.

Go Tim!

Look out for another Wave of the Day soon 🙂