After a Saturday lost to high tides, we returned on 8th July to dreamy conditions. A mild day and a regular supply of waves meant that all surfers had their fill of rides, and it proved to be a morning of outstanding performances. It was a real pleasure to witness the skills our young surfers displayed and an indication that our coaches’ lessons are being delivered clearly. Here’s a few pictures from the session!
Once it came to the surfing, each team carried its fancy dress score into every heat. The quality of surfing was variable, to say the least – there were several very game non-surfers entered into the event as well as a few with national and international recognition in the shortboard and longboard ranks! The twenty or so teams were whittled down to a four team final through the rounds, and by then it was surfing skill that would win it.
Here’s a gallery of what happened!
Still to come: the After-Party and a portrait gallery.
Once the teams have been shown to the judges, and their scores for costume evaluated, there is a grand parade from the beach, through the town and back via Fore Street, the lifeboat station, the Wharf and Bunkers Hill. This invariably picks up a crowd of curious onlookers to swell the numbers on the beach at Porthmeor to watch the event. This originated from the 2013 event when conditions at Porthmeor were red-flagged as too dangerous and the early rounds took place at the Breakwater after everyone marched there to get the competition underway. The spectacle proved so amusing to participants and public alike that a parade has become an integral part of the day now. Here’s 2017s version!
Last Sunday saw the seventh annual Swellboard Shootout surf competition organised by St. Ives Surf School on Porthmeor Beach. The event raises funds for Surfers Against Sewage, and this year saints boardriders were honoured to be co-beneficiaries with them of the funds raised over the weekend. Indeed, Sunday was only the culmination of a three day extravaganza which commenced at Porthmeor Beach West on Friday night with an evening of fish tacos, beer and music from Frankie Davies and Ben Warner. Saturday evening saw the open-air film show and curry night at Cohort Hostel, before the teams gathered on Porthmeor Beach on Sunday morning dressed to impress and ready to lay down some swelly-riding magic in the quest to lift the coveted trophy.
A single blog cannot do justice to such an epic day, so this is just the first instalment of a multi-part, cut out and keep pictorial memento of the day’s action. Our banner picture features our august panel of judges in their lofty, secluded majesty.And now we meet the teams:
Coming next : The parade.
A foul mizzle and a strong west wind could have put a dampener on proceedings on Saturday, but our young attendees at Kids Club were undeterred! Some tricky rips in the shallows also challenged our groups, but the consensus among the coaches afterwards was that there had been some good progress, and Subo in particular was pleased to have made a promising start with the Sharks first video analysis session of the season. Some pics below:
Saturday 3rd of June saw saints boardriders first Kids Club of the season. There were lots of new faces among the eager youngsters as well as the hundred or so existing members who turned out on the day. Surf conditions were an ideal 1 to 2 foot with a mild, almost windless day. There was also a throng of volunteers to help coach, marshal and administer the session, and what could have been a hectic induction to the season went very smoothly and the lessons were soon in their stride. First impression from our new members was that they can’t wait for next Saturday! Yippeee! Here’s a flavour of the day:
Friday 26th May saw our latest fundraising effort as The Balcony hosted a gig by The Mosquitoes in aid of saints boardriders bid to build a clubhouse. Our heartfelt thanks go the band and our hosts for a great night. Below is a photo gallery of some of those who came out to support the event. Thank you one and all!
Can I also ask all our well wishers to go to the site here: www.buildingbettercommunities.co.uk/ and vote for saints boardriders bid for support from Jewsons community fund.
Today’s picture shows the saints boardriders who completed the Fun Run last Saturday. Well done team and well done to everyone who ran to raise funds for their particular cause!
After an interminable wait, Porthmeor finally enjoyed a little bump in the ocean on Sunday morning. There were several Saturday kids out catching waves and a goodly number of adults took to the water on swellys or logs to sate their appetites after the recent flat spell. Here’s a few pics of the grown-ups!
Sorry for the punnish headline! Easter Sunday’s jolly little fundraiser on behalf of The Wave Project and saints boardriders deserved better! Young minds turned to thoughts of eggs on the day, and not just the chocolate variety. First up was the contest to present the best-decorated egg and there were some imaginative offerings on show. Hard-boiled, glazed, glittered, face-painted – the choice of designs was broad. After some agonised deliberation, judge Abbie McCartney awarded the prize to a topical surfing egg.
The Judging.
Contestants were then led to the start line for the great egg race down the slipway. The benefit of having the hard-boiled egg becoming abundantly clear! The competitors chased behind their free-rolling eggs as they careered down to the beach giving a nudge and a poke to keep the egg on track.
Ready – Get Set!
Go!
And then came the third element of the day – The Egg Hunt. Buried in the sand were twenty four plastic eggs, each containing prize sweets for the finder. Into the compound went our keen egg hunters and the search was on.
This is what you are looking for!
It proved to be quite a task to recover all the eggs as each unsuccessful scrape possibly buried the hidden treasure just that little bit deeper! Of course, children don’t easily tire when the prize is free sweets so the hunt was pretty intense until everyone had had a fair few mini-eggs. Then, as on beaches everywhere, when the child’s interest waned the parents were only too willing to get digging!
Eager beavers!
I’ve got one Katy!
Bring grown-ups to the beach and they dig!
It was a really fun morning for children and adults alike. Many thanks to Katy Spencer of The Wave Project for some cracking entertainment ( Oooh! There it goes again!).
