I've been around the community for a bit (since the 60's, actually, so i suppose i'm what's known as a grey-belly, only without the belly, i'm pleased to say!). Normally i catch a wave at Perranporth, Cornwall in the UK. It's where i grew up and i guess it's my favourite beach because of that. I've seen the rise of the "boogie-boarders" and the newbies with loads too much cash, who go and get all the gear and then let their boards collect dust in the garage for the next twenty years. I've always been an avid Belly-boarder, riding a 4'x1' ply-wood board. My father made my first one in the mid 60's(out of the back panel of an old piano that he was chopping up, as I recall) and i was as pleased as punch, as kid, wandering down to the beach with my "new" board, which i used for many years, only putting it aside when i moved away from the sea.
i was delighted to notice, a short while ago" that the "young-bloods" had decided that wood was "cool" again, and that "Trad'" surf-riding was back on the menu. Suffice to say that i went home and built another board, along with one for my Grandson, and we got into the breakers the very next time that we went to the beach (bring 'em up right, i say!!) Since then i've been mixing with a lot of belly-boaders whilst out and about, including some youngsters, and it looks like the old stalwarts are getting some fresh faces to their numbers. So don't forget the old traditional wooden surf riders. We might not all be "out the back" and yes, it's true, we don't do it standing up! But we've been shootin' the curls in Cornwall for over a hundred years (not me personally, i hasten to add!) but we're riding stuff that'll leave all the longboarders flat in the water, and whats more, we're still havin' fun doin' it! The World Champs is in September and Grampy Teds Surf Shed will be represented, rest assured!!
