Latest Surfs...

[thaya]

i wasn't slagging them off! i just thought it was funny... being told you're about to get swept onto the rocks as if you don't already know!!!! maybe it was one of those things where you had to be there!

[libby]

Thaya how are you finding the longboard, is it much different, easier to catch waves, pop up on etc etc???

[thaya]

well, once I'm outback I'm fine. I can pop up so much more easily. the board is much more stable and it's easier to catch waves. it's loads of fun but trying to turn the damn thing is a mission. In some ways i find it more difficult. It's too heavy to carry far, it's impossible to control if there's a slight bit of wind, and near impossible to get out back if the waves are in anyway messy. Put it this way... I'm still considering whether I should keep it for those flat summer months or just sell it and learn from the experience...

[soops]

well, once I'm outback I'm fine. I can pop up so much more easily. the board is much more stable and it's easier to catch waves. it's loads of fun but trying to turn the damn thing is a mission. In some ways i find it more difficult. It's too heavy to carry far, it's impossible to control if there's a slight bit of wind, and near impossible to get out back if the waves are in anyway messy. Put it this way... I'm still considering whether I should keep it for those flat summer months or just sell it and learn from the experience...

how big is it thaya?

[thaya]

9'1. I wouldn't like to have any bad wipeouts on it, that's for sure. That hefty thing could easily knock you out... and I don't even want to think about the size of the middle fin...

I guess I did learn alot this weekend. I might still keep it, but now I know what sort of conditions I can and can't handle on it, so I'll know when it's best to use my 7'2 instead.

It was fantastic on Monday with small clean waves, just the best experience ever! I'll just have to remember not to take it out when the waves are really unstable & it's windy.

Lesson learnt

[soops]

Ooh, i suppose that pretty big especially when you are pretty tiny too.

When i bought my board i wondered about getting a longboard but glad i didnt now. Probably worth hanging on to as you have it for those really small days, at least you know how/when to use it now.

Reckon my 7'9" is about right for me at the mo, more luck than judgement though

[essex sucks]

i had ago on it nice to paddle out with, but i think i will stick with my short board

[Driftingalong]

Hey Bubbles,

Definitely keep it! 9'1" is a good size. You'll have the easiest time turning it when your back foot is over the fins. Then walk up a little bit to fly down the line (walking around on a longboard definitely takes some getting used to).

You're right strong winds can really blow a longboard around and make it difficult to get into the waves. Light winds to no wind and glassy conditions are a longboards best friend. Paddling around when it's clean is so much easier

Also don't forget to wax it up to the tip of the nose for those sweet nose rides you'll be pulling off! Even if you don't think you can make it to nose now, do it anyway...you'll never get there with out the wax.

[tomcat360]

Definitely keep it! 9'1" is a good size. You'll have the easiest time turning it when your back foot is over the fins. Then walk up a little bit to fly down the line (walking around on a longboard definitely takes some getting used to).

Gah! Just reading that makes me want to go surf!

[Driftingalong]

Me too! But, it looks to be flat for several days.

[tomcat360]

I know.....I almost don't care any more though!

Looks like a bit of swell energy for Sunday, of course that's matched with a nice north wind.....

[PapaW]

4ft hollow and heavy Connies at high tide today... shame I was so knackerd and the high rips didn't help.. lasted about and hour and a half till the tide turned then I got out and films a few sponge mates that turned up.

Beautiful sunset

[Phil]

ended up at fistral today, 3ft clean

shame about the crowds at 5pm had some great waves though

[PapaW]

Just thought I'd post a few frame graps from the footage I shot on Monday evening...

[/img]

[thaya]

Just back from another weekend in cornwall. saturday was flat, but I had sooooooooooo much fun on my longboard... I was surfing 6inch-1ft ripples!!!! Had to paddle very hard though... also bumped into Will again(the guy who broke my heart). I turned away and got on with what I was doing, and he came over and said hello. We ended up having a good chat and sorted alot of stuff out. Things are finally ok between us again.

Then the central fin snapped off my board I was gutted. I asked the lifeguards if they knew how to fix it, but they gave me the impression it was beyond hope and said I'd have to take it to a shop. I went to the nearest one, and showed it to the guy behind the counter who was chatting to someone else. That someone else happened to be Nigel Semmens (the guy who made my longboard) I was so stoked to meet him. He was lovely and he fixed it all for free!!!

Sunday, fistral looked like a nightmare cuz of the wind, so I drove up the coast, looking at place after place. I finally got up to Harlyn and couldn't believe me eyes. A beautiful deserted beach (with lifeguards, which came in handy) and no one surfing at all. Either it was sheltered, or the wind had eased alot, but there were perfect glassy 3ft waves.

I checked with the lifeguards (because I thought that maybe no one was surfing for a reason ) and they said it was fine etc, so I took my 7'2 out but didn't catch much at all. After an hour or so, I went back to the car and got my longboard. It was bliss! I had the whole bay to myself. I had to wait about 10mins between sets (which got a bit annoying on my own) but when they came in they were just perfect for me. I was catching most of them, standing up and finally turning my longboard. Still have some issues on positioning which I need to work out, but I was learning so much about what the board can do when I stand in different places. Attempted to nose ride, but as i stepped forward the nose sunk so I jumped off before nosediving! Think it'll be a while yet...

I had a fun few hours (about 6 I think) and then a group of guys came in... mainly shortboarders but a few longboarders too. I had a chat with them while we were waiting around for waves (it turns out they were all from Essex) and they seemed quite a friendly bunch.

Then, I caught a wave, popped up and was riding it when one of them totally cut me up. His board flew right into my face, just above my right eye and across my neck. Let's just say it was painful. I let myself get washed into shore as it was quite a hefty knock and I wanted to check if I was bleeding. The guy who cut me up, followed me, apologising over and over, saying it was his fault etc (nice of him to admit it, at least!).

I lay on the sand recovering and he ran off to get the lifeguards. I kept thinking "not again " I guess I just have bad luck. My face swelled up almost instantly and i couldn't see out of my right eye. The lifeguards faces said it all! I'm glad I didn't have a mirror handy, cuz it was a shock when I finally saw it. They told me not to move and called an ambulance, which turned out to be the helicopter I kept saying I didn't want to go to hospital and I was ok, but they strapped me on a board, put a collar round my neck and basically tied me up so I couldn't move and had no choice in the matter.

When I got there, they did xrays etc and my neck was fine (but I never said it wasn't... I guess they just did it as a precaution) I had to stay in almost 12hours. On the positive side, I met a gorgeous doctor! I also met 3 surfers who'd been rescued after a horrible near-drowning incident. It really makes you think when you hear about stuff like that. I've never seen 3 blokes so shaken up. Anyway, their mate was kind enough to give me a lift back to my car and we exchanged numbers etc.

It's been one heck of a weekend. I'm back now, but I can't get over how stuff like this keeps happening. I've decided that surfing can be a dangerous sport. It's not put me off, but I think I'm becoming much more wary.

I've also decided to make a donation to the lifeguard service. I think they're fantastic and I don't know what I'd do without them!

Did anyone else make it out this weekend?

[Phil]

ever thought about taking up golf, its much less dangerious

[thaya]

ever thought about taking up golf, its much less dangerious

hmmmm I reckon I'd get hit by golf balls or sticks, or maybe even runover by those buggy things... actually I might fall in a small lake and drown!

The whole world seems like a very dangerous place right now!!!!!

Maybe I should take up knitting? ...and then I can wrap myself in woolly jumpers

[Phil]

knitting sounds like a good idea, or any other non extream sport.....

[Driftingalong]

Just don't stab yourself with a knitting needle.

Glad to hear you're alright, and getting along with your longboard!

[PapaW]

Had a shocking day at work.. we've had to get all the toppin done in the wet (which is bad) for the horse event this weekend. Of course doing it in the wet puts strain on all the belts of the topper and we went through them all then the ferris did the same and Mark got two chainsaws stuck in a tree... really bad day!
So after that I jumped in at the M and bumped in to Ben Chandler and enjoyed a small but hollow as ever sesh, pits and lips to hit, with jut 5 out then just two others. I needed it!