so pleased for gabi

I had to post up a picture of local (to me, south east cornwall) surfer gabi rowe. I have to declare an interest I work with her mum, and have given coaching advice, whether taken or not is another thing, as gabi has had a huge impact on her surfing aided by her coach kelly o'tool, and training as part of the GB squad.

yesterday she surfed in the last event on the ukprosurf tour at the animal sponsored event at fistral, newquay. gabi is a master of the understatement and was very humble in her acceptance of winning the womens event yesterday. she showed that there is more ability waiting to come, the youngest of the finalists gabi made the most of the left breaking as the tide pushed in, only making four waves in the 25 minute final, but it was enough to win the event, and secure second place in the women's section for the season.

the surfing tribe

I was at croyde (devon) over the weekend for the saltrock open surf competition, part of the UK pro surf tour. where I was coaching international surfer gabi rowe. gabi was competiting in the girls U16 event. even though she was initially annoyed with her surfing in the semi-final it was enough to get her through. the final was a different situation after getting two steady waves she cut loose on her third wave with a committed powerful lip bash making her the clear winner in her category and me very proud to be associated with her.

click here for a very short video from the saltrock open

I also bumped into longtime surfer/surf historian roger mansfield whose son leon won the boys U16 event at the saltrock open. Roger has after some years of research published a new book 'the surfing tribe' documenting the rise of surfing in Britain from the 1930s to the modern day. I have had a look through seems an excellent book well worth reading, with some great pictures both historical and insightful. click here for more

surf, sun, surf relief and much more >>

it has been a good weekend in cornwall. not just as there was a bit of swell, and a lot of sunshine. it was great to be part of the surf relief uk fundraising surf competition and festival at watergate bay sponsored by 'the white stuff'. we got there really early to ensure a parking space. I got a short surf in before the crowds and managed to snag myself a couple of good waves on the pushing tide as well as being a stand in surf coach for (south cornwall's) gabi rowe who was competing / finishing with a very credible 3rd place. I am proud of you gabi.
I was also able to see my youngest son ben get some excellent one to one surfing tips (and some waves), from pro-instructor andy joyce. so pleased with ben can see a future of many more days at the beach. we even ended up being interviewed for westcountry TV, with ben explaining how cool it was to be surfing, and me just being impressed at how much he learnt in such a sort time.

surf relief UK (SRUK), formed in january 2005 to help co-ordinate the UK surfing communities’ response to the asian tsunami of boxing day 2004. check their web site to see al the stuff that they are doing for children and surfers all over the world.

we stayed late in to the night to see 90's band (still producing new music) stereo mc's and whilst they are not a band on the top of my most listened to on my ipod in fact they are not even on it. for the event, the sunset and the festival goers they were very good indeed. 

had to add this picture emailed to me from dave read of russell winter (ex-wct competitor) winner of the main event. picture: jason feast / UKPSA