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.

new year

had to put these two pictures up even though it is saturday. the first was drawn late last night by my youngest son while we were looking at the lego website deciding whether to buy star wars lego, as well as looking at the batman stuff on line or wait to go to the shops.
the other is taken from a web cam of the beach break in west cornwall this morning, I was supposed to be going to a surf competition today near home but haven't gone as the swell direction is easterly, so weakish and cold but further down the coast it is looking good!

a rainy day in south east cornwall

well what ever I said yesterday about the rip curl board-masters championships in newquay I found my self watching a lot of it on the internet today. it was surprisingly addictive I must have watched three or four heats, even checked back tonight and watched some more stuff on tv mpora if you are interested in competition surfing it is well worth a look. the rest of the day was spent driving around south east cornwall taking 10 year old ben to an archery lesson (real arrows!) as well as changing his pocket money (at the post office) for some $'s to spend on his upcoming trip to ecuador with carol, for uncle jimmy's wedding. 

local surfing >> south east cornwall

I could not let this week go by without mentioning the very exciting news that local surfer and daughter of a work colleague of mine; gabi rowe won the newquay leg of the girls quiksilver king of the groms (surfing competition), at fistral beach yesterday. for more info and find the other results check the bbc surfing pages. I am really pleased with this result not just because I know gabi and her family or that she lives near where I call home, but because she is one of a growing number of surfers based on the south cornish coast who are challenging and sometimes matching the largely newquay centric uk surfing world. the north coast of cornwall does get (better) well I prefer to call it more consistent waves, but the south creates a particular kind of surfer who for the most part never takes the supply of waves for granted, and will surf in conditions that others would over look. well done gabi.

more marketing >> rip curl

more on marketing, the surfing industry really has grabbed the marketing guys and gone full out. never mind the mildly amusing renault/rip curl TV adverts in the UK.
but surfing the rip curl way seems still seems to be for every-one except people who actually surf. probably because that is where the money is, real surfers never have any money.

next week down here in the south west the rip curl boardmasters will be under way. as a side show there actually will be some surfing going on. along with the 'nuts magazine' beach babes, a car show, a music festival, and official music festival, a beach festival and all in the name of rip curl.
don't misunderstand me I am not against the rip curl boardmasters, it is a fantastically well organised important event for the south west of the UK.
any way on the subject of rip curl I do like their watches especially this one!