Farm Cat

Chased the cat around the other day in the pouring rain. Really hard to shoot but the greyness added something i thought.
Here is Mooball being shy.

Sam T at the Gylly

Ventured to Falmouth last week to watch good mate and fellow instructor Sam play a gig.
Sam ended a summer tour of Cornwall at the Gylly in front o a packed crowd.
Sam plans to head shortly to Brighton for the winter but not before he plays a few more gigs in the West country. For more details check Samuel J music.

End 2 End World Record Attempt

Brea Vean Surfhouse became the base last night for the End to End World record attempt featuring double Olympian James Cracknell.

The 4 man strong relay team will sprint the whole 800 odd miles each taking 15 minute splits averaging 25mph for the entire trip. 

The team plan to set a record of 45 hours allowing future attempts from professional and amateur riders.

Laura and I woke at 3.30am this morning to ply the 13 male crew - littering the surfhouse with bodies- with porridge and very strong coffee. The will only sleep next on Sunday night having set the bar for future riders. Best of luck guys and thanks for choosing Brea Vean for your nights stay. Here are a few shots I took while the boys got to work.

Suckle on this Honey!

While the surfs been slightly on the small side, I've spent a little more time 'focusing' (no pun intended) on subjects other than surf.
Heres a little Honeysuckle I found whilst messing with my new 50mm lens.

LOVE IN A COLD CLIMATE

For the past week or so I have basically sat in front of my computer compiling a photobook of a recent trip to China. As you may have gathered from my blog. Photography does dominate my life somewhat and whilst visiting incredible countries such as China, Its very hard to return without incredible images. 

The book basically focuses on the good feeling that it very prominent in China, even though some of the world still sees China as a communist machine and despite its recent incredible Olympic display.

I would be flattered if you simply viewed the book on-line and would be chuffed to receive feedback - either way! 

check it out.

http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/890037

ALAIA

I have been sitting on this outstanding piece of wood for a few months now and with very little time or inclination I have found it clutter the garage, house and van without even the slightest amount of shaping planned.
After the Tom Wegener visit (read below) like any man would, I found my self as inspired as I could possibly be and probed the poor man for trade secrets and advice. Thanks Tom you're a star!
Its funny how things work but less than 2 days after the Wegener family left I completed my first Alaia attempt.
Feeling more masculine than if I had just shaped a normal board I am just waiting now for the linseed oil, and vinegar to dry before I take this finless, rocker-less Hawaiian treasure (replica) for a spin.
Feel free to take it out for a test drive and then buy a real one from the man himself.

Ozzie Super 8

Last winter Laura and I ventured slightly around the world for 6 months. During this time we visited a few countries and along with my digital camera I recored the trip through the lens of my beloved super 8 film camera. The quality is literally unbelievable when viewed through the projector however is fails slightly on this blog and on Facebook etc. 

Be great to hear your thoughts on it.

WEGENERS!

Just when we thought our summer had reached its climax and things were set to calm down we receive a call from Tiaan Bailey asking to accommodate Tom wegener (the Alaia man) and his family. 

The global board shaping star and voted best shaper in the world in a recent poll is on a European tour shaping his infamous wooden Alaias and traveling as he goes. 

With his wife Margie and son and daughter Finlay and Sunday in tow, they spent a few days in Sennen sightseeing and checking the west cornish vibes. 

Dirk and I managed to drag Tom and Fin down to Gwener for a surf on the Alaias and we scored some classic waves. We all agreed the best surf of the summer. 

The wooden treasures were stupidly hard to ride but incredible when you got it right. 

Tom spent his last evening with me helping me shape my own Alaia which I have been trying to do for some time now.

I actually finished it today but ill only post pics when its all linseeded and ready to rock.

Thanks Wegeners for a rad week and we wish you all the best for the coming tour. 

The start of July saw Brea Vean surfhouse open its doors and allowed Laura and I ...plus a few dads to put down the paintbrushes and enjoy the incredible house that has now seen a fair few people this season. The summer has been great for the house and there are big plans for next year as well as the winter vacations in store. If you are planning a trip this winter to Sennen please check out the site for more details www.cornishsurfhouse.com

Get shaping boys

Back to June

So looking back a few months now, we were lucky enough to be blessed by the presence of Dave Shep and all the crew whilst they re-qualified as Beach lifeguards. For the week the course was on I heard hilarious stories and tales of the week. The surf was pumping all week and in between arm wrestles and macho competitions between the boys we sneaked a few waves together and officially started our Summer campaign.

Sorry!

I am known to be slack at certain things and writing the blog can be added to that short list after adding only two posts since May!!!! I am horrified!
Many of you will know that Sennen has been ultra stacked out and finding ourselves right in the middle of that has meant even just popping a few words down or adding people on Facebook has become too difficult.
So.. in Hollywood film style I have decided to trace back through the Summer archives and re-tell the story of our Sennen summer. Its been a ride and for me the best summer to date so please enjoy and let me know if its any good.

It took all summer but finally mine and hugo's boards arrived. Hand shaped by our good selves and of course now the surf is flat!!!!

Brea Vean!

Apologies for not blogging guys but life has been hectic!

After finally opening the surf house in July, the word 'busy' has taken on  a whole new meaning. 

The surf school has been busy and the surf has been pumping. Sennen has seen a super busy summer despite worries that people might not visit cornwall this year.

The surfhouse has started better than could ever have ben expected or hoped. We have been fortunate enough to have had the nicest guests and the house has been full almost every week.

Laura and I have big plans for the winter to develop aspects of the house as well as packages for the winter months that include 'surf safaris and board shaping clinics.

Exciting times for all involved and I would love to thanks everyone who has helped so far in the success of the surf house.

keep surfing and enjoy the sun. Only 3 weeks left!!!!

www.cornishsurfhouse.com 

SSC SURF LODGE - COMING SOON!!!!

Due to open in July this year The Brea Vean Surf Lodge just outside Sennen plans to offer something a little different.
The farmhouse is currently under going a facelift and will be avialable for all that wish to have a Surf Stay package with the school.
The stylish but budget accomodation comes after much time spent travelling and seeing what can be done in other parts of the world.
Set in a beautiful local overlooking countryside and with sea views. its the ideal rural surf experience.
With a campsite, Dorm room and 4 double privates you have the option of styles and budgets.
Shared bathrooms on each floor and surfers breakfast (cereal and toast)

To book you stay and your time with the SSC crew please contact Dave on 01736 871227 for more details
Aloha

Sorry for being so slack guys.
Had a busy few weeks and likely to get even busier but I'll endeavor to get some more images and lines to you.

Here's one from a remote spot in Japan. This old boy killed it and so did all the other Japanese surfers. Definitely worth a trip if any ones fancies it!

MP

This graffiti image of Australian surfing great Micheal Peterson was tagged at Burleigh Beach in Australia. The image depicts MP in his worst state as a schizophrenic after winning yet another surfing title.
MP very rarely even showed up for the award ceremony. On this occasion he collected his cheque and left before the ceremony was over.

SURFERS PARADISE?

This was a shot I took late one evening having just had some of the best waves of my life at Snapper Rocks on Australia.
Surfers Paradise in the distance, a perfect right hander and a fully stoked surfer, could this be the a surfers paradise?

That time again

Easter marks the time of year that SSC opens it's doors for the first time this year and the start of the 09 season is declared.
With the return of the same crew and all keen to get back on the beach we look forward to seeing the same faces a years gone by.
I you are down this holiday please drop by for a catch up because the kettle is nearly always on!

HOLY COW

I Love this image. I had to look severel times before I noticed the surfer getting a backside barrell. Country at its best!

SUNNY DAYS!

Just found this shot of a volley ball game whilst in Perth just before Christmas.

Dreaming of weather good enough to bust out the volley ball net.

SUPER DUPER 8

Its possibly my most expensive hobby and it can be so rewarding but waiting 2 weeks for footage of my last trip to be processed is killing me!
I sent 15 rolls off to germany to be processed yesterday and I will only view them on my projector in 2 weekstime when they return. Keep a look out for some old skool film on my facebook vids.

WISPA IS BACK!

Some of you may remember the excitement surrounding the SSC boys last summer, as news filtered through the school, that Wispa had returned!
Having declared to a class of 20 that I so badly wanted one that I would be slightly more helpful to the person who bought me one, slightly disgruntled parents were dragged to Penzance by kids, to no avail.
Well guys! yesterday I had my first Wispa and it was amazing! You can find them at the St.Just Co-op!!

Too much sun.... is there such a thing?
It appears the high pressure has meant more sunshine, but less surf.
Who's complaining?, lets make the most of the sun!

When the surfs flat, take pictures!

SUMMER THE DOG

Hadn't seen my dogs for months whilst away and returned to find this cuddly bear with a fantastic winter coat....hope its not a sign of things to come!

AAHH SPRING!

Found this Pisky (cornish fairy) in a field of Daffs this afternoon.
So nice to have some sunshine and warmth.

BAY BACK IN ACTION

Its been a fair few months since a blank was transformed in my shaping bay, but the eagerness of a so called Russ Pierre has brought it back to life.
Having cleaned out some 15 boards and made space for some action Russ arrived at the dream factory yesterday!!
each summer I try to create a few boards that will work on the Cornish waves and Russ seems to have a good idea as well.
These shots are Russ's of last year mid creation!!

LOG LUGGING (Cornishman article 12th March)

Arriving back in Cornwall after a long trip like the one I’ve just completed can mean different things to different people.
It can mean the end of an amazing adventure, the end of spending each day in a different place or the joy of being home with loved ones and sharing tales. To me it means all of the above but more importantly the end of lugging a 9’2” bright red 2 tonne long board around the world.
Arriving at Heathrow to see my family greet me at the gate meant I need not worry about the prospect of negotiating a First Great Western train and a Black Taxi.
Now I’m sure I’m not the first person and definitely not the last to decide to travel with a long board, but it will be the last time I decide to cart a traditional log through several continents.
Having past safely through Japan and China simply borrowing boards and wetsuits, we arrived in Australia and was successfully convinced that a long board would allow me more waves, especially while the long term forecast held little hope of any decent swell. In Australia this advice paid off very well and like many Ozzy surfers I found the temptation of long point breaks to much to pass.
Some of the worlds best long board waves dot the East coast and my campervan meant no hassle on public transport.
My next few destinations made life slightly more difficult.
Like most, arriving in the Cook islands means relaxing and a week or two lounging on a beach under tropical palms, sipping coconut juice through a straw. My recollection was slightly different as most mornings, in fact most hours were spent circling the island on a moped on possibly the most unsuccessful surf trip of all time.
Day one: Perfect!, and I mean perfect waves. The kind that makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. The kind that your favourite surf film might have -and definitely the kind I should have surfed.
Still fighting jet lag and having witnessed the most incredible waves here the last time I visited I decided to wait until tomorrow.
Tomorrow brought heavy wind that lasted a few days and before I knew it the longest flat spell Rarotonga had seen that year decided to seal my fate. It was in fact 2 days before we were scheduled to leave that the swell arrived and when it did, it came in the form of 15ft Southern Pacific monsters. No, I wont pretend I was tempted but the long board didn’t help!
Despite the fact many thought I was crazy to take a long board to the North Shore of Oahu, I couldn’t see the problem but regretted this while queuing for my first flight from Los Angeles. Ironically the waves wern't the problem.
Up until now I had been allowed to carry ‘Big Red’ free of charge on all my previous flights, however, domestic flights that didn’t feature on a world ticket meant paying, and paying big bucks! I could have actually bought a new board for the price of the following four flights but it was to pay dividend once we arrived on the North Shore and the home of surfing.
There was the small matter of the ‘Da Hui’ (Hawaiian Mafia) but that’s another story and one I’d rather share over a ‘properly’ poured Guinness.

SI CALLS IT A DAY!!!

Today I recieved an e-mail from our senior Instructor Simon Day.

Simon has worked for the school for many years and has been an incredible asset to the school.

Simon in unable to return this year as an intructor and we are all saddened by this news.

A big thanks to Si for all his hard work and cabin frollicks, we look forward to sharing a few waves when he returns on holiday.

Going to be sorely missed.

KYOTO

Having spent the last week trawling through thousands of images of my trip, I picked a few to share with fellow bloggers.

This was taken in Japan at the famous Tori tunnels near Kyoto where memoirs of a Geisha was filmed. They continue for 7 miles!!!