Thumbs up for Oliver

Pretty tricky conditions with a lot of water moving on the inside for Surf Club on Saturday, but a rewarding day nonetheless for those who tackled the conditions. Our banner picture shows Oliver Brunnock earning a ‘wave of the day’ accolade for a ride out back which started as a lumpy right-hander before he re-directed off the bottom to smash the lip a second time going left ( see him again in the gallery below).My pictures do not do him justice, but they may serve to remind him of this beaut again. There were fun waves ridden on the inside too; see the gallery below for some of those efforts!

: Oliver finishing his wave on the back side.

Enthusiasm!

by Nog General Club News Groms Surf Club Events

I think most participants on Saturday morning would have shared my thoughts on seeing Mother Meor from the top of Porthmeor Hill on arrival: “pretty small today”. And, like me, they would have been surprised and then delighted that the waves were bigger than expected when we got down to the water, and grew during our sessions into a punchy chest-high out back during the morning. Our junior surfers took to their tasks with great enthusiasm and displayed no little skill. Well done everyone!

School’s Out!

by Nog General Club News Groms Surf Club Events

That’s another school year done and a dreamy summer ahead of our junior members! The first Kids Club of the holidays saw 79 attendees tackling some pretty good waves and a couple of torrential downpours. There was an opportunity to study and identify a rip in the water during the warm-up and talk before the groups took to the water. It was satisfying to see the youngest groups ( ages 4 to 7 years ) practising trimming, speeding-up and slowing down exactly as taught. There are some very quick learners in those groups! Here’s a selection of shots from the day:

Harry’s Back!

by Nog General Club News Surf Profiles Surf Video

Harry De Roth has been in the water helping at almost every Saturday Club gathering this season, and it has been remiss of me to forget to draw your attention to his most recent video. Shot in 4K by ace videographer Greg Dennis on location in Australia, Indonesia and Hawaii, it documents a flight from our British winter to chase good waves in warmer waters at the start of 2017. Check it out here! Also featured is Melodie Shakespear from the Saturday Club volunteers and look out for a few cameo sightings of St. Ives Surf School instructor and Saturday Club regular Dan Harmon in there too!

Dreamin’

by Nog General Club News Groms Surf Club Events

After a Saturday lost to high tides, we returned on 8th July to dreamy conditions. A mild day and a regular supply of waves meant that all surfers had their fill of rides, and it proved to be a morning of outstanding performances. It was a real pleasure to witness the skills our young surfers displayed and an indication that our coaches’ lessons are being delivered clearly. Here’s a few pictures from the session!

Kids Club 24th June 2017

by Nog General Club News Groms Surf Club Events

Sadly, the hot spell of weather had broken and a damp windy morning greeted us as we set up camp for Kids Club on Saturday morning. Would the parents fancy it? Would the kids fancy it? Well a heartening turnout of 89 kids gave coaches and helpers cause for good cheer, and the waves were between ‘about right’ and ‘a bit on the big side” as the 9 o’clock groups set off down the beach. It proved to be a fun session, reinforcing the motto on the St. Ives Surf School hat ” No bad days”. Here’s a gallery of the morning.

Swellboard Shootout 2017: In Conclusion

by Nog Competition news Fundraiser General Club News St. Ives Surf School events Surf Club Events

So, it only remains to thank everyone who helped make this extravaganza happen! Harris and the crew of St. Ives Surf School are both the brains and the heavy lifting behind the event. Friday evening came courtesy of Porthmeor Beach West’s fish tacos, Frankie Davies and Ben Warner. Saturday’s show was hosted by Cohort Hostel, films by Red Bull and curries by Ruby Murrays. Sunday was organised by St. Ives Surf School, lifeguarded by the RNLI, marshalled by Pete Mitchell, fed by Captain Carlos of Porthmeor Beach Takeaway, entertained by the music of the Red Bull truck and filmed by Senara of On The Beach Productions. See Here!

Proceeds raised over the weekend will go to Surfers Against Sewage, the RNLI and saints boardriders clubhouse fund.

Many many thanks to each and everyone of the above for bringing about another great edition of the Swellboard Shootout. Let’s do it again next year! Here’s a miscellany of portraits from Sunday. Cheers!

: Camouflaged Giraffes

: Outstanding surfer, Mike Lay

: Marshall Mitchell

: Dom Ferris of Surfers Against Sewage

: Ace lensman Pumps

Swellboard Shootout 2017: part 4 – The After Party

by Nog Competition news Fundraiser General Club News St. Ives Surf School events Surf Club Events

And so to the Balcony for the prize-giving and the partying! First up, Dom Ferris of Surfers Against Sewage gave a rallying speech reminding us of the great work his organisation does on behalf of all of us who use and value our oceans. Then The Giraffes were awarded first prize for their artfully realised costumes. The judges were impressed by the craft element and home-made endeavour in their choice – a pointer to next years entrants that store-bought is short of the mark. Next, an award for outstanding surfer of the day, taken, to popular acclaim, by Mike Lay. His longboard prowess transferred very well to the lengthy rides that a swellboard can offer and we were treated to a masterclass all day long. Finally, the St. Ives Surf School Circus Team collected the winners trophy for their success in the grand final. A strong costume element and a bag-of-tricks surfing element brought the trophy home to Porthmeor again. We were delighted to have the Sandy Acres Seven on stage to bring the evening to a climax, and the crowd had filled the dance floor to capacity before the first number was half way through! Watermelon Man, into Nothing But A Houseparty then Osibisa’s anthemic Sunshine Day and the joint was jumpin’. Great times as always to see out another Swellboard Shootout weekend.

Swellboard Shootout: part 3. Surfing

by Nog Competition news Fundraiser General Club News St. Ives Surf School events Surf Club Events

Once it came to the surfing, each team carried its fancy dress score into every heat. The quality of surfing was variable, to say the least – there were several very game non-surfers entered into the event as well as a few with national and international recognition in the shortboard and longboard ranks! The twenty or so teams were whittled down to a four team final through the rounds, and by then it was surfing skill that would win it.

Here’s a gallery of what happened!

Still to come: the After-Party and a portrait gallery.

Swellboard Shootout 2017 part 2. The Parade.

by Nog Fundraiser General Club News St. Ives Surf School events Surf Club Events

Once the teams have been shown to the judges, and their scores for costume evaluated, there is a grand parade from the beach, through the town and back via Fore Street, the lifeboat station, the Wharf and Bunkers Hill. This invariably picks up a crowd of curious onlookers to swell the numbers on the beach at Porthmeor to watch the event. This originated from the 2013 event when conditions at Porthmeor were red-flagged as too dangerous and the early rounds took place at the Breakwater after everyone marched there to get the competition underway. The spectacle proved so amusing to participants and public alike that a parade has become an integral part of the day now. Here’s 2017s version!