Measuring Progress

Measuring Progress

by Nog General Club News Groms Surf Club Events

As we move into September and the Kids Club season edges toward the grand finale, it’s time to gauge how we are progressing. Our Nemos and Dorys, under-8’s and needing adult help and a push to get into the wave, are demonstrating high levels of skill in popping-up and then riding the board with control. There promises to be a rich crop of junior talent to be seen at Porthmeor in the near future. Our older members have shown where the next level of performance is, with good wave selection and an ability to execute more advanced manoeuvres like bottom turns and re-entries to get the best out of a wave. In between these two groups is a cadre of surfers who are making strides from novice to accomplished surfers, moving from swellboard to shortboard and tackling that difficult transition with determination.Here’s some of the action from Saturday!

All the Elements

All the Elements

by Nog General Club News Groms Surf Club Events

There was an Autumnal feel to the air for Kids Club this week. A chilly Westerly and some chunkier waves out back brought a challenge to our more advanced surfers, while the Nemos and Dorys kept to the inside, smaller waves to continue their own concentration on techniques required for pop-ups, trimming and turning. There was a chance before the session began to gather our volunteer coaches and some of the other members who make Kids Club happen – here’s a photo tribute to you guys!

And there are others who were busy on check-in duties and other ancillary stuff who didn’t make this photo call but also deserve our thanks for their contributions to the Saturday morning vibe!

When we got down to the surfing business, there were three elements of the session that are manifest in the picture gallery below. CONCENTRATION, LEARNING and FUN. We had a great time, coaches and surfers all. And that is what a club is about!

Wet Wet Wet

Wet Wet Wet

by Nog General Club News Groms Surf Club Events

At Kids Club last Saturday it mattered not whether you were surfing, coaching or just taking the pictures – you got a soaking! With that horizontal mizzle that is peculiar to Porthmeor, we spent a couple of hours practising angled pop-ups and trimming in surf that was middling to strong for our junior chargers. Here’s a flavour of what we saw from them;

A Fresh Challenge

A Fresh Challenge

by Nog General Club News Groms Surf Club Events

The Kids Club season to date had been a diet of small friendly waves under a burning sun. This week brought a very different challenge as strong winds accompanied showers and the larger waves were further complicated by rippy conditions in the shallows. Many of our youngest and newest members had never experienced such conditions before but demonstrated bravery and determination in meeting the task. There were great rewards for those who could get to their feet and set a line with some long rides on some meaty waves. There were also some clattering wipe-outs witnessed! Well done to both coaches and surfers in stepping up to this newest challenge.

 

Hooking Up

Hooking Up

by Nog General Club News Groms Surf Club Events

Here’s John Bennett of Inner Visions surf company dropping in on Kids Club for the first time this week to initiate a partnership with saints boardriders. St. Ives boy John is keen to support our local surf club and can use  good industry connections to help us with merchandise, surf boards and all surfing paraphernalia. The first manifestation of his involvement with us is the new club T-shirt, as worn by Steve Hewlett and John Navin in the picture. The T-shirt is available now in all sizes, priced at £15 for junior sizes and £20 for adult sizes. All sale proceeds go directly to the club. John also brought some custom-made surfboards which are designed as a step-up between the  Swellboard and a first hard board for our young surfers as they progress their surfing. These boards will be available through the club with your group coach on hand to guide your choice of that vital first board purchase.

On behalf of saints boardriders, can I welcome John to our club and hope that Saturday was the first day of a fruitful collaboration  with Inner Visions!

Higher Education

Higher Education

by Nog General Club News Groms Surf Club Events

The fine summer continued throughout the end of school term and we again found ourselves with balmy weather and a small wave for the club on 14th July. It was a further opportunity to work with the coaches on trimming along the wave and on speeding up and slowing down.

 

 

The following week saw the first break in the weather with a cold, wet start to the 9 o’clock session.  Harris led the Nemos with an exposition of how to finish a wave as the section closes out. It was a tall order for some of those little tackers to take on, but they gamely gave it a go. There’s another skill to practise in the school holidays! The pictures below are from that most recent session.

 

 

Videographer, Greg Dennis was also on hand shooting a couple of interviews with some of our members for a video section to support the club’s fundraising effort on the JustGiving website. You can donate, or just check it out here.   All help is gratefully received!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kids Club Double Bill

Kids Club Double Bill

by Nog General Club News Groms Surf Club Events

As the exceptional spell of high pressure and warm weather has brought us successive weekends of small but rippable surf for our junior surfers, we have maintained those high attendances and kept the stoke going. The friendly conditions have enabled us to introduce our newest members to the elements of surfing technique needed to both speed up the board and to slow down, as well as trim frontside and backside. It’s such a joy to see them practising and honing these basic skills. Here’s a gallery of shots from those most recent sessions;

Hot!

Hot!

by Nog General Club News Groms Surf Club Events

A small but rideable swell greeted us on Saturday morning at Porthmeor. Beautiful warm weather with no wind allowed eighty plus surfers to enjoy a mellow session and polish our skills.  The younger groups were able to practice their pop-ups and even find time to trim along the waves in such favourable conditions. Happy Days! Here are some pics from the session, including a sneaky practice for tomorrow’s Swellboard Shootout competition by an unnamed instructor.

 

We’re Back!

We’re Back!

by Nog General Club News Groms Surf Club Events

Saturday 9th of June was the first Kids Club of the season, and 99 eager surfers answered the call. Add in the instructors the helpers and the admin crew and that amounts to over 130 people enjoying the balmy morning, with just enough surf to give the newbies a gentle introduction to the sport but some bigger peelers out back for those returning members to rediscover their mojo. With such fine weather, decent surf and a chance to catch up with old friends, it was a successful day all round. The gallery below captures some of the action.

2018 Sign-up

2018 Sign-up

by Nog General Club News Groms Surf Club Events

Saturday 21st of April in The Balcony was the start of the season for many of our younger members as the Kids Club opened for registration for the 2018 season. The crowd had filled the bar long before the 10am sign-up time arrived, and our committee team had a hectic first hour before the flood became a steady stream. Our banner picture features Emma, Luciana and Rebecca manning the desk.

Nav showing clubhouse plans

We were joined on the morning by Lloyd Davies of the RNLI who was recruiting some of our advanced youngsters to a junior lifeguard scheme. He was pleased to report that his target quota for this initial intake was easily filled. Well done in stepping forward kids!

Lloyd outlining the junior lifeguard scheme

Over 140 signed-up to saints boardriders on the day, and there are several more who were unable to make that date but are keen to re-enrol. We also had an enthusiastic take-up of our family membership offers which has proved to be a useful step in our drive to recruit a greater adult membership. All we need now are the waves!