A Fine Send-Off

A Fine Send-Off

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

We held the postponed end-of-season finale last Saturday in pumping waves under a clear blue sky. We could not ask for better conditions, and a large turn-out was guaranteed to witness the competition to be club champion 2022, the post-season presentations and enjoy the promised ” sausage sizzle” afterwards.

There were regular group sessions for the juniors to enjoy, offering a last chance to impress the coaches and maybe claim ‘surfer of the summer’ in the group.

Over in the competition area some keenly fought heats saw a final four boys emerge to contest their final, after five girls had contested their own final.

Boys finalists
Girls finalists
The judges hawk-like intensity!

And then it was up to the clubhouse to learn who the winners would be, and to honour all our young chargers for their efforts this summer. A packed room cheered the awards as our groups acknowledged winners in three categories: surfer of the summer, most committed surfer and most improved surfer. There were medals for all juniors to commemorate the season, and then the contest surfers received their medals in reverse order, leaving Leila and Teddy as our champions for 2022.

The Trophy Table
Champions

And then it was back out onto the putting green for a “sausage sizzle” in the late-summer sunshine. What a day!

Well that was a most satisfactory way to complete our season. Nature’s elements combined to offer us a perfect day to say farewell to summer 2022.

Many thanks to Tesco St. Ives for their generous support to the BBQ. Thanks to St. Ives Brewery ( again!) for their support on every event day. Thanks also to the contest judges and thank you to the club committee for a fine day, and a fine season. Our gratitude to Porthmeor Beach management and to Porthmeor Beach RNLI lifeguards for their support and encouragement over the season. St. Ives Surf School is the rock on which our Kids Club is built and we owe Harris and his crew a debt we can never hope to repay for their unstinting efforts. And, finally, a word of praise for those Dolphin surfers who gave their Saturday mornings to helping the younger groups into waves: Kaz, Ollie, Marley, Kaitlyn and Bridget are names that readily spring to mind!

To all children and parents who participated over the summer – We have relished your company. ” Thank you ” and we look forward to seeing you all again in 2023!

Slipping into September

Slipping into September

by Nog Competition news General Club News Groms longboarding Surf Club Events

Well, our luck continues to hold and a large turnout of surfers enjoyed fabulous conditions for our first September session of this season. Under warm blue skies we had a fine morning polishing our surfing ready for the end of season bash. There were a couple of absentees as Ollie Tarplee and Caz Phillips went off to Newquay to compete in the BLU longboard event, and it’s pleasing to report that they both made their respective finals, Caz placing third in the Under-18 Boys and Ollie coming fourth in the Under-16 Cadets. Well done guys – we’re proud to have you representing the club! Our banner picture shows Ollie in action at Fistral Beach.

Some pictures below from the club session at Porthmeor:

Mother Meor Delivers

Mother Meor Delivers

by Nog General Club News Groms Surf Club Events

Proper surf and wave sizes to suit all abilities last Saturday. The Nemos and Dorys were in particularly good form and keen to impress. Out back the Dolphins were smashing out turns and linking manoeuvres while our mid-range groups were finding their own manageable waves, green or white, and getting great enjoyment from meeting the challenges they set themselves. Here is a gallery of my pictures from the session:

And there is a bonus section of pictures this week with this selection by Natalia focussing largely on our intermediate age groups. Enjoy!

Hot Dog!

Hot Dog!

by Nog Fundraiser General Club News Groms Surf Club Events

Boy it was a hot one! A fierce August sun blazed in a blue blue sky on Sunday afternoon as the club set out it’s stall on the putting green for our first BBQ get-together. Aided by the generous support of St. Ives Co-op, St. Ives Brewery and St. Austell Brewery ( Don’t you just want to be in that number when the saints go marching in! ), and a tray full of sumptuous home-baked cakes from Diane Smith, we welcomed members and public to share our space and the hospitality of the clubhouse. We could delight in the culinary skills of several of our eager committee members who brought their kitchen aprons to the feast and twizzled and sizzled with relish. Parents and children, omnivores and vegetarians were well-fed and watered with the fine food and drink provided. The event was very well supported and earned praise from many as a local initiative, and an opportunity for the curious non-surfers to inspect the clubhouse that the surfers enjoy. It was a rewarding afternoon engaging with fellow members and earning funds for the club from the donations given. Can we do it again before the season is over? Many say we should!

Again we offer thanks to St. Ives Co-op for their gift of the bulk of the food. Both St. Ives Brewery and St. Austell Brewery were generous in their support, and Diane’s cakes and treats were an additional wow factor to the day. Thanks too to Porthmeor Beach for the use of the putting green, and to our committee members for hustling up the BBQ and kit required to make the day such a success. There are a few pics capturing a brief spell from the day below. Thanks to David Newton for those.

Di’s Cakes

Low and Slow

Low and Slow

by Nog General Club News Groms Surf Club Events

Another 8.30 start on Saturday and the gentlest of waves to welcome us to Porthmeor. I’d characterise conditions as ‘low and slow’ and eminently suited to our youngest surfers. There was ample time to get into a wave and time enough to polish a stance once riding. As the tide shifted out our older groups found their wave size increasing, so all-in-all a very satisfactory day I’d say!

Coming on

Coming on

by Nog General Club News Groms Surf Club Events

Second session and we are finding our groove. A hassle-free check-in and off down the beach in good time for an hour-long surf. It’s pretty much low tide, gusty wind and showers, and some meaty waves punching through. The Nemos and Dorys were finding lots of white water rides on the inside while the Tuna and Swordfish were battling in chest-deep waves to hold position for the best offering. Out back the Dolphins were dealing with overhead and occasionally steep waves, testing the mettle. The banner picture contrasts a novice surfer making those early steps in the club with Teddy out back, now developing into an accomplished performer.

Here we go – here we go – here we go!

Here we go – here we go – here we go!

by Nog General Club News Groms Surf Club Events

First session of a new season. Heavy surf, lots of rippy water moving and a cross-shore wind. Coach Navin posted an advisory that tiny tots and nervous types might want to begin their summer at the next session. On the morning, around seventy surfers arrived ready to rumble. There was a good number of adults and experienced juniors on hand to help, both in the water and with the hectic check-in as newbies were introduced to Kids Club for the first time. St. Ives Surf School coaches were keen to meet their new charges and get down to business. It was great to see progress in the older groups from where we left off last summer. Some of the new Dolphins have obviously spent the winter in the water and were keen to bust out the moves. Meanwhile the Nemos and Dorys went through the familiar ‘getting to know you ‘ beach routines before hitting the white water waves for that important introduction to riding a board, the wipe-out and the smiling recovery from a ducking. As we wrapped up the session back up the beach the consensus among surfers, parents and coaches was that a good time was had by all! Can’t wait for the next session!