Giggles

Billy's got his Christmas play coming up in which he plays an old woman. I was in Bodmin yesterday with Janey when she said she just wanted to pop into the charity shop to get something for his outfit. So we pop into the Salvation Army shop and she carefully choses the least fashionable, old person style trousers, shirt and cardigan - perfect for the Billyman and his Panto. I was by her side when she approached the till. "Would you like to try this on?" said the shop assistant. "Just to make sure it fits!" I nearly wet myself. I got the giggles bad and it was only through a lot of cheek biting that I managed to resist from blurting out an inpromptu belly laugh. As I left the shop I could tell from Janey's face as she proceeded to check out that she too was desperately fighting the inner giggle demon. Funny, funny, funny.

Ebay - well we've been having some fun with this. "If it hasn't been used in a year then it's going!" I announced. And to be fair we've shifted a whole load of stuff. It becomes quite addictive! The trouble is I'm rubbish at packing and that's a bit of a chore! The garage and store room is slowly clearing though, which is a good thing. We're off to Truro car boot to get rid of a load of other stuff this weekend. Having a good old clear out is very good for the soul!

Morning meeting with the team. we have a new regime to make sure that we make the most of the winter. So we meet every Friday morning and come up with a plan for the next few days - then we meet again on Monday afternoon to see how everyone's got on. The nice thing is when we hit Easter next year, we're going to be so far ahead and so much more on top of things than normal. The boys, Wailin and Mikey still fit in their surfing, but being more focused and working as a unit is definitely much more productive. JD continues to come in and hassle me over accounts - oh how I love accounts, but I still love her! On Monday we're all off to Plymouth for a meeting and then a bit of a staff Christmas lunch. No two days the same down here!

A wet weekend

Golf on Friday was a wet affair! But standing on the 12th tee looking out across Daymer Bay and beyond the Camel Estuary, Stepper Bay and the Atlantic - I had to pinch myself. Such a stunning stretch of coastline.

My back is a bit better now! Picking up a towel off the floor on the first evening at Centre Parcs I twinged it, and several days have passed where saying hello to my toes has not been possible. A visit to the Osteopath made it worse, but today, ten days later it's much better. "Keep moving" was the advice. So a combo of cycling and golf have helped a bit to get it going. Yesterday we took the boys down to Portreath, to a place called The Track. It's an off road bike centre, BMX track, dirt jumps etc. The weather was so hideous in the hail storms that no-one else was there. The owners were about to leave but said we could have a go while they packed up. How much fun was that!!? Fantastic - the boys were loving it.

Sad, sad day!

On Tuesday we heard the devastating news that local girl Jess Solley had passed away at the tender age of 22.  

We've known Jess for many years, only in passing at first, but then as she moved up into secondary school she learned to surf with us and subsequently went on to do her work experience at Surf's Up! - we came to know her well. She was very much part of the local social scene. A couple of years ago she went away travelling. On her return, whilst making our morning Latte from behind the counter at the Cone Zone, she'd speak animatedly about the adventures she'd had. In more recent times she developed a fantastic friendship with Polly, 

a key member of our team. Through this friendship she became a regular face around Surf's Up! - in fact, it was only last week that I into them both in the Jacuzzi at Roserrow - they were laughing and joking as always. 

Jess was great. Funny, pretty, quiet, athletic, calm, considerate and kind - the perfect example of how you'd want your own daughter to turn out. She had a smile for everyone. In the end, however, it was to be this outwardly contented persona that disguised a secret inner turmoil that led her to make a decision too weighty and final for any of us to comprehend. It is too tragic, and my words cannot begin to do the turn of events, justice. If we could turn the clock back for Jess, we surely would. If we were granted that one chance to turn back time and help clear the fog that prevented her from seeing the bright future laid out before her and from seeing the unlimited love and support from those around her, then we would surely grab it with both hands. Our love and thoughts go to her family and friends who in life did her so proud. We're all poorer from the loss of Jess.

Rugby Jackpot

That video of the guy hitting the crossbar at the rugby match at the weekend for £250k is magic. Fantastic!

Recovering today from an epic 80 mile ride - Truro, Launceston and back - quite windy on the Moor! Janey's given me the all clear to do the John O'Groats to Land's End in January - I've got 8 days to do it in, hope the weather's okay. Just going to get a backpack together, train up to Thurso and start the journey back. Should be a great adventure. Might be a tad cold in the Scottish Mountains, and of course the days are short, but you've got to give these things a go.

Centre Parcs this weekend with the kids - they love Centre Parcs - I think this must be visit number 8? Very unsurfy I know, but we always have such a good time. Can't wait - and neither can they. They're frothing for it!

Boardriders kick a..e!

Gabi ripping it up on the Surf's Up! / Quiksilver Team rider training weekend

What a stunning weekend for the Surf's Up! Boardriders - here's the update from our on the scene reporter, JP -

"Three of the Boardriders put in great performances this weekend at the
Newquay Open Pro Tour surf finale, in epic conditions. An event made all the
more special as every category was packed with the best available talent in
the UK competing for final ranking positions in the Open, Womens, Under 18
and Under 16 events.

On Sunday Gabi won the Womens Open. An amazingly strong performance, with
none of the other girls able to cope with the huge wave size. This means she
finished second overall in the rankings for both the under 16 Girls and
Womens UK Pro Tours for 2009.

Toby gave it everything, reaching the Quarters of the Mens Open, knocking
out Tour favourite Reubyn Ash, and the Final of the under 18s, where fatigue
took over after contesting both events in double overhead heavy Fistral
surf, finishing fourth.

Max (aged 11), facing 60mph winds and a rain lashed 24ft swell on Saturday
morning, reached the Semis of the under 16 boys. A stunning effort that sent
shock waves around the beach as, in the Quarters, he knocked out two of the
British team fresh back from squad training in France - Quiksilvers Luke
Dillon and West team rider Jobe Harris." Thanks JP

It's been an amazing year for the Surf's Up! Boardriders Elite squad. In fact when I went down to the BSA meeting the other day, a lot of the surf schools were asking how they could get their top riders on the elite training programme. I still believe that despite some amazing results, 2010 will be our year!

Education, education, education

In the absence of one of the teachers I offered to step in to help at the local primary school. Originally this was for PE, but developed into a supporting role of Mr Howard with the Year 6's. I ended up doing the whole week and enjoyed every minute of it. It's where Billy and Fin are so no big deal.

Say what you like about education in this country, but unless the school decided to put on a special show for me, I cannot fault what was on offer. The variety throughout the day was not what I had expected and the care, quite heart warming. I ended up doing some maths and literature, building bird boxes, reading the school play, football, some one-on-one tuition, drums, piano - there was so much going on. And I really liked the fluid nature, the relaxed style of the day. So a big up to St. Minver school - top marks from me, an 'A' star.

Weather in this country, you've just got to love it! Storms all day yesterday - today great surf and blue skies!

Get to the beach - Quik!

It's a mass of frothing white water - it's beautiful, but not really great for paddling out! Good job it's a small tide or we'd all be moving up the hill! Apparently Falmouth Bay is cooking - and let's face it, that's not an everyday occurrence.

Toby at Harlyn - photo courtesy of Nick at 360photography

The Quiksilver Team rider weekend at the Beach House was a resounding success! Kelly put the team through their paces - at Harlyn and Praa Sands. We're hoping that this will become a regular event.

Inside Spencer's camper.

We say goodbye to Kelly as he heads back to NZ for the winter. He'll be back for Easter. He's done an amazing job with the elite squad this year and is without question the hottest coach in the UK. Everyone wants to get on board the programme, so we're looking at widening the area to include Newquay and somewhere between here and Wales. We're going to make sure that he's mobile so that those in and around the GB team can benefit.

Friday marked a new beginning for Surf's Up! - we had a long meeting with the team. It's the first time in 15 years that we can actually have a year of consolidation. With the surf school, training rooms, new office, shop, Boardriders and Elite all in good shape - we've pretty well put ourselves where we want to be. And now we can focus on all those projects and make each and every part of the business amazing. So there's a good buzz looking to 2010. We're already much more focused than we normally would be at this time. The team took away their new 'bibles' and weekly meetings will see us take huge leaps this winter. Lots of working together in the office and we're also working on a lot of new incentives and bonus schemes, across the board.

Great results

Some good surf comp results for the Boardriders over half term. Toby was second to Russell Winter in the NE Open at Tynemouth, beating Mark Harris and Ruebin Pearce in the final.

And Max got to the final of the UK Pro Tour Under 16 event in Porthcawl Wales (the AXL/DOH Pro), where he came third beating local favourite and under 16 British squad member Max Tucker. Tour leader Leon Mansfield was first and Zak Lawton second. It's been a great year for the team.

Down to the skeleton

So it's me, Janey, Wailin, Mikey and JD - that's it at Surf's Up! HQ this winter - but already I'm liking it. The pace and atmosphere changes completely once the half term is out the way. It's much more relaxed, a nice wind down. Can't believe how lucky we were with the weather - September and October were incredible.

Kelly's just returned from an elite training week that we put together for some of the British Squad in Portugal. Sounds like they had some amazing surf. And then this weekend he have the Quiksilver and Roxy Team riders coming to stay at the Beach House for some intensive coaching. Looking forward to that.

We say goodbye to Big Sam who has decided to lay up his instructor vest after seven years on and off. He's been a stalwart, a trooper, a leader of men and on many occasions a real support. Dedicated, professional and committed - he's never missed a day off for sickness - a massive tick in our book. He has a creative mind that will hold him in good stead for the future and he goes with our very best wishes. He leaves on a high having put together out new junior training scheme earlier this year. 

Now then, back to me! I've lost one and half stone in six weeks - and there's more to go. Loving this cycling. Just spent two hours on the Schwinn doing one of these motivational DVD's - Spinervals 'No Mercy' - highly recommended! And now it's off to gym! Only thing to do in this weather!

Exmoor Beast

You know this morning when you woke up and looked out of the window - did you notice that summer had come to an end? Gale force winds and horizontal rain! Hm. It was at 4am that I made tracks to Butlins at Minehead for the Exmoor Beast. Of all the days - particularly considering the fantastic weather we've had! Why did it have to break today of all days! It was clear early on that conditions were extreme, and reports coming direct from the top of the moor were talking about 50 mile an hour winds. The rain was lashing down. There were obvious safety issues for the organisers to factor and options to consider - would we go at all, would be one of them! The 101 mile dream was over, the call was made to only do the 100k route and postpone for an hour. The decision was met with little resistance. What transpired over the next 5 hours was a battle royale against the elements.

To put some perspective on how extreme it was - at times on the flat straights I could muster only 6 miles an hour (compared to a normal 15-20), barely managing to stay on the bike at times. And the easiest part of the first 35 miles was the long haul up from Lynemouth to Simonsbath, the 6 mile uphill run, the place that I had feared the most. The sheltered valley offered all 1700 competitors a respite from the battering.

It was brutal! So many steep strength sapping climbs - one after another, after another with the wind seemingly head on all the time. Even the downhill sections offered little respite and had to be treated with respect as leaves, branches and pine needles scattered over the road made for ice like conditions. You had to keep a keen eye on the riders in front to watch for places where the wind blasted through gaps in the hedges from the roadside. Charging was not an option. All the riders became insular - this had become a personal battle. The incessant driving rain called for full concentration, heads down and chatting was not an option.

At the start line, I muscled my way to the second row. After ten miles I'd managed to keep with the leading pack. On the hills I did okay losing only a few places. But once we became fully exposed on the top of the Moor, well there were many stronger riders.

I crossed the finishing line after 5 hours and 2 mins (the leaders coming in around 4 hours 15) that was 437th out of 1730 - with 5 weeks training I've got to be pretty stoked with that. My quads have never felt as tired as that, ever. But I was really chuffed having conquered some of the steepest roads at their most challenging and giving it all without stopping! It was a huge mental and physical test and a very memorable experience! It was a great day.