A lovely new addition

I have to thank my big sis for contributing to the new boat (rib) - I think my brother-in-law knows by now?! Took the boys out for some wakeboarding, fishing and exploring until the sun went down last night. Happy days. Everyone should get a boat! 

I had no idea of the time when we came off the water, it was close to 10pm! My phone was on the blink (put the sim card in back to front!) so I hadn't communicated with Janey where we were or when she could expect us back. I fully expected her to be fraught with worry. But no, she was enjoying some peace and quiet in front of the telly! 

Toby rips it up at the Champ of Champs in Sri Lanka

Great shot of Surf's Up! Team Rider Toby nailing it in Sri Lanka. This is good news. Toby's been going through a difficult time recently, a 'right of passage' period when maybe he's trying to work out what he wants in his life. He went out there and proved how good he is - to come ninth is a massive achievement. I've said it before and I'll say it again - he's a rare talent, if he can keep the faith then he has a shot at making it all the way.

More good news - we've teamed up with Quiksilver to do their team rider training camps here in Polzeath. Kelly continues to do good work with our elite team. When I turn up a competitions it's clear the impact that he has on the scene. 

The beach was busy yesterday, in full swing, but I was able to head off to Looe with Billy and Fin for the day. A full days fishing for Bass. There were shoals of them swirling about in river mouth but could we catch one?! No - hours passed without a bite. These Bass are a bit smarter than Mackerel. Fin's turning into quite a fisherman though - he's got a real feel for it (despite not catching anything!).

You can just about make out the twister on Pentire (up from the yellow post). Funnily enough the weather lady in the morning said that the clouds would be, and I quote, "Tornadic"! Never heard that before - but she knew her onions.

Took the new boat for a spin with the boys - that's one life enhancer right there. We launched it at Rock, went around to Polzeath, back into Padstow Harbour to take a close look at the boats and then under the bridge at Little Petherick. Quite an adventure. It was raining and pretty horrible, but great fun. We tried to launch again last night but the wind was too strong to take the boys out - might have flipped the boat!! The pontoon was nearly submerged with chop! Will try and get out later today. Got our fishing stuff all prepped!!

We'll have to hope that the weather improves - really could do without a year like last year. Not that it was bad from a business point of view. But this year with so many new people coming down due to the recession, this is showcase time. If Cornwall has the opportunity to shine, then we'll discover a whole new set of converts keen to visit on a regular basis. Bookings are very strong - just need the sun to shine like it did a few weeks ago, with some surf as well obviously! Is that too much to ask?

There were three power cuts in the village last night. Very exciting. Polzeath busy now with holiday makers. Now in peak time mode! The local schools break up at the end of next week - really early for them, it's going to be carnage!!

Tornado hits Pentire!!

All finished! The new office/ training rooms and decking - got to be happy with this! What a difference!

We had a tornado on Pentire yesterday - yep, a twister - not huge but it was a real one that touched the ground. Grabbed the camera a fraction too late! You could hear the faint thud of falling sheep. Pick up the boat today - I get the Rock thing now. I've been there with the boys that past couple of nights - good scene at high tide. And another thing, I did a timed 400 m run on the Wadebridge grass track. When I was at school my best time (as the school champ!) was a respectable 52 seconds. Yesterday I was going around at what I thought was a 58/ 59 seconder. How wrong was I!!! One minute 31 secs!! Can't be right! Fin did a 1.59 and he's six!

 I think my stride has shortened 'cause my legs we going around like a whirlwind! 

The future and beyond

Last Saturday was a day of awakening - on so many different levels!! Now that the new projects are complete, and we're very happy with them, we are for the first time in 15 years exactly where we want to be. It's taken a while, but we have to be very pleased at where we've arrived. But it's not the Surf's Up! way to sit back and be satisfied - there's still loads more to do on this journey. 

So where to now? I think we can credit ourselves with being pioneering in our little pond. The facts are there to back it up. But to get to the next stage we made need to look at potentially joining forces. We have a much bigger plan, but can't necessarily do it on our own. I really can't say too much, but the plan is right out there. We have the experience, the knowledge, the history, the team, and the passion. Plans evolve, as will this one. We're creative with our thinking, not bound by any rules and regs or limited by ambition. This is the big one. This is the crossroads - and as I've said before, when both myself and Janey agree with a company direction, it always happens. 

Last night I was convinced I had swine flu!! Headache, shakes, a strong desire to roll in mud and eat rotten cabbage! Wrong diagnosis, it was Man Flu - feel great today!

Big up to Gabi who retained her King of the Groms title and to Reece (2nd) and Max who made the finals. 

We pick up the new boat today. Happy days. 

This was hilarious at the time - until we were about to leave!! we were setting up the night before the wedding gig and we had the marquee to ourselves. So we cranked it up and played a few songs. And then it was onto the lighting - in the package came a smoke machine. This is us trying it out - as I say hilarious until we were about to leave and we couldn't see the far end of the tent!!

I love being in a rock band - it's the greatest thing ever. Last night we played at Becky Martin's wedding (her sisters Polly and Ellie work for us). It was a big affair in a marquee near Port Isaac. Just the greatest experience - you get a good crowd and it fires you up. The floor was packed to overflowing, everyone jumping up and down - the end was, well to be up there in front of such an audience, very special night. Tim the Bride's father, he came up for a impromptu rendition of Crazy Little Thing, the power went off six times, we were playing our guitars on our knees in the middle of the fenzied crowd - it was all happening!! 

It was a great outcome - there's real pressure when you play a wedding, you desperately want it to go well for the bride and groom on their big day, and add to the occasion. We got the right result. It was pretty wild!!

Just been up to the marquee with the lighting for the wedding gig this weekend - very nice indeed. Can't wait to get on and play. The big ones get us fired up. We've just been asked to do another wedding in September, could this be the start of something?

I e-mailed my sis and brother-in-law - how do you fancy sharing a speed boat? My only problem was that Janey had to be convinced, with all the recent outlay she wanted to wait until the end of the summer. Anyway, big sis steps in (she comes down with her kids for the whole summer) she'll buy the boat now and we can pay our bit later on!! Perfect - so on Tuesday the ultimate toy arrives. Can't wait to take the boys out for a spin wakeboarding, and there may be a need for some tow-in R and D!! It's the same as the lifeboat on the beach, brilliant in surf - v excited. Should be a great addition for summer fun.

Sometimes I feel like a spare part!! Today on the beach, what, 240 people through the surf school and what's my input? Very little - Sam and Wail are running it like a well oiled machine. It was great to hear some very positive feedback from Nick (our photographer) about how he feels the beach is going, saying that the boys run it with the same dedication as if it was their own. Knowing that it's all in hand gives us options.

So now that all the projects are nearly completed I'm going to have to look for a new one!! I'm not a natural in the shop, I'm rubbish at it, so Mikey and his team will take that over v. soon. We're going to get a valuation for the beach house now that we've added the shop and new training facility. Fingers crossed that it's been a good investment - can't think for one minute that it hasn't been. Squeezed ever inch out of that one me thinks. 

a magical session

It's hard to imagine how last nights surf could have been any better! With low expectations I headed into the sea with a few mates. After only a short while the sets started coming in and it went glassy. A half hour period saw left handers of pure class. Great session and then back to watch Murray settle the game. 

We've been very busy for a while now averaging 150 - 220 clients everyday since whitsun. It's been a big effort from the team and spirits in camp are very high. We've got a great mix of youth and experience/ boys and girls/married and young free and single - we've always had that experience at the top which is what you need. Not from a surf coaching experience point of view, more from a safety point of view. Once the party summer season kicks off the young ones like to burn the candles and that takes a good deal of management. But no complaints this year, in fact some really good new additions. It's been a very positive start.

Next week we'll open up the new training room officially. We're putting in some fun stuff there which we think both the staff and Boardriders will enjoy. King of the Groms this weekend - I'll let you know how our team gets on.

The surf is back - long live the surf

Billy and Fin - they have a life

Wadebridge Football Club - Awards

Last year Janey said I lit the BBQ a bit late. The last thing I was to do this time was to do the same again. These were my orders from Janey whilst she cracked on with her support crew with the rest of the preparations. Tom from Finisterre popped in to say hi with his brother in law Sam who I hadn't seen for a while. We got some classic banter underway. And so sure enough the last thing I did was to forget to light the BBQ on time! A good deal of card wafting in the direction of the cold briquettes did eventually get the thing stoked up and everyone lived happily ever after.

Janey and I went furniture shopping for the new decking. Plans are afoot to make it something really special and then use it for private parties / corporate events. The location is stunning. Just working on a few ideas as we speak. 

Surf's Up! instructors Daisy and Sam at the BBQ

Surf's Up! instructors Kelly and Claude enjoyed the burgers

Here they are - under 10's, under 9's and under 8's - there's some real talent in these teams. A big thanks to all the coaches who give up so much of their own time.

"I'm slapping a seal"

Billy has occasion to jump into the Crasky bed of a night. Last week whilst deep within a dream he sat up moving his right arm from side to side in a short brisk sweeping motion. "What on earth are you doing?" asked Janey. "I'm slapping a seal" he replied. He'd been watching Night in a Museum - why it was a seal we just don't know!

Last night was an all timer on the North Coast - with a flat calm sea, the ocean looked like a pool of oil. We went around to Port Gaverne to do some jumping, swimming and crabbing. I've never seen it so still on the water and so clear - just like the tropics. Dr. Sainsbury was around there with his family, he lives a few minutes down the road - the last time he could remember it being like that was 15 years ago! Libby drew a large crowd with her cliff jumping - she's incredible to watch. The ledge she's jumping from has to be over 10ft high.

It's been a long flat spell, apart from the surf last weekend it's been small for two weeks - one of the longest spells I can remember. Fortunately we've been stacked with schools, and we can always keep them entertained with paddles and games in the water, which they love. What wouldn't be great is a flat spell during the main holiday period. Law of averages is working in our favour at the moment though - we'll hold onto that thought. Heat wave this week, but it does look like surf is on the way tomorrow.

After much post performance analysis we've discovered that our weak gig the other night might have been down to fact that our drummer had had a few too many. I like that story so I'm sticking with it!! We broke the record for how fast Times Like These can be played!! It came in at around 2 mins.