Swine Flu?

Oh I'm not sure what's come over me!! I'm feeling all worky all of a sudden! Nose to the grindstone, cranking out some hours on the computer, getting lots of jobs done!? What's happening?

Thankyou, Thankyou

Oh Yes, three in the bag!! We are fishers of men. Not only that but we carried out our first rescue as well! The story goes - left Rock with Billy and Fin in the rib - calm seas, small surf. By the time we got out to Pentire the wind had picked up and it was well choppy and the swell that was missing at Polzeath was clearly evident - running up from the south. We got to the Rumps, line out - first cast, three mackerel!! Boys sort out the fish. Engine off though and we were all feeling a bit queasy!! There was quite a swell running by the island. So we headed back with our catch to Rock - wind and tide against we picked our way through the big chop.

The rescue was a simple affair - windsurfer couldn't get back to Daymer against the tide - so we towed him. All very exciting. No drama - it wasn't like he is in serious trouble. 

I've realised the blog has turned into a 'life of Pete and his family' rather than the adventures of Surf's Up! - so I'm going to get a member of the senior team to come and do some updates. I make no apologies for spending the time with the kids and less time on the beach. As I said to Janey last night, we're just having too much fun. It's worked out really well though - having put in the work in the previous 14 years, because the boys are the perfect age to go on adventures with. 

Our three juniors in the Surf's Up! Boardriders division once again performed on the weekend. Liam and Max getting to the final - Rhys the semis. Those three chop and change all the time but are always there or there abouts.  

It has continued!!

I think that's our eight fishing trip without catching a fish, so I guess you'd call that, a trip!! This time following Fin's footie tournament we headed to Mousehole to fish from the harbour wall. We used Lures, Bobbers - but no, nothing! A few tugs on seaweed, but little else. Mind you in our defence we've rarely seen anyone else catch anything either. Although our neighbour Mike caught an 8lb Bass off Greenaway last week and a man was arrested for netting on the Camel Estuary. On Saturday we were in the boat for six hours - it's getting a fair amount of use. Anyway a big up to the beach team particularly Sam and Wailin for being more than good enough for us to leave the beach with confidence.

How's the shop going? The shop is going good. Last Friday was our record day. Funny old thing though - when we sold hoodies out of boxes by the trailer, people would rummage and grab the one they wanted. There was no sales process, it was quick and easy. In the shop, everyone has to try on about twenty different types and styles, look in the mirror. Same price, different expectation. Drives me nuts! Bring back the boxes!!

The new West wetsuits are amazing. The all over blue ones especially - two problems, one - you've got to be a good surfer to pull it off. Two - they don't have my size!!! I appear to have gone from a Medium Tall to a Large! They must come up small!

Swine Flu - it's a concern for sure. Hey guess what? It's raining! Stopped now! Must be scattered sunny intervals!

Bonding!

It's at this time of year that I usually lose that winter bond with the kids as they break up from school. Normally trapped on the beach whilst they do all sorts of fun things with their cousins. It's been a bit different so far this year - long may it continue!

New Member Discount Cards

New in Today are the Member Discount Cards - available to everyone that goes through the doors of Surf's Up! - Sweet. You can either pick one up at the surf school or give us a call and we'll send you one. How does it work? First you have to register your card - we take all your details, name, address, e-mail etc and then put you on the 'system'. Every time you either buy something on-line, in the shop, have a surf lesson or stay at the surf lodge, you get awarded points. More points mean prizes. But also we'll contact you if there's a new product that might be of interest, or there's good surf on the way - it could be that we have late availability on the surf lodge!! Give us a shout today to get your card!

Rain, rain go away - come back in November

At least we have the warmest rain in the country!! Very windy today - had to cancel our first session of the year - I say cancel, everyone's happy to change to a different time. It's a tricky one because you probably can get away with going in - but the risks are high when walking down the beach with boards flying around, and if someone got hit, well we wouldn't have a leg to stand on. Best to take the cautious approach. We're here for the long term. Sam held a theory session in the new training rooms (photo above), so that worked well.

I popped in on the instructors training session last night. Once a week the instructors are put their paces in the surf by Kelly and then they all come back in for some video analysis. There's a good vibe about it - all keen to learn. It's a funny old thing video analysis because you do put yourself in a position where you can be ridiculed - it's a position of exposure. But last night everyone was really supportive. It's a good team building exercise. It's also quite a perk of working for Surf's Up! that you get a coach of the calibre of Kelly helping you to improve. I might come on board next week for a bit of Kelly magic. 

Last year I ran the summer camps with the Boardriders - this year Kelly's going to take it on, which for the kids is huge. Last few details to sort out - we're going to take a crew up to surf the Severn Bore later in August, that should be fun. 

Is Newquay a hole?

Is Newquay a hole? I don't think so. There's been lots written about it recently following the death of a young lad. It's pretty obvious that the GCSE leavers have disappeared from Polzy, there's a few about but nothing like it used to be, so we have to assume that they've upped sticks and headed south. Can't blame them, we haven't exactly had an inclusive policy towards the young adults have we. We stopped contributing to the police fund years ago realising that actually there's management and there's just plain bullying. I think the policing on Polzeath was overdone, but I also understand that there was an issue.

Back to Newquay .. it serves a purpose. It's great for partying, great for young people and great for surf. That's about it. Okay the drive in is a poor advert for the UK's surfing capital but investment was pouring in to make things better, before the recession took hold. It will improve, but most of the development will no doubt need an upturn before the building continues. We go there loads in the winter with the kids - I think it's a great place for kids to grow up. If you look beyond the pound shops and Newquay Lifeguard hoodies, there are some magical places to visit. You just need to know where to go.

As for the young lad who fell off the cliff. It's a rite of passage to drink too much, drive to fast and experiment with drugs. We just all hope as parents that ours are the lucky ones to come through unscathed.

Disappointment: On my visit to Newquay today I had a KFC. Not something that I choose to do regularly, but it was raining, I was passing ... one thing led to another. The sweet aroma of the deep fried chicken lured me in. Had a sit-in Colonels Original, three pieces. One leg plus two other bits (of chicken I assumed). But no box!! NO BOX!! The chicken came just rattling around in a bag - that's no good. I want a box to catch the juices in. I don't want to put a bag up to my chin. Most unsatisfactory!! Am I getting old?

It's been raining all day! From 9am on and on and on. And the surf's gone small! I think in time today will be forgettable. Unless we get flooded - and on the basis we're on a hill, that would be memorable. I'm sticking with forgettable (yes spell check, with a double t ....tttttttt happy now?)

 

Back at the Coal Face

Following another night of unsuccessful fishing in the boat (where are they?) today was a day back at the coal face. One short of 300 surfers through the doors called for some Crasky magic making a return in the instructors vest. I have no problems doing it - if the call is made then I'm there. And to be honest, it's really cool to be back doing what I think I'm best at. What's also really good is to get a feel again, from a first hand perspective of just what it takes to manage the numbers that we deal with... and I can't believe we've done it for so long. It's enough to make my hairs go grew.

So yes, last night? Back in the boat, the wind was howling, the rain hard, but the boys wanted to go for a spin. We were one of only two boats out in the whole of the estuary, which tells you something about what it was like. We found shelter for wakeboarding and then turned off the engine to drift in search of anything fishy. Nothing. Over to Padstow, have a look in calmer waters. Nothing - and then a luck out..... a small boat of local fishermen set off. We followed to their 'top spot' - nothing. It really was pretty bleak when we made our final journey across the estuary, wind against tide. Super choppy, the boys got the giggles!

I saw my dad yesterday for the first time in a while. He lives down here, but our paths only cross now and then. He looked well and happy, the best I've seen him look in a while, bit of spark back - which is great to see.

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!).