Limited Edition Surf's Up! Calendar 2011 - just in!

Here's a few screen shots of our new Calendar - which we're loving. It's desktop size - so you just have it there on the side as a reminder of the beach. Very handy indeed. We've assembled some of our favourite photos from over 16 years here at Polzeath - some wild ones, and some hot ones. You can get the calendars on-line for £8 each - great Christmas gift for anyone who's been down here on hols!

We hope that every time you look at it, it reminds you of great times. This one was taken only a few weeks back. High tide, sun just rising, a few empty waves for someone to enjoy.

Here's the horses of the King's Troop being exercised by the stable hands. They came down last year for a couple of days and put on quite a show. The horses were loving every minute.

Not all the photos are black and white - but I think this one works well. As a surf coach I've stood in the water on so many days when it's like this. Students get such a buzz when the Surf's Up! (too easy!).

No apologies for sneaking in a few sunset photos! Captures the best of the spectacular scenery.

Winter wonderland - it's pretty rare for snow to fall and then settles on the beach. We've had a couple of days like this over past few winters. It's definitely warmer in the water than out - takes a bit to convince yourself that that'll be the case though! Try getting out of a nice warm motor!

Update - these are flying off the shelves!!

On today's Menu in the Surf's Up! office - Alana cooked us two varieties of Flan - Crab and Asparagus and Bacon and Cheddar ... oh and chips! And it was all very, very tasty!

Bali is go!

Yep, we can confirm that the Surf's Up! Bali trip is definitely on. Just a two week hit - Wailin will be there guiding from February 12th to the 26th if you fancy joining him. All you have to do is get yourself to Denpasar airport and we'll do the rest. Bali is one of the best places on the planet - not just for the perfect surf. The culture, the people, the smells, the heat - your senses just go into overdrive. And when you come home, you just look forward to going back again!

Sky's the limit

Our Sky dish moved a fraction last week during the stormy weather - so no telly. It's been a revelation - what we've discovered is the telly progs that we really like to watch are all available online - free as you like. Even the Grand Prix! So we're in two minds on whether to ditch sky and get the freeview. Any thoughts anyone? The other thing we've discovered is that without the tv the boys find other activities to wind away the long evenings. They like to re-enact WWE wrestling when they get bored! Friday night though - all was quiet. Not a peep from the boys. This normally means they're up to no good. So we went on a search. Not in Fin's room. Not in our bedroom. Neither on the computer, nor the Playstation. No sound coming from Billy's room - they can't be in there, but best check. Open the door and there they were, sat on the floor, playing .... chess! As I say, it's been a revelation!

What a fantastic day! Surf 3ft clean, the sun's shining. We've got Wailin in he office with Chris, Alana, and Aleisha. Chris, Alana, and Aleisha are looking for work, and come to us for two days a week just to gain a bit of experience in the work place. Actually they're very competent. Chris is excellent on the computers and in the shop - so he cracks on with that. Alana is hoping to get in the Navy as a chef - so we've got her honing her skills by cooking up the Surf's Up! team lunch everyday. Broccoli and Cheddar cheese soup is on the menu today. Great for her cv. And then we have Aleisha who's strengths lie in the creative department.

Hm, new challenge?

I really struggle to get physically motivated without a challenge. Without a reason to train and a date to aim for, I am a lazy slob. When the challenge is fixed, I can be as focused as anyone. And I definitely have some endurance events left in the old body - endurance sits well with me. My best competitive days are still ahead, I believe that. I guess in the back of my mind I've been waiting for someone to beat the record that myself and James Cracknell set for paddling across the English Channel. So that I'd have a reason to have another crack. But that hasn't happened so I'm looking in other directions. I am amazed at how many times I get asked, "So what's the next challenge?" Is it that obvious that that's the way I work?

Hm, it seems that it is. For some time now I've been on the look out for a 'biggy'. One that lights that fire, inspires and really grabs my attention. I often visit the Woodvale Classic site and have the info packs - I've spoken to the organisers ... trying to get my head around rowing across the Atlantic. When James did it with Ben Fogle I followed their progress hourly and wrote to them regularly. I felt as if I was in the boat with them! But, having prioritised family life above all else, to put that personal challenge ahead of them, well what sort of dad would that make me? No, it needs to be a physical challenge where the chances of death are not in the equation. Pain, certainly ("Pain is only temporary" Lance Armstrong), but death, no way Jose!

The RAAM is the ultimate endurance challenge. A bike race across America - 3,000 miles non-stop. I keep going back to it - it keeps coming back to me. It's just come back to me again? I like it a lot. hm.... much to think about.

Back to more pressing issues - Boiler's been on the blink. Ever since we got back from Centre Parcs we've had no central heating. "It's not that bad" Janey argued as the boys ate their breakfast in front of the roaring coal fire! Fair point. And now Sky's on the blink.. turns out that our Sky insurance that ensures that an engineer will come out in three days, can't make it until next Friday! Oh well, I'm on iPlayer listening to the radio - News Quiz with Sandy Toksvig .... starts off with a reports that the Miss Naked America contest has apparently come under some criticism, but then again it will always have it's knockers! I think I'm going to enjoy this.

Don't forget "It's for the kids!"

Spent the last two days manning our stand with Mikey and Wailin at a careers exhibition down at Redruth. Around 3,000 kids from around the county visited the show. Lots of different industries and colleges represented, answering questions and trying to help the kids with planning for future employment. We took our surf paddling trainer along to make it fun and a lot of the kids jumped on board for a go. Not sure how much careers advice we ended up giving, but we seemed to be one of the more popular stands!

Windy!

Here's today's beach scene. Very windy from the North - this peak looks surfable but it'd be nearly impossible to stay in the right place to catch it - you'd be paddling all day for little reward. This is in the middle of the Bay. So we need to find shelter.

Polzeath faces West - North - West.....

... which is why when we look at the Northern end of the beach, you can just about make out that there's a bit of shelter to be had here from the Head at Pentire. It's one of the only beaches that offers a bit if shelter in a Northerly. The only other alternative would be a trip down to the South Coast.

Large crack found on Butlins Slide!

Of course that should have been the headline "Large Crack found on Butlins Slide" as a 20 stone woman had to be rescued last week from the flume! We were there for the Exmoor Beast the previous weekend. Must have been quite a scene!

Last weekend saw us at another holiday camp - Center Parcs. Centre Parcs is great - if you've got young kids, they absolutely love it. And on that basis we love it too. I think it was our seventh time. Yes, it's cool even with the surfers! In fact last time we bumped into one of the owners of another large surf school! Anyway we met up with my sister and her kids, Charlie (11), Alice (9) and Jamie (6) who are the best of mates with our two boys. My Mum was there in the mix too. The day revolves around footie in the morning, then up to the pool and the rapids for the rest of the day. The rapids is an absolute winner. The kids go round and round and round. As do the adults!

We had a stroke of luck when we were there. It was the weekend of the 'big' firework display being Nov 5th and all. But we decided not to make the trek back down to the lake - instead opting to stay in the pool. And this proved to be a master stroke as we ended up being the only ones left in the pool! This led to lots of tomfoolery as the lifeguards went to sleep. We got away with five of us all going down the big green slide together (normally one every minute!), time and time again with no-one to queue behind! Happy days. Not a peep from the boys in red and yellow. And we had the rapids and jacuzzis to ourselves as well. It's not often that's going to happen - we made the most of it.

Centre Parcs isn't cheap - if you eat at the restaurants, you're going to pay for it. But it is a very good break that the kids always really look forward to. Highly recommend it. Oh, and it's pretty quiet right now - lots of upgrading of accommodation areas.

Andy Irons

One minute we're full of excited anticipation that Kelly Slater is about to pull off his tenth world title this week, when news comes though that Andy Irons, his greatest competitor over many years, has died. He was returning home to Hawaii having pulled out of the Puerto Rico competition due to contracting Dengue fever. He was 32. Very sad. A huge character in the surfing world and truly amazing surfer, brilliant to watch.

A full report on Andy Irons - http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/surfing/8106652/Surfing-world-mourns-death-of-champion-Andy-Irons.html

Kelly goes for Tenth Title

Exciting times - Kelly Slater, the greatest competitive surfer to have ever graced the planet is only a few heats away from securing his tenth World Championship Title. With two events left, it's pretty well in the bag. He has to be regarded as one of the greatest athletes across all sports. On the women's tour, Stephanie Gilmore has just won her fourth consecutive world title - it's all happening across in Puerto Rico!

You can check out it all out on the ASP site. http://www.aspworldtour.com/

Exmoor Beast

And so it was that the Exmoor Beast reared it's ugly head. 100 miles on the road across the Moor - a tough test in anyone's book. I'd trained hard for 6 weeks - and I had this idea in my mind that if all went to plan I could nail a time of 6 hours and 50 minutes. That would mean no mechanical failures, no punctures and if possible, try and draft behind some of the faster groups to get a good pull. Six hours 50 minutes - it was going to be a real battle.

I started with the first batch of riders out of 1,400 going off from Butlins at Minehead at 7am - conditions pretty good. By the time we got to the first climb (there are two biggies in the first 35 miles) there were about 15 people ahead (it's a time trail not a race). At the top of Dunkery Beacon the mist was thick, visibility down to 30 yards in places. Over the top of the Beacon and a club group went by. I sat on the back and drafted for the next 6 miles - sweet, more pace, less effort! Down Lynemouth Hill and they pulled away. Memories of my fall a few weeks ago leading me to be more cautious. The road was wet and the leaves made it treacherous. Up the other side for the long haul to Simonsbath - a good 7 miles up hill. The group was a mere 50 yards ahead, but just out of reach.

Out of the shelter of the gorge and on to the top of the Moor - here you're exposed to the elements. The wind had picked up and it was tough going. The rider whose wheel I'd stuck to up the hill, decided they'd let me now do the leading. Damn! And then the drop down into Simonsbath to the first feeding station.

Last year, I decided not to stop at the first feeding station - and I suffered as a result. This year, I decided to make the briefest of stops, grabbed a flapjack and then back on. I'd arranged to meet Janey and the boys - but our timing was out. I was an hour up on last year's time (the weather was horrible in 2009). They were to wait over an hour for me, but I'd been and gone!

At the feed station the groups split - the 100 milers went one way, the 70 milers the other. At the 40 mile mark I was all alone - no-one around and up on the Moor. It was tough and I was feeling it. The ten miles went slowly and I felt for sure that the 6 hours 50 was quickly going away. Down the hill though and two other cyclists swung by - I tucked in behind and for the next ten miles we caned it through the wooded valleys. Fantastic. Back on the pace.

Three miles before the next feeding station we joined up with the 70 milers - a great lift. Overtaking is a real spur and we picked up the pace another notch. And then on the corner of the next climb, I saw the boys and Janey. Yippee. Great to see them and it provided another really cool boost. We joined up at the feed station where Billy helped fill up the water bottles and provide me with some peeled bananas!

With the biggest hills now done - the last 35 miles should have been a breeze but there were plenty of surprises. Really steep sections sapping the energy. I kept looking at the bike computer - this was going to be so close! Seven miles to go and you route starts to descend back towards Minehead. Time to be gained - there was going to be nothing in it. Two miles to go - I can do this. Then an unexpected turn left off the flat at Dunster Castle onto a really steep section, standing on the pedals to keep the bike moving. One mile, flat but into the wind. I could see Butlins, the seconds were ticking away. I saw Janey and boys, cheering me on. Out of the saddle again, one last push, around the roundabout and into Butlins and enthusiastic cheers from the supporters.

And this is where it all went a bit pear shaped! The finish you would think quite naturally would be when you cross the line. I crossed the line at six hours 49 minutes and 45 seconds (bike computer)! Stoked - totally stoked. To have cycled 100 miles on such a tough course and beaten a time that I thought possibly just beyond me, was wicked. I got off the bike, I was spent. I stretched off the back which was by now very sore. Then I walked into the building and down the corridor. It wasn't until I walked down the corridor that I notice these white markers - NO - the chip timers! The race was timed when you passed these sensors. How on earth was I supposed to know that? The official time 6 hours 50 minutes and 9 seconds! And that put me outside the time band! Gutted? Not really - the job had been done.

Anyway, really great day. Brilliant to have the family up supporting. A very tough challenge but really pleased with the time. Only 12 people had passed me throughout the 100 miles. Very happy bunny. Oh here we go, just seen the results - came 52nd! 52nd in the hardest Sportive on the UK Calendar. Really pleased with that.

We spent the rest of the afternoon in the pool at Butlins. When we set off to go home we passed riders still out on the course - some 12 hours after starting! Good on them.

Last week I had to go up to Plymouth - whilst there I took my bike into the Specialized shop and I asked if they wouldn't mind giving it the once over before the race. The chap took down all the details on his form. "Do you think I might be able to pick it up this afternoon?" I asked. "No chance", he said. He took the form, held it up and ripped up in front of me as if I'd wasted his time. Hm, not impressed. I've spent a lot of money in there over the past year ("far too much" Janey!) and recommended others who have done likewise. Cycling is not cheap which probably explains why it's the middle aged doing it. Anyway the shop is split into two. I went into the other half to chat about something else. "Did you get your bike sorted?" - I relayed what had happened. "Really?" said the store manager. I didn't want a scene but I'd determined that as I hadn't felt like a valued customer I wouldn't be shopping there in future.

To cut a long story short - they took the bike off there and then and gave it the quick once over. The gears had been a bit temperamental, and on inspection it was no wonder as a bit had broken off! The result was a quick fix to get the gears back on song but a quote for £250 to get the bike fully overhauled. £250 on a bike that I'd bought less than a year ago! okay I've done some miles but that seemed mighty steep. It cost me £100 to get the minibus through it's MOT the week before! I took the bike away without any repairs and cycled the Exmoor Beast quite merrily without any issues. Moral of the story? At Surf's Up! we try our hardest to be inclusive, to ensure that everyone is 'valued' because clients are our life blood - without them we don't have a business. But it only takes the smallest gesture, the smallest action of even the most junior member of staff to completely ruin the good work of others. Despite the bike shop's best efforts to redeem the situation, I left feeling pretty bad about the whole thing and that's it, in this competitive market place I will go elsewhere from now on. Shame really as I loved going there.

I seem to be chatting more about cycling than surfing recently! Sorry. I guess being passionate about something, whatever it is, is a good thing. I think the comparison between the sports is how both make me feel. If a day goes by without a bike ride, my body just yearns for it. And you get that sense of euphoria from it. There's that sense of freedom - the same you get from surfing. I love it! The comparisons are there to be made. So if you're reading this and you live far from the sea - go and jump on your bike. I promise you'll feel much better for it.