Mahoustic is back

It's that time, time to flex those fingers and stretch those vocal chords. Mahoustic, the Surf's Up! Rock Band is back! Here's two of us below. One is an awesome lead guitarist. The other is the weak link. I'm on the left! Tintagel surf club and a fifty year celebration is our destination on the 12th July. Bring it on. We haven't played since last September, but we've been doing the same songs for ten years... if we don't know them by now! We don't! We get by! Best tickle in a bit of practice. Looking forward to rockin' it!

Ah, me and the youngest, Findog at Bigbury. I can't be sure why I'm wearing the food bag as a hat! You get one free with every meal! He's my main fishing buddy, our exploits are legendary. He thinks that I'm the worst fisherman on the planet. He had a lesson the other day with an expert on a coarse fishing lake! I had a go to and on the first cast, launched the spool into the deep blue! I've never seen him laugh so hard. Hysterical he was. Until he realised that it was his spool and that was it for the day. I've never seen him cry so hard! Hysterical he was.  

Come on in, the water's lovely

Seventeen degrees! Seventeen degrees! That's the water temp right now. A figure that we'd normally only expect to hit come late July / August. But June? The world's gone crazy. I was chatting to one of the wetsuit manufacturers only the other day and he was saying how the buying trend of the 2014 surfer has been to bypass the summer wetsuit and go straight from a winter suit to a shortie. I know I've done exactly that. The water has warmed up unbelievably quickly. Far quicker than I can ever remember. When I go out on the paddle board I just wear shorts. Who'd a thought it eh?

Our website has just been updated. Well done to Avian and Elle, that was a big job but I think we're just about there. 

The super bank at the top of the beach remains. Get a big clean swell and a big tide and that could be all time.

There's debate within mission control as to when our 20th anniversary is. We started in 1995 so if that was our first year, by right's at the end of this one, we'd have done 20 seasons. I'm gunning for a celebratory Foamie Fest over the October half term to mark the occasion! Time to dust down the guitars!

Speaking of a long time ago, the house that we now know as the Surf's Up! Surf Centre was the third building ever to be built in Polzy! A client sent me this photo.. I love that photo. I've still got that hat!

Stuart ("four right") and Amanda who started up the Cone Zone at about the same time as we started the surf school, have taken a part share in Surfside, the cafe across the far side of the beach. Despite many valiant attempts it's proved to be a tricky place to get right. But I think this time, they may just have nailed it. Steak and Lobster, that's all they do! A simple concept for the pleasure of which you'll be charged like a wounded Rhino but reviews are sky high and I for one can't wait to have a crack at one of those whoppers. Good luck to them and hope to see you there.

A whirly bird would be the preferred method of entry in to or exit out of Cornwall right now. Seems there's a massive effort to repair or relay tarmac. Credit where credit's due. Easy to get frustrated in the jam, but there's never a good time and they needed sorting. 

We have surf!

We have surf! There was none and now we have some. Where before there was calm, we now have moving lumps. Where's it come from, the surf? Good question. Let's have a stab at an answer. Okay Craskie, time to go to work... surf instructor mode... go! "Hey dudes. Ready to grab the sticks and drop some bombs. Surf is life, the rest is details. Stoked man!" And back in the room. I have no idea what just happened to me then. Now let's start at the beginning, it's a very good place to start.... so ray me! Let's put aside big tides and earthquakes etc and focus on the type of waves that most commonly arrive on our beach. It's like this. The good ones come from way, way out in the Atlantic from depressions (cheer up) or as they're often known, low pressure systems (LPSs - I may be the first person to ever call them LPSs or is it LPS's? Tough call). These are created by the combo of the earth spinning and the rise and fall of pockets of air either cooling or warming. We'll save the details for another time.

We'll do this my way. Imagine if you will for one moment that you're lying in a bathtub half way between Polzeath and New York. (If you're reading this in your rubba dub dub then please follow instructions in brackets). You're in the middle of a deep depression, an LPS. It's windy, very windy (Go "whoooooo"). And the sea is rough, very rough. (slide up and down in a carefree manner, observe duck bobbing and weaving). There's thunder (bang on the side of the bath, plastic is preferable for this, ceramic is not). And lightening. (Ask partner, to flick light switch off and on.) You're scared and feel vulnerable, the tub is filling with water. (Shout at partner, don't just stand there, grab something and start bailing!"). Hello, are you still there? You see, LPS's produce windy unsettled conditions. And it's the waves produced in these storms that travel all the way from the mid Atlantic and eventually end up on our shores. Whereupon we say thanks very much, I think I'll ride a few of these, do you mind? 

Now just because these waves are heading in our direction doesn't mean to say that the quality of the wave will be any good when it lands. No. Because ideally, in a perfect set up what we need is a lovely light offshore breeze. Let me introduce to you the alternative pressure system to the Low pressure system (LPS). Say "Hi" to the High Pressure System, or HPS as we'll know it from now on.  Time to go imagining again. This time you're lying on your lilo. It's a glorious day, hardly enough of a breeze to blow you from the shallow to the deep end of the local lido. Calm water. Not a cloud in the sky. Typical weather for an HPS. Slip, slap, slop. Lovely.

How do we combine the two pressure systems to make the best surf? We want a good storm out to sea, an LPS, and we want it to stay there for a good few days. Give it time to send those waves our way. And waiting on the beach with any luck we'll have a nice big high pressure system puffing the lightest puff of air out to sea, so that when those waves come to rest their weary heads on the sandy bed we can hold them up, just long enough to crank out a few top and bottom turns. Nirvana. Please note that in the summer, on a particularly hot day, we may get a sea breeze from late morning to early afternoon. This will switch the wind from off to onshore for a few hours. If you've ever wondered why surfers get up early, there's your answer. Very few have proper jobs to go to!

Local wind affects the shape of the wave.. an onshore wind will topple the top of the wave over early, making it less powerful and unpredictable. Better than nothing, but not ideal. Offshore winds hold the wave up, creating a lovely face to ride. The state of tide can affect the waves. Commonly a tide that has just started to flow, can increase the size of the waves. 

Here endeth today's lesson. Hope it makes sense. Hope it's been useful. 

Mooorning

Phew, couldn't get into the blogger account this morning! Not a great start to the day... well I say that but three hot oeufs and a good wishy wash with a soapy loofa and normal service has been resumed. Surf on the small side again today... it happens from time to time, but the corner is about to be turned. Waves are a heading in this direction and like you, we're itching to wax up those sticks again and tuck into a few sucky wedges. Looking at that new sandbank at high tide, that's exactly what we're going to get....sucky wedge action.

When your chosen sport relies on the combo of planet rotation and the flap of a California Tortoiseshell wing some three thousands miles away...it's no wonder that from time to time the surfing conditions may not match your expectations or needs. Can you imagine waking up and finding 4ft clean surf everyday? We can dream. The reality is that our progress is determined not just by physical ability but by what we find as we draw back the curtains each morning. If it's flat, it's flat and that's the end of it. Doesn't matter if you've taken the week off especially...there's no-one you can blame (although I suggest that all complaints be sent to the Cornwall Council)...you just have to make the most of what's there.

And what do I mean by that? Well, I'm a big believer that small wave surfing (it's very rarely completely flat) is good for your development. If you look at the best surfers on the beach, the dudes who surf the biggest waves, make the steepest drops and tightest turns, the one's we all aspire to surf like, they're the same ones who are out there when it's ankle snappers. See, like they do, that the small days are part and parcel of your development and you'll up your game. For example, if you need to sharpen up your take off.... catching loads and loads of smaller waves will see you nail it much quicker than catching one or two big ones. Learning to trim the board is also a good one to practice.   Put too much weight on the tail and you'll simply stop. I'm not saying that catching and riding small waves is living the dream. It's not. But come the day, come the day when you drive down into the valley and see stretched out before you a faultless corduroy sea......you'll be ready to make the most of it. And that's the key to progress, it's all in the preparation. If you just surf the good days, expect your progress to take a bit longer.

Raising the flag

Morning Campers...holiday homers, day visitors, locals, erm..and the rest,

 

P of the Deep Blue C here...time for a Craskie update me thinks. Now then where shall we start? Shall we get stuck right into the nub? 

 

Every morning, as the sun peeps it's shiny head above the horizon people gather by the pole at the top of Polzeath beach and respectfully observe as the lifeguards raise a blue flag to the sound of cornets and seagulls. (That's a long sentence!) With great pride we've flown the Blue Flag on Polzeath Beach for a good few years now. It's a flag that's only awarded to European beaches that achieve the strict criteria set out by a well recognised voluntary eco group. The beaches that are awarded it are rightly proud as it shows that all the boxes are ticked... clean water, great facilities, environmentally friendly etc. If you're a frequent visitor you want those recognise those standards and want them to be maintained. If you're a first timer, the Blue Flag is the comfort blanket. You know even before arrival that it's going to be a winner. And that's why those beaches that don't acheive the standard, aspire to it.

 

The worst, the very worst situation is to have it, and then lose it. Which is what has happened to all of the beaches in Cornwall, except the privately owned Carbis Bay. Why? Have standards dropped? Have we rolled the clock back twenty years when spitting out the chunks was the only natural water cleansing programme available to surfers? Are the showers no longer powerful enough to shift the sand out from in between the tootsies? No. I can hear the uncomfortable shifting of bottom cheeks on leather recliners even as I write.... two stories have emerged from the Cornwall Council. Reason number one, someone forget to put the applications in. Two, it was decided that at £500 a beach it was too expensive. Hmmmmmmm. I'll leave you to make up your own minds on this one. I have my own theories based around incompetency, ineptitude, all the 'ins' ....but best keep that to myself..... or at least until another time when I feel feisty.

 

The storms throughout the winter have changed the dynamics on many beaches. Where sand once lay, there is now none. And where there was none, there is now a great deal. Fistral is closed at high tide due to rock exposure. At Wembury near Plymouth, where once a level playing field could be found for beach footie, it's now a hot bed for crabbing! Polzeath has seen it's fair share of change too. For an unprecedented eight days straight the water trundled over the road, depositing a rather large sand bar on the left as you look down towards the sea. If you haven't been down for a while just be aware that the beach has changed, and once familiar currents may need to be forgotten and relearned. Polzeath remains one of the safest surfing beaches that you can find. Just be a bit more wary. 

 

We got burgled last week. Well the office and shop did. Couple of computers nicked and bits and bobs. Bit rubbish really. Avian saves everything in outer space so at least we didn't lose all of our booking sheets!! Now that would have been a nightmare. To those that did it.... please don't do it again. And if you do, we're now much better prepared! Smile!

 

There's been a bit of restructuring at Surf's Up! Towers and I now have a proper job within it! Which basically means that the blog is going to be up and running, if not daily, nearly daily! I shall do my best. I need to get my blog writing muscles trimmed up again, so bear with me whilst I get back on the horse.

 

Apart from that it's business as usual.

Remember me?

Well how dee doo dee! Remember me? Tall, dark, handsome, walks around Polzeath beach car park like I've got no knees, goes by the name of Pete.I.Am, P of the Deep Blue C? No, still nothing?! Hm..... founded Surf's Up?Paddled across the English Channel with James Cracknell (yawn)? There you go...you do remember me. Ah bless. I knew we'd get there in the end. I know it's been so long, too long... such a naughty boy, who's a naughty boy, oh yes you are, that's it, oh right there, oh that's good....and back in the room! I was gone there for a minute! Get so excited writing these enews. Anyway, you and me, we're here now, shall we?

Let's have a little chat about the season just gone first (I've got a list of one or two official bits to mention, given to me by the Governess.. that's me orders or they'll be no mince pies apparently - let's hope that's a promise! minced meat in a pastry casing dusted with icing sugar...that's not right. That's very wrong. A Yule choccy log on the other hand is pure genius - Cadbury's obviously (Tim if you're reading....!)). So what's occuring? Thanks for asking... recently? Not much. I've had to up the maintenance routine on the hair protruding from both ear canals and the two whopper nostrils located on my face, centre mid; the chickens have put in a formal request to have their legs back; and my cones and rods function back and forth from 'what a wonderful world' to 'where am I?'.... apart from that it's all tickety boo in the growing old gracefully department. Self praise is no praise.

In summary, 2013 has been a year like no other. For starters, remember those nasty grey paper shufflers who put together a pretty ropey tender process for the patch of sand we'd occupied for the past 18 years?...well a lengthy battle commenced, (thank you for your support) which concluded in us making a break for independence. Freeeeedom, Freeeeeedom, you gotta give what you take. That's enough thanks George, now hurry along back to the park. We relocated our operation to the Beach House / Office / Decking at the end of September a decision that was celebrated by our clients who on many occasions were heard to utter "this is much better. They should have moved up here years ago!" I'll take that as a compliment. I agree. Both clients and staff are enjoying the increased intimacy of the Surf's Up! experience that the new place affords. And you know what? It's wonderful to be away from the politics of the beach. We're just doing our own thing. In hindsight, we probably should have been more courageous and made the move to independence a few years back. We bought our HQ what, five years ago, but I guess we were comfortable with our sandy base, which was afterall where it all began. We engineered the timing of the move to perfection, bedding in before the October half term... which was to be our busiest ever. A relief and encouraging in equal measure. Ironically, in the end it was the council who we have most to thank.... if the tender process had been done properly, we'd still be there now! But as it is, the business is ours, it has a greater value and we save oodles of spondoolies in lease fees. Regrets? None.

The weather this summer? Scorchio. Plenty of time to work on those white bits. Boom time therefore?.. no, not exactly. The big ball of fire lit up the sky at exactly the same time the surf gods decided to book their hols... to Bali as it goes! Despite the weather drawing visitors aplenty to the shoreline, more than for many years, that's pretty well where they remained. In July, the two consecutive weeks of flat conditions with the occasion set of ankle snappers, were not good for business. Great for Polzeath and the shops, but not what surf school owners dream of. We spent the rest of the year playing catch up.... which we just about achieved.

Despite my intense dislike of pies filled with mincemeat, let's take a few moments to run through some Surf's Up! Christmas treats that may be of interest. I'll be brief... selling doesn't sit comfortably with me!! The items that we have on offer range from surf lesson vouchers to a six bedded house.... how much you spend is obviously a clear indication of how much you love the recipient!! Buy the house, and I reckon you're assured of a good time for many years to come....

Surf's Up! Christmas goodies, all of which can be found on the website include... surf lesson vouchers (which include hoodies); Beach House weekend voucher - £350 (low season only); Christmas Beach House Break - available from the 20th December through to the 30th December, flexible dates (please ring Avian 07760 126225); and then of course, we have the usual shop stock ... hoodies, tees etc available through our website. For that special someone, or as a stocking filler, our house for sale can be found on Rightmove.... it's got sea views and everyfink..... please buy it. Thank you.  

 Okay, how are we doing? I think that's me done for now... oh, keep this to yourself... but I may be doing a bit of stand up paddle boarding..... and it's possible that I may actually be enjoying it.... a lot!! Must be an age thing.

If we don't speak before, have an amazing Christmas. We're open everyday over the holiday period (except the big day and Boxing day)... so pop in and see us if you want a lesson, hire, a chat etc....

It's been fun, love you loads, I'm off to chomp on a log,

Peeeeteeey xx

Polzeath beach Licence Update

We've ummed and arrrred about this one, me and the curly cheese head. Janey's not sure. My position is that we've had so much support that really we should just keep you in the loop. The fear is that you'll be bored of it all!! Bores me I know that much. Okay, here we go. One last time. In summary, re. the beach and the licence etc... we're not going anywhere. Surf's Up! is going to rock and roll into our 19th year and beyond. Whether that's with the council on side or not, we'll have to see. Today was the day though, pay or go.... so I've written a final letter to the council officers. Have a read. If you love Polzeath the changes will affect you, no question. It's a big day for us... I'm sure you'll get that. 19 years in and we feel like we've been treated really badly. Really badly. 

Dear Mark, (legal services)

As we have not heard from you re. a meeting, we have laid out our position below.

History

We started operating at Polzeath in 1995 with the help of a Princess Youth Business Trust loan of £2k as a start up fund to purchase equipment such as boards, wetsuits, trailer etc and to print a few leaflets. Myself (two years) and Janey (six years) had prior surf coaching experience working up at Bude. In that first year, we parked where we are to this day but we weren't allowed to take money on the beach. We had to walk our clients across the road to the entrance of the Valley Caravan Park where we lived in a static. There were no computers, no mobile phones, and we responded to enquiries by hand written letter. In that first year, we set out our store that this was to be our livelihood. We'd been on a government business course where the tutor had told us, "if you want to be successful, don't chase the money, focus on the quality of the service." 

To this day the objective of Surf's Up! has never been and never will be about chasing money. We used to hear it, particularly a few years ago prior to the Wave Scheme, when we were very busy, we were an easy target.. that we were just doing it for the money. We took it as a huge compliment. We've never had a large marketing budget. It was then, as it is today about doing a good job for our students, providing a personal service, exceeding their expectations and it was these students that spread the good word. It hasn't been rocket science. We worked incredibly hard and made the most of our limited skills. As we've grown we've remained true to the philosophy that surfing is a positive life experience and knowing the impact that surfing has had on our lives, we feel a weighty responsibility to ensuring that our clients get that same opportunity. We've also felt that our pricing of lessons should be set at a level that's affordable to all. 

In 1996 following support from the Parish Council, clients and local residents we approached Noel Harradine, Bruce Tyzer and Bob Pyman at the NCDC for a licence to trade in the car park. There wasn't one, so they put one together for us. The same one we now find ourselves being at odds with the council over.

A lot has happened between then and now, but in summary surfing grew to such an extent that safety in the water, particularly the white water beginner area, was being compromised with no controls in place. Following a lengthy and often heated consultation period between the NCDC, the BSA, the RNLI, Prof Green and surf schools, the Wave Scheme was put in place. It was recognised that surf hire could not at that time be controlled, however, surf schools could be. It was not seen as the perfect solution, more a good place to start. The Wave Scheme at Polzeath has been effective, very effective. It has controlled the numbers in the water and prevented accidents. Limited to just two surf schools, with restrictions in place we've been able to operate side by side with our competitors in a healthy and safe manner. When Animal / Wavehunters joined the party, of course, no-one wants competition, but their arrival was the best thing that ever happened to us. It was sink or swim. We chose to swim by focusing on getting better. Growing a business is not easy. There are challenges. Try as we might we don't always get it right. But we do our very best. We're incredibly proud of our business, it's history and we work conscientiously to maintain our reputation. 

With the new restrictions in place we had to make big changes to our operation. Cutting student numbers by 75% at high tide, for example, impacted our business massively, but we took the long term view that maintaining Polzeath's reputation as safe family surfing destination was and always will be of paramount importance.

The restrictions came hand in hand with having to tender for the first time for the our surf school licence in 2006. We bid £20k on the basis that there were to be only two surf schools at Polzeath. At that time, Polzeath was booming and we could justify the tender sum. We could run a safe and sustainable business at that price. And we knew what we were bidding for. James Ortiz, in particular, was always very transparent and open with council direction. He always kept us informed and was always very quick to address any issues that we had. We always knew where we stood, even if we didn't always agree.

On a final point, during the evolution of Surf's Up! it should be recognised that in many areas we've led the surf school industry. Our Boardriders Club for example has provided cheap after school surfing lesson for an average of 150 kids a week for the past eight years. We've taken some of them on surf trips to France, Portugal and Bali. Ground breaking. And we've taken four of them from complete beginners through to the GB team where they've competed at the World Games. Ground breaking and inspirational. 

Present

We understand that our licence has to go to tender. We get that. We also recognise that the council has a duty to maximise revenue from it's assets to pay for services. Of course. However, we fail to understand why other CCC owned car parks with beach access are not subject to the same revenue maximisation as Polzeath. The value may not be as high as, but there is still value. With the demise of the Wave Scheme, tendering trading spots on CCC car parks might go some way to filling the pot required to pay for services such as life guarding and beach cleaning. Seems pretty obvious.

Listed below are a few key dates that bring us to where we are now:

09/03/12 letter from council finance department completely out of the blue saying that we owe £9,000 on back tax as Vat should have been paid on the licence fee from April 2009 to March 2012. Our accountant writes by return to say this is incorrect and Vat is not due - he lays out the reasons why and awaits a reply (he waits 378 days!). Every subsequent quarter in 2012 we receive an invoice for £5k + VAT, I ring the council accounts dept and explain that our accountant has written re. the VAT issue and that we're awaiting a response and that we could not pay an incorrect invoice. On each occasion we were assured of a quick response.

16/08/12 Wave Scheme withdrawn mid licence term, changing the terms and conditions of the licence without notice. Other surf school groups started arriving and using the beach. Up to this point we had restricted our business and group sizes under the terms and conditions of the licence. The fee of £20k had been based on the protection provided by the Wave Scheme.

06/03/13 We learned from our competitor Andy Cameron (who subsequently went on to be the only one to tender for Pitch B) that there was to be a tender process for two surf schools on the beach. This came as a surprise as we had been the lease holder since 1996, adhered to all of it's conditions and paid in excess of £150,000 for the privilege. 

07/03/13 David Attwell writes to apologise that we heard the news in that way

07/03/13 Phil Jones writes to apologise for not getting in touch sooner.

09/03/13 we receive a copy of the licence application form - tenders to be in by 3pm on Friday 29nd March

11/03/13 I write to Mr Sharpe, Attwell and Jones highlighting the safety issues and asking relevant questions. 

13/03/13 Advert In Cornish Guardian - tenders to be in by 3pm on Friday 22nd March

Prior to 29/03/13 the council receive many letters of objection to the proposal, question the tender process and highlight safety concerns both in the car park and in the water

Prior to 29/03/13 Councillor Brian Gisbourne made enquiries to David Attwell re. the licence and was informed that an application had been made by a non - surf school business. He reported this back to the Parish Council. This proved to be untrue.

Prior to 29/03/13 spoke to Phil Jones where he concurred that without additional information, it would be very hard to value Pitch A. The specific information that we required was:

1) Will Pitch B be a surf school or provide surf services that may impact on our business. 

2) Will there be any restrictions on other surf schools operating at Polzeath

These answer to these two questions were absolutely essential for us to make a valuation on the Pitch and therefore to make a tender application. Without the definitive answers, valuing would be impossible. We never received an answer.

             

29/03/13 Date of tender submission - office closed, bank holiday! We submitted the tender by hand on the 28/03/13, the three officers were on holiday.

05/04/13 Formal interviews scheduled in the time table did not happen. Instead I rang David Attwell to organise a meeting to discuss the licence issues that we had.

10/04/13 Meeting at the council officers between ourselves and Mr. Jones, Sharpe and Attwell. This was more like an interview and yet we'd requested the meeting. We were promised a copy of the Minutes asap.

10/04/13 Informed that Vat was indeed not payable on the licence fee and that the £9,000 bill was incorrect. This response came over a year after our accountants highlighted the issue and asked for clarification.

26/04/13 letter from Karen Jackson to our solicitor has so many inaccuracies which I address in a reply on the 03/05/13

21/05/13 Our instructors save the life of an elderly gentleman who was enjoying a day out with the family, highlighting some of the safety issues at Polzeath.

02/05/13 onwards - letters from Karen Jackson, CCC legal team make no sense and conflict with letters we'd received previously from Phil Jones.  

03/06/13 Following seven requests, we finally receive a copy of the Minutes - they are incomplete and make no mention of the comments made by Jolyon Sharpe. 

24/06/13 letter from Mark Pearce sent to our general e-mail rather than my private e-mail. Incredibly unprofessional. The details in the letter reference licence fees due are inconsistent with the finance department. There is also a claim on the licence fee for this year. We are requested to pay £20k by the 5th July or vacate the pitch.

During the period of 11/03/13 to date: letters from the council officers, legal and finance department have been conflicting; replies to e-mails have taken two weeks; council officers often on holiday or unobtainable; Jolyon Sharpe has picked up the phone only once, I phoned him, he was on a day off and would not discuss the licence.

We also during this period employed the services of a solicitor. This was because the timescale of the tender process etc led to the council giving us a ultimatum, pay the £20k or leave. We felt that we were unfairly being pushed into a corner. The process was neither transparent, open nor fair. Following the lack of information and misleading information; the lack of consultation with the RNLI, surf schools, Surfing GB and the stake holders; it felt that this was being pushed through too quickly without proper reflection on a change that was so fundamental to safety of beach users at Polzeath, we had no option but to seek help.

We have copies of in excess of 500 letters written to the council to object to the new tender proposal and support for Surf's Up!

In Summary

The timeline of events clearly shows service failure by the CCC. There was no tender process that was followed. And as a result there have been considerable personal injustices caused to us, our business and our staff. We were not given the opportunity to value the site because key information was not forthcoming and in some instances information that was provided was deliberately misleading. As you are aware, we have asked the Ombudsmen to look at this... they await a conclusion from your own findings. 

It is quite clear that now that the beach is open to anyone to operate, Polzeath is no longer the safe surfing destination it once was. This is down to a change in council policy. You had control and you had revenue. Now you have no control, and it remains to be seen if the extra revenue (if indeed there is any) was worth the risk and fundamental change to the beach. In our opinion it will get worse as the new operators strengthen and grow their surf schools over the seven year term. It is also quite clear that with a new surf hire outfit soon to be located right next to us in combination with an open house policy on operating surf schools, £20k is not viable, sustainable or realistic. We stated this in our tender application and our position has been strengthened by witnessing the beach over Whistun. 

I wonder who's experience you've leant on to make the changes and wonder whether in the event of an incident (there will be one) who stands up and takes ultimate responsibility. We all know the RNLI position on this and that the lifeguards were forbidden to make personal comment!

We will continue to be at Polzeath. As the one of the most established surf schools in the UK with an unrivalled reputation, we don't fear change or sustainability. Obviously, we'd like to remain where we are... but only if it's at the right price. So our position remains the same, to get around the table and discuss where we go from here. We're happy to pay, we think we should pay... but not £20k. Not now that the goal posts have been moved. I understand that we tick all the boxes as far as what you require regarding experience of Polzeath, community value, safety record etc..... and this would be our 19th year on the same patch of sand! It would be such a shame that what has had such a huge positive impact on the success story of Polzeath should not have the support of the CCC.

Yours sincerely

Pete

So there you have it. I'm guessing this will fall on deaf ears but we've tried our best. Forecast is looking awesome, so I'm going to slip on the speedos and work on the white bits!! No peeking now!

Update: Monday morning!! I've read the letter quite a few times and there's so much I've left out... ho hum, I'll keep that back for another time. I wish the council had done all of this over the winter rather than three weeks before the start of the season and followed a proper process of tender and consultation. The council are forever chasing instructor and life guard certificates (no need as a Surf GB Centre of Excellence) but I wonder who in the council has the qualifications and experience to make these massive decisions that affect the beach, not just for a year or two, but for the long term... 

Many many thanks for all the e-mails of support and encouragement over the weekend. Hope you had a good one - was pretty awesome!!

As good as it gets

It's amazing how quickly you forget! What a summer!! Today Polzy is as good as it gets. Overhead, light offshore breeze, blazing sun... set to stay the same through the day. Sweet as. Drop everything. Come on down and join the party.

This is a fly-by. Whitsun bank holiday week was busy. Lots of waves and burnt shoulders. Oh and myself and the boys caught some fishies. Much excitement as we hauled in a biggun, our first fish that wasn't a mackerel! A Pollock! As Findog fought the good fight to bring her aboard, "Stop!" I shouted. "Stop!" The boys looked puzzled. "Just let the line out a bit!" Was I about to embellish them with advanced fishing techniques? No, one of the empty hooks on the line had attached itself to my ear! Yep, that's the standard of fishing expertise in our boat!! In summary, fish were tasty, ear is sound.

Good Work Team

How are you diddling? (Too personal?) Bit breezy woo down here on the beach, time to hold onto yer 'ats! Talking of hats.... and wind blowing through you hair, it's the 13th anniversary today. "Congratulations Pete" "Why thank you." (I may well have made this anniversary up, I have). Yep, thirteen years ago today, in the morning I had hair, long enough to sit on. By the afternoon, the tonsorial artist had enough hair to stuff a medium sized scatter cushion. Gone. The long flowing locks that used to swaddle my shoulders in luxurient magnificence were chopped in a manner that I can only describe as, ruthless. Once the first sweep of Wahl clipper had been made, there was no going back. Although to be fair as the first sweep had gone... from mid eye brow, to crown, to middle of back of head, there wasn't a great deal of trimmage required such was the lack of follicle decollage. Hence the reason for the number one in the first place. Studying still warm 6 x 4's from Boots of a recent trip to South Africa, the choices were clear: Reverse Mohican, Sweep over or chop. Chop it was and what a liberating experience it was. Never looked back really.

Hairs inside my head still beat a path toward a better life in the sun. These days, however, they gather at the entrances of my head holes. They wait until there's enough of them and then in the dead of night, they break cover via nasal and aural passages. Why I'm talking about this, I have no idea!!! I could go on. No seriously I could, but you're busy... we need to move on.

So what's new? What's news? Firstly, big pat on the back to our three instructors Paddy, Luke and Dee for quite probably saving a member of the general public in the surf on Tuesday. Paddy, who was coaching a school at the time, spotted him staggering back in the shallows. He watched as the man collapsed and lay face down in the water. Paddy chased over whilst calling for assistance from fellow Surf's Up! instructors Luke and Dee who were nearby. The man was taken away by air ambulance to Treliske where a full recovery was made. Full story in the Cornish Guardian here. Text book. We have an amazing coaching team on the beach this year, all favourites from last year and a joy to be around. Spirits in the camp are high.

Following the incident I wrote a personal letter to the Chief Executive of Cornwall County Council. I wanted reassurance that changes to beach policy are undertaken with consulation from those who work on the front line and understand the issues, rather than by those who lack experience and qualification, but still get given a title and responsibility to make decisions that affect us all. We work in a challenging environment that needs respect. The events of Tuesday and those in the estuary just over a week ago, are timely reminders that this is a very, very serious business. The council have made a complete 180 degree reversal on policy that isn't a trial for year to see how it goes, but a commitment for seven years. That's an awfully long time for the Chief Exec to have to hold his breath.

On Saturday we're hosting up on the decking of our Beach House, the Finisterre sale. Can't wait. Their clothing is top drawer, love it. If you want to grab yourself a bargain, this would be your moment. As well as innovative jackets and wooly jumpers made from their own sheep, they also do an award winning range of merino pants that never smell. I can testify to that. If you turn them inside out and put them on back to front, you know, mix it up a bit, it's incredible how long they'll last between washes!!

Surf's looking good for the bank holiday weekend, particularly for beginners and improvers. If you're around during the week, you could see some of the big stuff too. Lessons are everyday at 10am, 12pm and 2pm - 07760 126225 - pre-booking highly recommended.

Also, last minute availability at our flat - from Sunday 26th May, 5 nights - £250 including 5 surfing lessons. Would suit anyone looking to get some boxes ticked for their Duke of Edinburgh Awards. 

My work here, for now, is done. PC... MD of surfing empire!

No news as yet

Nothing to report. We expected a letter from the council with a new proposal last Friday, that hasn't arrived yet. So we're no further forward as yet. We're not standing still though... lots going on. In the absence of any direction from the council we're looking at alternatives... and to be honest as time goes on, they stack up quite nicely. Really frustrating to have this going on at this time of year when all our efforts should be focused on the year ahead.

What I want to know is whether the council are prepared to bend their own duty of care considerations, risk assessments and HSE policies to drive this through in order to raise more cash. If they do, we'll operate independently. No question.

The Cornwall Council have a Beach Management Strategy - here's the link - http://www.cornwall.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=33530 - it's all there. And here below is the specific page relating to Polzeath. If you click on it, it should grow before your eyes!

Gig on Saturday night was great fun. Really enjoyed it. Good vibe, fun was had and I think we played okay considering a six months absence from the rock scene. But those there will be the judge of that! There were lots of smiley faces looking back at me and I take that as a good sign.