We're rocking it in 2016!

If you think I, the Big Cheese, has gone a bit quiet...you'd be right and wrong! Let me explain... we've started the year here at Surf's Up! with a new steely resolve and at staff meetings (of which there have been many and will be more) we've challenged ourselves over the next five years to see 'just how good we can be!' In order to do this we're working incredibly hard behind the scenes to ensure that if you grace our shores, you'll enjoy an even better experience than of any of our previous 21 years. We're not worried about getting bigger, we just want to get better, and I think you'll notice the difference.

 

Speaking of 21 years... let me tickle in some hot off the press news... stick this date in your diary.. 27th August... we're hosting our 21st Anniversary Party, a massive reunion for all those who've either been surfing with us, supported us or worked for us since 1995! How exciting! This evening event will take place up at The Point where Dj's and the Surf's Up! band Mahoustic, to name but two highlights (!) will get you rocking in the monstrous marquee. We're going to party like it's 1999 and we very much hope you can come. Tickets will be limited and will be available the day our new website goes live....(which is very soon).

New website? Yep, our new website, interactive with lots of video and audio.. is a huge forward step that we're so excited about. we've always been the industry leaders and we hope you love the look and changes we're making. We're pouring a huge amount of time and energy into this to make it cutting edge. Our old one was cool, but outdated. That's about all I can say about it at the moment. I'm sure you understand.

 

Other developments. I had the good fortune to go to Hawaii this Winter with Janey and the boys. If you haven't been...go! It is everything that you think it will be and more. Standing on the beach at Pipeline watching grinding barrel after grinding barrel was like a religious experience. So much history, the place where legends are made. As if that wasn't enough my eye was caught by the sight of sponsored riders running out from the Volcom House with these soft short boards tucked under their arms. It's like the next evolution of surfing. Now as you probably already know, I've long been a fan of the Swelly surfboard... so to watch these pros tuck into barrels on these tiny chubby softboards, well.. it made me very happy! Very happy indeed. So I thought, "Hey, those would be awesome for the surf school!" Not only have we bought a load for you to try but we've become the exclusive test centre for Catch Surfboards, the very one's they were using! If you want to see someone riding them check out North Shore legend Jamie O'Brien's website, dear lordy he's a complete nutter.. just how we like it. We have some of his boards arriving for Whitsun, on sale in our shop.

 

So yep, having taken a couple of years out, I'm back! And frothing! So excited about this year.. hey, you may even see me walking around with a pad under my arm, making notes, jotting down ideas. I know, crazy! But here's the thing...you want to know who inspires me... you do! From that very first day when myself and Janey pulled onto the beach back in 1995.. it's always been our philosophy that when you come for a lesson, you leave having had the most incredible time and are super happy. That's our gauge, there is no other. Let me tell you that in 2016, super happy just got happier!

 

I'm joined in the quest by Janey: co-founder, warrior and the true rock of Surf's Up! unlike me, she never went away.. Wailin: you could not wish for a better right hand man, a most incredible long hair and leader of the pack! Elle: the font of all office knowledge, systems and who has this incredible ability to swear and smile at a disfunctioning modem at the same time (Clare is on hand to assist)! Emma: on fire in the shop with new products and new ideas, watch this space. That's the management team... we also have your favourite senior instructors on site now... Waimea Jonny, Hair Dye Shaff and Josh the Maple Leaf, with others joining the team in time for Whitsun. They're all here, buzzing, waiting to welcome you on to site!

 

Okay, so that's enough from me. Quiet, yes. But only because we're working on so much new stuff. Oh and I'm on detox.. day 16 of 30! More greens? Really?! Lost a stone and an 'arf! Even a sniff of a Jaffa Cake would do! This is the last time you'll hear from me in this dull written format. Next time you see the words 'Surf's Up!' make an appearance in your Inbox, I hope when you click on it you'll be pleasantly surprised.

 

Don't forget, 27th August.. it's gonna be huge!!

 

As you were, thanks for listening, I'm here every day.... Pete

 

Trimming a bush

Couple of bits of news before the normal chit chat begins! We’re trying to be more proactive with our Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Surfs-Up-Surf-School/533201260074149) so we’d love it if you check in … latest beach news and surf reports etc. I’m not a selfie social media kind of guy, but it seems to be a good way of spreading the word. That’s what I’m told. Apparently you ‘like’ the site, you don’t become a ‘friend’. So lots of likes and kind reviews most welcome.

 

Had a Surf’s Up! staff gathering on Monday… great team. One of the best, nothing is ever too much trouble. Everyone’s really happy up at the Surf’s Up! HQ… clients and staff alike. Was a great move for us. Big thanks to Wail for rocking it as Beach manager, he really is a rock. To Elle, who’s taken the Office Manager’s job and shaken it down, we’ve never been so organised! She’s been doing the ordering for the shop stock and the hoodies, tees etc which look fresh and amazing. And to Little Sam who just keeps coming back, can’t get rid of her!

 

Here comes the chit chat!…

 

Don’t be fooled. I’m no cool surfer dude. Not anymore. Whereas once my low slow gait was a visual representation of a laid back attitude, the very same gait now represents tight hammies and rock solid achilles. Sadly, those cool surfer days have dripped through my fingers like a double choc chip dipped cone on a summer’s eve (you want a flake in that?). It is a wonder that I make it through each day. Business consultants talk about a five year plan? I’ll just take 24 hours at a time thanks. Seriously when I put my jim jams on and retire for the evening, I do a quick head to toe body check just to make sure that I’m still here. Up to this point I’ve enjoyed reasonable success.

 

The truth is that I am the clumsiest person on this planet. I spend most of my day rectifying what I’ve just broken or tripped over. This may come as a surprise to you, so I shall provide clear evidence and a strong case.

 

Last week, a wonderfully spirited elderly lady that I know needed her bush trimmed and unable to do it herself she was on the hunt for someone who could get on top of it. This was something that I felt I could take into my own hands, so I volunteered. I arrived at the house at the prearranged time complete with my new electric hedge cutters, extension lead and “Topiary for Dummies” handbook. We walked around the back where she showed me the offending bush. It had indeed got a bit ragged around the hedges! 

 

In true Poldark fashion (just the very mention of Poldark and I see the ladies have perked up!), I stripped off. Shirtless, I battled the unsightly bush, swashing and swathing for a good hour in the midday sun. It was starting to look great, starting to take shape, there was much to trim….until that is, without notice, the motor simply cut out. Just stopped! Nooooo. This was not good, this was very bad. Especially as I was half way through topiarising her bush into the shape of a Brazilian… Ayrton Senna (page 21). “Can you check the plug socket for me please?” I shouted in the direction of the shed, the power source. Checked. Nope, wasn’t that. I wandered up the garden, cutter in hand.. and it was at this point that I realised that my walk was unencumbered by the electrical lead. I looked back. OMG! I’d cut through the electric cable with the blades of my double action Qualcast! It was now cordless. Why was I still alive? Why weren’t my ears smoking? We stood there looking at each other in shock at the two severed cable ends. It didn’t end there. In amidst of our shock she’d dropped the shed key and it had bounced under the shed… so I got down onto my hands and knees to go find it. I couldn’t. Wasn’t there? “That’s odd” I said as I rose from off my knees to my feet and then promptly clouted my forehead on a rusty hook protruding from the wooden door. We stood there looking at each other in more shock, as the blood dripped through my fingers like a double choc chip dipped cone on a summer’s eve! Such a clown.

 

It didn’t even end there either. Two days later I received a text… “Thanks for all your efforts.. I think you might have cut through my clothes line?” Apparently, there was only enough rope left for her smalls. What can I say? Except, I rest my case.

 

 

I’m sure there was something businessy I was supposed to say? Can’t remember… oh yes come on down and see us at the beach, call 07760 126225 to book a lesson, perhaps pop into the shop and try on some of the new goodies…the sweatshirts are my favourites. And don’t forget to visit the Facebook page……we’re going to be keeping right on top of it. Just like the bush.

 

My work here is done.

 

Pete

Pain au Chocolat

You know what it's like.. stopped off at the garage for a pain au chocolat (can't beat the smell and hot choccy chips... just the thought makes me gooey) and what do ya know? All gone! Deep disappointment. Without hesitation I went straight into Plan B. A sausage roll at that time of the morning isn't right. Neither's a bacon and tomato turnover. I closed my eyes, reached out to the counter and took a lucky dip grab at the line up of hot plastic bags. Jackpot! Turned out I'd won a sausage bap, I can go with that. Get to the counter and there's a two for one deal on the Giant buttons! Giant Buttons follow the Jaffa Cake rule. Once the seal is broken you have to empty the packet. It's always been that way. So I put on half a kilo just on my way to the empire this morning. And now I feel all lethargic and rubbishy! The empire won't run itself, let's crack on shall we?

Let's get to the business end first. Last minute deal at the Beach House.... a weekend break. 10th /11th July £700 including unrestricted board and wetsuit hire. Sleeps ten. You know the score... give Elle a shout on 07760 126225. First to call with plastic seals the deal.

Now where were we....? Beach Licences? Remember that one, Polzy 2013! OMG what a trauma! Can't even bring myself to think about it. Stressy time. Let me bring you up to date... the council at the start of this year decided to roll out a licence scheme for all surf schools. Well all the surf schools perched upon land owned by Cornwall Council. So not all, but many. This didn't affect Polzy directly but it was a proposal that was deeply flawed and having previously experienced a council department that lacked experience and judgement and therefore one I lacked confidence in, I decided to put on my waders and get fully immersed in the battle. The proposal in itself was based on generating revenue and maximising council assets. No probs with that. However, the proposal was incomplete. And being incomplete it made the beaches less safe. I won't bore you here with the facts, hey I can do that by simply talking about what I've had for brekkie, but with 23 years experience of surf coaching it couldn't be more clear to me that intervention was needed. I trotted down to County Hall, fully wadered up and observed from the public gallery as the proposal was presented to the councillors. So incensed with what I was hearing, I stood up and started making verbal observations from the said gallery. Apparently this is not within the guidelines, the meeting was stopped and I was led outside by four burlies who highlighted the error of my ways. 

Prior to the second and final meeting in the main chamber at County Hall I wrote personally to each of the 120 councillors. The council department insisted it was a done deal. The feedback I was getting was that it was not. And so it was proved. The final vote was so close that the proposal in it's current form was not accepted and will need to be amended and re-presented at a later date. The sadness in all of this is that the council department responsible for the beaches put the proposal forward in the first place, it showed a huge void in understanding of how a beach works. They actually believed that what they were proposing was right and that's such a worry. Beaches are the most valuable asset Cornwall has, and the best and most experienced brains should be charged with protecting both their natural state and the safety of those who enjoy them. It is not good enough to simply paper over the cracks of this department. There should be no compromise on safety over revenue, none. To put forward a proposal that sought to do just that, is acceptable to neither me as a business owner nor you as a beach user. 

On the upside, what I can assure you of, and what I learned is that within the grey concrete fabric of the council buildings there lie some formidable council representatives as witnessed at County Hall on that final day of reckoning. And for that, particularly on this occasion, we should all be thankful. My faith in the council process was strenghened, not weakened. We live in hope that the next proposal is complete and restores our faith in a department that needs to get this right. This isn't about winning, it's about making the beach as safe as it can possibly be. Our door will always be open if they want to chat.

And breath.....now where's that second bag. Need sugar.

Epic surf forecast for the half term

It's looking mighty good. The surf forecast. Early doors for sure, but if we're to believe what we're seeing on the charts then we're looking at head high with light winds for next week!! Not every day, but most. Mild too. It's what you've trained for. So if you're already booked to come down, you can allow yourself a bit of frothage! If you're not sure yet, it's time to commit! And if you're looking to commit and need to sort accommodation, it just so happens that the Beach House is available from this weekend, seven nights £650 sleeps ten (01208 862003 - first one to call with a card seals the deal). Bish bash bosh. Now that would be a great Valentine's Day surprise... "Darling, pack your bags. We're off to Polzy!" "Oh my god, I love you so much!" No thanks required.

With the season fast approaching I'm occasionally asked what's the best way to prepare physically. When I was a stone lighter I was asked more often! Anyway, you know, you come down for a couple of weeks, you want to make the most of your time in the splish splash. Three areas to look at: arm strength for paddling, flexibility for the pop; general cardio for the exertion. Gyming it and running through an overall fitness programme is going to help, as is swimming. But not everyone has the time to jump in the car and slip on the lycra. Perhaps there's something you can do at home. There is, and it'll completely transform not just your physical condition but also zone in on those bits you need for riding those waves... specifically your pop and your turns. Yoga. All the top surfers do it. There's a dvd called Surf into Yoga by surf pro Rochelle Ballard that's very good, but to fair there's so much free stuff on Youtube... just find something you like and mix it up a bit. You don't need to chant or surround yourself with candles. A bit in the morning when you rise and a bit in the evening, job's a goodun'. Makes you feel great too. If you already do it, you'll know the benefits. If you haven't tried it, give it a go. I promise when you hit the beach and you go for that first pop, you'll notice the difference.

Not much else to report down on the beach except that the beach licence issues are back! Cornwall Council are tendering activity licences for every beach that they own. Good plan in my view. The council team has a different look to it with new faces and we're hopeful that they'll consider the many points raised by the 500 + letters sent in by your goodselves, who wrote so passionately in support of our situation and against the change in council policy at the back end of 2013. What we've already seen is the promise of a proper tender process (unlike the 10 working days we were given to prepare a seven year licence application) and a return to surf schools being restricted with maximum pupil numbers (we couldn't agree to a licence without this condition as a no restriction policy is totally contradictary to beach safety). However, a broad sweep approach would not work as every beach is different. Polzeath, for example, has three landowners. So I hope the council take their time to look at the needs of each beach and develop a policy that has support, is safe and improves the beach experience for everyone. Not an easy job, but one worth pursuing. 

Right that's me done. Time to light those candles and do some omming! No chance of getting me ankles stuck behind me ears at this stage, but it's not for the lack of trying.

As you were....

Happy New Year

Happy New Year!! Hope you had a good one and are frothed at the prospect of pushing boundaries in 2015. Has a good ring to it....2015, don't you think? The numbers seem to sit nicely together. 2015... yep, I like it.

Did you get in for a splash and dash over the festive period? There were a few good days to shout about. 

Do I have any news? Yes I do... this is our 20th anniversary! How time flies! It seems like only yesterday that I drove the trailer on to the beach for the first time in 1996... actually it doesn't! I feel quite a bit older. The knees don't bend quite like they used to; my belly and moobs aren't under my control anymore; I have to wear designer face furniture to see anything within arms length; who knows where I've left the car!! I've taken to long walks to stem the tide, dog walks. Miles and miles I go. Did Twenty miles on Tuesday. I hadn't meant to... thought I'd walk up the river until I could find a place to cross. Eight miles in and I committed to the task in hand. Doesn't do anything mind... makes the knees achier, the tits saggier and the eyes runnier! But I do love it. 

My boys have been getting pounded in the shore break.... here's a few of their momentoes! Lots more of their stuff on Instagram. 

South Milton / Thurlestone on a stormy day... awesome beach cafe here.

Bantham... looking towards Bigbury

A gnarly one at Bantham... when it's on, it's on! Such a great wave... but oh so busy! Polzy has nothing on this when it comes to overcrowding. I turned up there with the boys just before Christmas, overhead, light offshore breeze, perfection.... except there must have been 150 people out the back sitting in the line up. Carnage! Billy went in, but came out after having caught only a few citing, well citing carnage! 

It's all quiet back here on Polzy Beach. The super bank to the left at the top of the beach has returned and redirected the stream over to the far right. A deep fast flowing stream following the recent rainfall... not seen it like that for a while. The bend cuts deep into the sand. The surf today is big and choppy... good for fish, and chips. It's sunny though, oh no it's not, yes it is. The weather's changeable.

And here's the other one

And here's my big boy. Fourteen going on thirty five. If it doesn't involve a ball, he's not interested. His dream of playing professional football burns bright and if success was down to hard work alone, then he'll make it. But it's not as simple as that. It's a hugely competitive environment and a brutal journey. You need luck, you need to be in the right place at the right time, you need to stay injury free and your face needs to fit. I have huge respect for his commitment and desire, it's unwavering. All we can do is support him, feed him, chauffeur him to training and matches and see what transpires. I love the fact that he has a dream and isn't afraid to put the work in.

The shop is doing great. Sarah's got some pretty cool new stock in, including these slaps. I don't think one size fits all, but then I haven't really given that much thought. I would imagine there's different sizes in line with the fact that people have different size feet. That would make sense. Same with the hats, although head size would vary less than feet size wouldn't it? I'd say that in the shop we have less hat sizes than flip flop sizes. But that's a guess. I couldn't be sure unless I actually go on site and check. I need to lie down.

Spirits are high in the camp. The instructors are working hard under the management of Wailo. He's off to see Pearl Jam twice this week! Rock and roll. 

We've tickled up our lesson prices a touch. First time in yonks. From £26 to £28 for the two hour lesson. Still incredible value. I'm not entirely sure how we manage to squeeze any profits out of that, most surf schools are in the £36 - £40 range. At the same time we've reduced our ratio to a maximum of one instructor to eight students. It's often better than that to be honest. Don't forget that you can go down the private group lesson route if that's what you prefer. 

Right, I'd best get down to some guitar practice for this gig on the weekend. Last night I put new strings on my guitar and polished it! Gave it a right good buffing I did. Not done that before. 

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.