Quiver

It has been a long time since I was excited about the surfboards coming out of the UK, usually we are the ugly little brother of the American and Aussie surf industry, often lagging behind in technology, process and price! My lack of enthusiasm for the UK surf industry recently was overturned when I ordered my first custom board from a UK shaper in 6 years. My custom Luke Hart/Quiver board was to replace my everyday short board, 6'0 x 18 1/4 x 2 3/16, my standard size to go in most wave conditions I surf in France and Morocco I was incredibly excited as the shape was fantastic, and the board went incredibly well when battling foreign waves. However in true brit style the board lasted 4 weeks, flaked apart and then ultimately creased. Great. The shape was fantastic, the glassing abysmal. Next time Ill buy Aussie.

Surfing Disney

I have been in Florida's Disney World for 3 days. A much needed holiday after a great but tiring season in France and a chance to enjoy myself in American commercialism before hitting Morocco in two weeks time. Today I will be visiting Typhoon Lagoon, famous for its wave pool. I have discovered surf lessons are available here in the early hours of the morning and the wave pool is also available for hire for private parties, it would appear even though you no longer have to pay for exclusivity of Tavarua there are still spots on the earth where you have to pay to have waves all to yourself.

Jelly Babies

Jelly fish, jelly fish, jelly fish. Little fuckers that they are. This week we have been blessed with shit waves and onshores. The onshores not only screw up the small surf, they also bring with them an armada of nasties. I have had an allergic reaction (first of my life) to caterpillar hair at the camp and now my only refuge (the sea) is filling up with the jellies. Screw it, im off to the pub.

It's been two weeks since I ventured over the channel for my third consecutive year. Teaching surfing in france is a little bit like a schizophrenic eating marmite. You love it and hate it. The weather and waves are incredible, the food is delicious and the people are very, very, um.....French. We have had a couple of great days surfing the local beaches from Anglet to Moliets. It has taken a while but the 5'5 fish is finally starting to come into its own. Perhaps a little too fast for french waves but fun nonetheless. I have been welcomed wholeheartedly into the Weick household. Aino (a very talented osteopath) and Barbara (Yoga instructor) have helped me maintain my weeks detox before another 3 months of fun and debauchery. Living with Pablo has been great, catching up with a dear friend and surfing with one of the worlds elite bodyboarders is a great way to re-enter the warmer waters of France and the perfect beach breaks. Its amazing how out of shape I am at only 24 with a crooked back thats as stiff as a MJ at a christening. My resolution for the summer will be to have 3 yoga sessions each week, stretch everyday and at least try to live a healthier lifestyle.

Occy vs Curren

In the past I have been known to lay less favorable comments on Occy's surfing, I always thought he lacked finesse despite more then compesated for this with his backhand attack. After watching him at Jbay rekindling the old rivalry against Curren I am eagerly anticipating the next Clash of the Icons heat to be held at Bells beach. I also feel I judged Occy unfairly, the guy doesn't seem to need to pump to generate speed and goes from one turn to the next generating speed through his turns. All his maneuvers are functional with a strong finish to most waves. To put it simply, Occy rocks. I have always been a massive Curren fan, grace, style, controlled aggression and modesty, a great ambassador for the sport. I will be eagerly anticipating the 2010 stop at Bells, but not for the WCT, give me Occy vs Curren any day. I do question if the scales are tipping slightly in Occy's favour as the forecasted large surf and open Bells walls lend themselves to his backside attack. It's a shame Ripcurl don't host the WCT event in Hossegor to even things out in Currens' favour.

New Carbon/Epoxy Surfboards....Have I Sold My Soul?

Ok so I may have got a little bit silly on the carbon front recently. I decided I have had enough of trashing boards through travel and generally poor surfing so decided I would buy my two favorite shapes in a stronger material. I'm yet to put either board to the test but shall update on here when I have had a chance to surf them properly. I was one of the first to jump on the epoxy construction band-wagon and subsequently was one of the first to jump straight back off. I didn't like the corkiness of the boards and lack of (for want of a better word) personality. These boards definitely have their own distinctive and esthetically pleasing character but I am yet to experience surfing them on good waves. I'm hoping for a board I can keep for longer then a year and will hopefully withstand the inevitable inflictions imposed by the Stanstead baggage handlers and the daily knocks and scratches occurred in when surfing Morocco, France and Bali. I am at a time in my life when the majority of my peers are settling down, getting married and having children. Perhaps I have found my life partner.

My Photography

Star Surf Camps - Bali & France

I have launched another two surf camps this year, one in Bali and one in France. The Bali trip is a one month surfing and diving adventure of Bali and her sister islands, we keep the groups small (12 people per month) to ensure a high quality of service and allow for better group dynamics. Once again our ethical approach to surf travel allows for a large proportion of the finances going through the company to end up in the hands of the local economy. I am a firm believer in trade not aid as this I feel this is a more effective means for distribution of wealth to those who need and earn it rather then aid commonly being cyphered off to the hands of politicians and charity workers. I am not for a second pointing the finger and claiming this is a problem in Morocco or Indonesia where I am lucky enough to work, I am merely reflecting on the global problem of aid religiously not landing in the hands of the people for whom it was initially intended.

Our France surf camp caters for 48 customers per week and throughout my years of working in camps I would say we finally have the best possible team I have had the pleasure to work with. We have some of the worlds most elite professional snowboarders and surfers working in the camp along with an international surf team coaching with a ratio of 1 teaching staff per 4 students. The France surf camp really provides a great learning experience for those discovering surfing in a safe and friendly environment. As fore-mentioned the international team comprising of Americans, Australians and a whole host of Europeans provides customers with a knowledge base unrivaled by other camps. The majority of those who discover surfing with Star Surf Camps go on to improve their skills and continue their adventure in our Bali Surf Camp and my own Morocco Surf Hostel

Euthanasia, Surf, Escorts and Steak

I've been home for a matter of hours, bournemouth shows signs of a decent enough swell arriving (backed by monstrous winds) this weekend, I have applied for a job as a male escort (partially out of curiosity but predominantly to see what the agent thinks a small, skinny beach rat is worth). Eaten a real* steak and started watching Terry Pratchett's courageous and insightful appearance on the BBC re Euthanasia. Its certainly different here then the Morocco Surf Trips camp!

*not goat