Day of the Mutant...Day 6 and 7

South Wales Slabs
Cross shore chest to logo
Fanatic Twin 86 with Black Project 15s
Simmer icon 5.3,4.7,4.2 with No Limits sumo

Rob Sheldon at work.

Wednesday dawned and i wasn't too sure that it was going to make the trek. The swell was smallish and the wind light but i've missed a few sessions up there this month and the local boys assured me it would come good. On arrival it looked pretty hack but then it usually does at high tide. The tide dropped the waves started to line up and it soon went from 5.8 to 4.7 weather. Things were looking up.

The puravidaboardriders.co.uk team consists of a odd bunch of characters Gethin Edwards, Sheldon twins, my self and the head honcho Mr Jim Brookes. Got to hand it to these boys, local knowledge plays a big part at this place and they have it dialled. I tend not to let on that i watch them too much but i have to admit there were some big hits going on and some monumental wall destruction seen.

Now team rivalry is a funny old thing and as much as i like to see a deep gouge out the top or a late smack off the lip from the boys its of utmost importance to deny all knowledge of any impressive move unless its right in your face and therefore unmissable. This brings me to the move which is without doubt the filthiest manoeuvre ever to come out of the slabs (Timo Mullin, Skye boy or any one else that's pulled something better not included). I could see Jim and Swansea Dan on the beach, Gethin just sailing back to the line up, and a Sheldon on the wave behind. Ideal. A shallow fade down the line into a perfect set up of a lip,  i projected into a super vert 360 flat spin mutant.. BANG.. I was so shocked i landed so perfect that i couldn't quite figure out what was going on and promptly fell off 10 foot latter. That was it for me, the whole trip paid off in that one move alone.

There were a couple of other things i liked the look of too. Jim had a couple of deep hacks on his new Simmer Quad. Gethin was his usual consistent self. Visitors Jeff Scott and his mate Steve were loving life linking turns across the bay.

Not classic for this place but fun as ever.

As the dirty fingers of winter darkness drew in we packed up and headed back to Puravida HQ for food, beers, hot tub and a rest for the next day..

Thursday.. Day 7


Super windy down the line isn't really my cup of tea. Jeff Scott took it by the balls and got on it early, blown around the bay by his 3.7 tucking into a nice backie and picking up a nice few rides, Kel Clark  got blown off the water on a 4.7 so set up with his camera. The masses waited for the tide and hoped for the wind to drop... It didnt...

Everyone rigged their smallest but generally every one was strung out. The odd one in a lull was fun and it did start lining up pretty well considering it was so windy.

Sheldons took the crown i think but there were a few other standouts.

Doug Etheridge muscled his way around a few waves.

Adam Croppa you fuckin legend. Crash of the day. Stalled forward into huge gust. I don't think anything spun the same way. Got back up after a brief reboot and did it again..Love it

Swansea Dan tidy.

Swim of the day..... Jim Brookes full length of the Point, kit on the rocks.. No marks, Simmer quality.

Duncan Sheldon drop in of the day on MY wave.. You are a rat Duncan...

Not much else to tell. It was a bit busy but i suppose every one is on Christmas hols.

Happy New Year..

Don Cooke and Kel Clark on the photos.

Gethin Edwards.

Duncan Sheldon. Planking

Lewis Merrony. Scribe

Gethin.

Adam Croppa. Downside up. Ariel kamikaze.

Shed Done.. Day 5

Freshwater West
Cross-on with head to logo waves
Simmer 5.3 with No limits Sumo
Fanatic Quad 94 with Black Project 15/8

5.30am my wife gets ready for work, hair drier alarm clock.
9.38am the last screw goes into my new shed that Ive been building. The wind was forecast for 2.30pm so i had 4 hours 58 minutes to fill.

1 hour on the Internet. Sites included.

xcweather.com
magicseaweed.com
surfmatic.com  (one of my current favourite)
marinelayerproductions.com (my favourite)
dirtmagazine.com

2 hours chopping wood.

1 hour 58 minutes standing about, admiring shed, moving kit about in shed, more standing about, general pontification and finally the drive to Fresh.

We don't really get good jumping conditions down here so it was quite refreshing to see that the sand banks off the back of the reef had moved about in all the swell we have had and dumped about 200 yards out to sea.

I rigged and scrambled my way down the cliff to middle reef. I need to work on my backloops as they are frustratingly inconsistent. First one around but dropped the rig, second one s**t, third one dialled, fourth one dialled. Then as per usual the next 15 or so were terrible looped out  or under rotated efforts. The last 3 perfect.. Koesta makes smashing out 50 footers look so easy from my arm chair..

Again it was a late solo session bar one of Pembs most committed surfers. This fella loves surfing so much he don't care whether its 2 foot onshore gash or 8 foot offshore top to bottom barrels, he will surf it all in his own little way. He is a bit of an inspiration in a weired way as if you met him he's not really what you would expect. It always cracks me up talking windsurfing with him as he just don't get it. That's why i like him.


Fingers crossed for tomorrow, looks like we might get back to some proper DTL on the Slabs out East..

All Along The Watch Tower.. Day 4

Pendine Sands.
Cross off.
Chest High Surf
Simmer Icon 5.3 with No Limitz Sumo
Fanatic Quad 94 with Black Project 15/8

Its pretty hard to score this place as 5 days a week they use it as a Military Firing range but when you can get at it...

Seven miles of beach make it ideal for downwind wave runs to Ginst but a lack of time and organisation that day meant we missed out this time. Ten plus bottom turns a wave even at chest high make it worth the gusty slog out. Its a slow, reforming, gutless lump at times but by heck can it be fun. I love swapping turns here.

Even on the bigger days you never feel like your out of control. You can hit the lip here at any size and not really ever give it two thoughts. When it does have size you can turn here until you cant hold on.

However Saturday wasn't quite one of the classic days but fun non the less. Northy was back in the conditions he revels in, its always classic sailing with good mates here. I love to watch people ripping down the line as you sail out. It was a good day for trying out some different moves or a different move any how. I'm not really into flappy free style in waves but Ive long admired a solid goiter so Saturday was the day. Not that i got far with them but i can see where i need to be heading with it better now. One for 2012.

One other thing that i noticed Saturday was how a quad gives you so much drive and projection in slow waves in comparason to a twin. Fanatic Quad 94. Its a absolute weapon in these conditions.

After 3 hours my arms gave up and work was calling so we knocked it on the head.

Highlights.

• Northy back to form after months stuck in the office
• Goiters- working project.
• Last wave of the day... Long

Im working on Father Christmas for some new video/photo machinery to try an get some sailing related media in here.. Stand by...


 Just to end here, have a look at the turn at 2.58...

Nail The Coffin...

This time last week i was rubbing my hands in anticipation of the first proper storm this winter. Abit cold but the new Simmer Generator 6,5,4 is like a furnace. Magic seaweed was giving my local 20 foot plus and good direction. However its now a  week latter and it hasn't quite panned out like that. A combination of swell direction and insanely gusty winds (5 -55knots) has scuppered me at every single spot we have. 140 miles into my van and some intense frustration have resulted in..... one sail......one surf..

Today looked like it had sorted itself out, clear sky, more organised swell and better wind direction. I gambled on staying local and getting some size up Freshwest and binned the drive east to the south Wales slabs. The surf was looking good at Manobier early so a fun little surf with a few of the boys while the tide dropped.. Should have sailed there looked pretty epic but thought Fresh would be the same but bigger.. Greener grass..

Cross shore Manobier..

Drove up to Fresh to find the size id been looking for but i hadn't bargained on the wind not quite coming nnw and therefore destroying any shape.. Gutted..

After a drive back to Manobier (which was now looking too onshore) i called it off and decided tomorrow could be a better option..

PS. Looks like i should have gone east...

To quote Pete Bird          

' Deej, 10 surfers and I scored an incredible session at the rock garden this afternoon. Never seen **** work so good; we were catching waves at the top of the reef and riding them all the way down the reef, around the point and all the way into the bay! Crossoff, glassy logo high.... hands down; the best windsurf I’ve ever had...'

Cheers Pete..

The Warm Up..... Day 3..

Solo session at Broad Haven..

Simmer Icon 4.7,  Fanatic Quad 94. 3-4 foot Cross shore.

I usually drive up north to the reefs in a south wind but today the swell came late and i didn't want to gamble on a drive up to find it flat. Turned out to be pretty fun. When the banks work here it breaks out back then cleans up on the inside for two or three punchy little turns. Made for some fun smacks, a few ariels and a couple of Gu's.. Cant make much more of it as i was out on my own.


Interesting to get back out on the quad after sailing the twin..  I love the way a quad hooks off the top, i think Ive had the best hacks out the top Ive ever had on a quad. I love the way they get you back in position and seem to power around the break that bit better i think they are also better in general standard/sub-standard conditions. HOWEVER there is something about a twin..

Ill keep it short as it looks like we have a hectic few days coming up..

I thought id add something  at the end of each post, Chad VanGaalen singer and artist. This little combo blew me away..

Big Swell forecast tomorrow... Yeww...

South Wales Slabs. Day 2

These slabs create one of the best rights we've got here in South Wales. It doesn't work too often but when it does it puts up one of the most rippable long waves you'll get here in the UK. No photos of the sailing and no hint of the spot though, as i'd have a Sheldon at each ankle if i did.

Up at 5.30 am and on the road to meet up with a few of the boys for 8am. On arrival it was looking fun 4.7 head to logo cross off. Once it starts hitting the point it glasses off into the first bowl then turns into a long right wall good for 5 or 6 bottom turns. It was super fun for 2 hours but hell cold..
The standard of sailing up there has been going through the roof the last few years. Local chargers the Sheldon Twins and Gethin Edwards are getting pushed. Jim Brookes of Puravida put his local knowledge into full effect and tore into it as usual linking from the point to the inside. Pete Bird and Dej Serra, 100% commited in every section which makes good viewing for us but expensive for Pete.. 3 masts in 3 sessions.. 


I spent the rest of the day having a guided tour of the Puravida HQ by Jim and Tanya Brookes. Got to hand it to them, its an impressive set up. Custom board factory, repair center, hot tub, demo center, offices and a stacked shop. Check it out  http://www.puravidaboardriders.co.uk/homenew/  

The second reason for heading over to Puravida was to pick up my new masts of my new sponsor. Cheers No Limitz.

 Seem to look like a farmer in these profile shots. Something to work on there.


 

Got to Start Somewhere.. Onshore Freshwater West. 4.7

For this blog i had visions of reeling off storeys of perfect down the line days with my good friends.  But seeing as im doing this as a session log i suppose i'll have to just get them all down. Even the cross onshore, short period survival sessions like the one we had today.

We have been a bit spoilt lately with consistent cross shore winds and good swell but as they say variety is the spice of life. Not sure that applies to windsurfing but it was interesting. Hooked up with my old mates Northy and Mc Hugh (who binned it due to cold weather or poor circulation or combination of the two), and spent the next 2 hours trying not to get caught on the reef by the logo high lumps. There were a couple of good ramps and smacks to be had but nothing worth in depth analysis so i'll leave it at that.

Young Mr North above.

4.7 Simmer Icon and a chop an change between the Fantic 94 quad and 86 twin. 94 was a bit big really but im keen to get some onshore time with the Black Project fins. Never really changed fins that much but im glad i did, they just ride a lot freer than the standard production fin.

Your scribe, Lewis Merrony. Fanatic Quad Black Project 15 and 8's




Did notice it getting colder tho..

Ill finish the day off with this. Odd socks compulsory.

Tomorrows looking up..

In YOUR Back Garden..

Welcome to my blog.  I hope you enjoy reading about the days im going to post in here as much as me and the crew did sailing them.. I can hand on hart say that ive had days sailing this year that are with out doubt as good as wavesailing gets...

Ive always banged on to people how good Wales can be but 2011 has been an  insane year for the sheer amount and quality of the conditions we have had. I started to keep a log of sessions. By June i was up to late 80's by September it was  pasted 100, now ive just lost track. The last 3 months have been a blur of water time. 95% of days have been down the line on 5.3 or less.

Its pissed me off that i didnt keep better track of it so this year im going to keep a blog.

The storeys will be about days me and my friends score week in week out and the company's that made it possible..

Im going to tell you how good Puravidaboardriders.co.uk is for all you windsurfing needs.

How Fanatic boards get you into deep gauging hacks like no other boards.

The way my Simmer Icons are light feathers in my hands.

Ill rave about the strength of No Limitz masts as i bend them off every reef Wales can offer and still come out in one piece.

And how Black Project Fins are bring it all together to project me into perfect welsh lips..

Hope you enjoy it...