The Welsh Wavesailing Chronicals..: 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.