Planked

Silhouettes & Small Waves

planked — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 09:05:22 +0000

I’m pretty sure that this was a gorgeous little break that we visited for one day whilst I was in Morocco.

I didn’t catch any waves as good as these but I did get a few coffins and cockroaches in there!

Urrrggghhhhh

planked — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 11:08:58 +0000

My head is not working properly due to vast amounts of alcohol and dancing last night. So of course this is the best time to buy a new weird surfboard. Just look at this little freak. A fat Henty 6′ 6″ single fin mini noserider, you either love it or hate it I guess and you can either ride it or sink it. Well if I can surf the darn thing then I’ll be happy looking at it.

Worth it for a laugh I guess

planked — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 13:03:18 +0000

I never really did get round to writing about my Morocco surf trip. It was brilliant but I was so busy surfing and yoga(ing) that I didn’t document it photographically. Part of the surf coaching package was a photographer snapping away on the beach while we all kooked around. Clearly there was never going to be any epic wave riding shots but a hilarious set of photos was taken of me wiping out on a mega dumpy wave at Panoramas. I don’t mind sharing these with you, I hope you laugh as much as me and my friends did.

I AM STILL A KOOK AND PROUD!

Please welcome to your eyes…

planked — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 12:42:55 +0000

The beautiful and evocative imagery from my surf buddy and Leeds based photographer Tom Bing. You should take a look through his blog and if you’re out surfing Saltburn or Scarborough at weekends then go say hi as he is a really nice fellow.

Red shorts and Pelicans ’66

planked — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 12:43:41 +0000

Really not much need for any gibbering words about this image. It is pure visual pleasure. I adore it and will probably be printing some posters of it soon enough.

Way too long…

planked — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 12:29:32 +0000

Unfortunately I’m not talking about the length of a new board. As we all know you can never go too long in that department right?

No it’s concerning the last time I posted on here and the last time I got in for a proper surf. The end of 2011 was drawing near and I hadn’t been soaked or stoked in an age. That was until my good buddies Sally and Tom bullied me into it and I’m sure glad they did.

So we headed down the coast in Merlin the VW camper bus, piled high with boards and snacks.

The surf was working on South bay so we parked up and got suited and booted. It was my first time surfing Scarborough and although I had real trouble catching waves I still enjoyed it mega time. Stupid me forgot my winter boots so when the toes went numb I vacated the sea, not at all down beat from having an uneventful surf. Plus the prospect of getting changed, warmed up and brewing up in the camper van was enough to quash any dampened spirits.

Can I just advise you all that Tuscan Bean Soup is a total winner after a winter surf but breaking down on your way back home is a total bummer.

Sick as a dawg

planked — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 12:41:04 +0000

Lounging in the lounge is something I very rarely get to do. sprawled on the sofa watching movies and eating instant noodles is also something I never usually spend my time doing, especially on a day like today. If it wasn’t for some flu ridden mackem I would be at work, finishing off a big design project and getting ready for a glorious weekend of surfing frolics with my pals. Instead it looks like I may well be slogging it out in front of this computer trying to hit a print deadline on Monday. Arrrgghh the injustice of it all.

Disclaimer – Sophie is very rarely a moaning cowbag and she promises to snap out of it asap

The anticipation is killing me

planked — Sat, 19 Mar 2011 11:58:20 +0000

My new board is finally in transit. It has been a whopping 26 days since I bought it on ebay from a lovely chap in Ottery St. Mary (Exeter). I then hired the worst courier company known to man and have been waiting ever since. I was seriously starting to lose all hope but yesterday the text came through to say it had finally left the sellers house. So it is now on the road or possible stuck in a depot or lost in transit. Who bloody knows. My new board has been a long time coming but I am sure it is going to be worth every bit of worry, stress and all the other emotions it has put me through so far.

I went in for a surf last weekend with a buddy from work, Chris Mercer. It was the first time he had ever been in and the conditions were perfect. He was brill at battling through the white water and catching the stuff, which is a great start compared to some of the folk I have taken out. He’s coming along with a full crew from work to give it another go. I reckon he’ll be standing and the other dudes will be fuming! I’ll get lot’s of photographic evidence to post on here. It’s always loads of fun taking people out for their first lesson, I reckon I’d make a pretty good instructor. Maybe a new summer job is on the cards.

I acquired some new boots from the surf shop on Saturday. Alder 6mm in a dinky size 3. They are mega. Totally toastie and fit perfectimo, no dragging toes on my pop up any more. That also might have something to do with the wonderful teachings of Loz and Nicole in Morocco. Pop up is now the bomb. Whoooooohhaaaa! Cheers you two.

It’s flat old day today but the sun is out and Spring has clearly sprung so I’m potting up some plants to put out the front of the house. A splash of colour to make me smile every time I come home. Lovely.

Today is the only day worth celebrating

planked — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 21:59:26 +0000

So today is my favorite day of the whole year, the splendiferous Pancake day! I only managed to eat 5 but it was at around 8.30pm and I had loads of work to crack on with so didn’t want to pog myself out and climb straight into bed.

There was no surf on this great day but I downloaded the photos I took yesterday morning and just seeing the beautiful shots was enough. A 7am morning surf in the bitter cold with a sunrise like that is just magical.

As a little bit of a spoiler to my joys, my new longboard purchase is still in Ottery St. Mary’s. It was due to be picked up today but no show. Not to worry, worrying is for tomorrow, not pancake day.

I went and bloody well did it!

planked — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 21:23:33 +0000

So yes I still have to post up about my amazing surf trip in Morocco but more importantly, I finally committed to buying a longboard on ebay last night. Admittedly it’s not the Empire one I had my heart set on but that had been sold by the time I got back so I searched this one out.

Custard Point 9’1″ 3 fin but I reckon I’ll just get it down to a large single fin and doesn’t she look AMAZING!

Might clash with my blue suit mind. Maybe I should hunt down a matching shorty for my summer sessions. Hanging ten as the sun goes down. Sweet as.

Just need to get it transported all the way up the country in one piece now.