I was flicking through the Jan / Feb 2012 issue (88) of The Surfer’s Path and an article titled “The Storyboard’s Story” caught my attention. The opening shot shows a young man applying the finishing touches to the open carcass of a wooden surfboard. The many ribs extending down from the central stringer of the board are engraved with the words of a poem – this project is certainly a labour of love.
The young man is James Otter, the founder and craftsman behind Otter Surfboards – a company that designs and builds hollow skin and frame wooden surfboards from certified sustainable materials. Boards blanks are constructed from locally-sourced, sustainably managed red cedar wood, or hardwood off-cuts from timber merchants, which are then covered with a tough exterior VOC-free epoxy resin that seals and preserves the surfboard ensuring that it is built to last.
Apparently the Otter boards are slightly heavier than modern versions, but are stronger and more buoyant offering more of a gliding experience. I’m yet to try an Otter surfboard, but would love to have a go and will take advantage of their offer to try a demo board next time I am in Cornwall.
Apart from the 5 basic designs that form the Company’s off-the-shelf catalogue (whiz twin, single diamond, mini magic, big blue and single fin), James offers the chance to construct your very own custom board too, with an opportunity to get as involved as you want to be with the actual build. There are currently week-long (5 day) courses being run at the Company’s workshop in St. Agnes, Cornwall, where groups of 5 people are taught and helped to create their own board. £900 will secure you a place to build a standard board, and for custom-builds the price is £1,150. There is a further £300 to pay for the laminating, which has a lead in time of 4 – 6 weeks, so unfortunately you cannot surf your new creation straight away! Have patience, I’m saving my pennies as you read this.
If you have surfed one of James’s boards and / or built one yourself, then please let me know how you got on.
Checkout this trailer – Manufacturing Stoke
For my birthday I was given a Groundswell Balance Board by my brother and immediately had to have a go.
My brother also brought with him a Bongaboard and we had a chance to compare the two.
I was advised to try a balance board about 12 months ago by my accomplished surfer (South African) Brother-in Law, but was put-off by buying an Indo Board due to the cost! – see below.
Balance boards are fun to use and are excellent at developing balance and core muscle strength…both key attributes to surfing. You can spice up a normal workout by standing on your board and incorporating a number of exercises; squats (working quadriceps, hamstrings), lateral raises and bicep curls / shoulder press (developing balance, paddle strength). The board can also be used for press-ups by placing your hands where your feet would normally go and bringing your chest close to the board before rising again – check out The Complete Guide To Surf Fitness by Lee Stanbury.
Which board?
I was surprised to learn that the Groundswell was roughly half the price (£45 + £12.50 p&p) of an Indo Board (£95 + £7.50 p&p) – the Bongaboard retailing at (£56 incl p&p).
Bongaboards are made from wood sourced under the FCS (Forestry Stewardship Council) accreditation and therefore, from a sustainability point of view, are a cut above the rest. In addition, the quality of finish and the look of the Bongaboard is far superior when compared to the Groundswell. Operationally, I like using the deck of the Groundswell as it is slightly longer and has a more grippy surface than the Bongaboard. But, the Groundswell’s roller however, is far too narrow; as you build your confidence and begin tipping the deck at more precarious angles, there is an increased tendency for the board to ground-out and stop the ride. What I ended up doing was buying a Bongaboard roller at £28 to use with the Groundswell deck, but if I was starting from scratch I would go for the Bongaboard.
I hope this helps and please let me know what your opinions are of the balance boards that you use.
Bongaboard
£53 + £14 p&p
18mm Scandanavian FSC Birch Plywood 42cm * 80cm
Roller; locally sourced timber 15cm dia, 45cm long with rubber grips
Groundswell Balance Board
£53 + £14 p&p
Board dimensions are 89cm long x 32 cm wide.
It comes complete with a non slip Black Roller. The roller diameter is 11cm. The length is 45cm.
http://indoboard.eu/store/Original-Model/
£95 + £7.50 p&p
76 x 45 cm deck
113 kg maximum weight limit
16.5 cm diameter roller.
Take a look
If you are anything like me, when you rock-up to the beach and see the surf crashing just yards in front of you, your heart quickens and the only thought is to get out there amongst it. A quick jog to the water-line is warm up enough prior to attaching the leg rope, right?
Now in my 40s I’ve learned that time taken to stretch and to warm-up muscles are now (unfortunately) a must. Flexibility is such a vital path of surfing. Just watch the top pros doing powerful cut-backs and snap-turns and you realise what extreme positions and body shapes that are required to perform well.
Below are 3 podcasts that I’ve found from separate sources that I think are worth checking out.
The Stretching Institute provides a good warm-up regime that only takes 10 minutes.
10 minute warm-up stretch
Following your surf, it’s just as important to wind down both the body and the mind. Pilates seems to offer a good way to do this and below is a podcast hosted by Jenny Gadbois taking you through a few key stretches specifically suited for surfers….Give it a go and let me know what you think.
The 3rd podcast is for those that really want to challenge their flexibility and see just how far they can go. Fair play if you get to this standard of yoga…you’ve obviously have worked really hard. Well done!
Full-on yoga for experienced yoga guys.
But, Ellen MacArthur is a sailor isn’t she, not a surfer?
Yes, Ellen is most definitely a sailor and one that has to be greatly admired for her work on and off the water. Is the lady (or Dame) really a surfer though? I would say without hesitation, yes.
Ok, her favourite “board” is a 90+ foot bright orange trimaran called Mobi but, nevertheless, having the guts to ride huge waves in the Southern Ocean on her lonesome in huge storms must count for something!
I received Ellen MacArthur’s autobiography “Full Circle” as a Christmas present and I could not put it down.
The tantalising insight into the round the world record attempt in 2005 and the years of build-up to the challenge, provide one of the main themes of the story. Other aspects of Ellen’s more private life are as equally revealing and interesting, especially those relating to sailing with the youngsters involved in the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust, and the strong influence of her family and early life in Derbyshire.
As well as her love of sailing, another equally all-consuming passion for Ellen is revealed – sustainability. From her worldwide adventures around our beautiful planet and chance meetings with passionate environmental activists, a vision is born – one that focuses all of her prodigious efforts into the formation of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation.
This motivating story of an ultra-determined young lady and her unbridled passion to live life on the ocean and to secure the future of our planet, will appeal to sailor and surfer alike; in fact anybody that appreciates those that have the guts to follow their dreams.
I’ve added a video clip of Ellen which I think shows her fighting spirit as well as those times, in contrast, where she is in the pits of despair. What she says about risk taking is true, and by the way check-out the some of the waves – they’re beauties.
Jason Sandiford started his surfing exploits at the UK’s most famous surf venue, Newquay in Cornwall. Since that time Jason has enjoyed many an adventure in the great outdoors, mostly in pursuit of his real passion – fishing.
After many a night under canvas Jason has decided to mix his love of the sport with his career as a professional chef. His aim is to develop a series of dishes and menus specifically designed for the intrepid camper; grub that will satisfy the appetite and taste buds of any hearty fisherman or surfer.
Currently featured in Trakkerproducts.co.uk, Chef Sandiford’s initial offering of “Vegetable risotto on the bank” is certainly worth a try.
Let me know how you get on.
This book is about challenges.
Discovering the bliss of surfing by conquering adversity, the world-wide search for “the Conductor”, and an investigation into the mysteries of the mind and the psychology of the wave rider. All the themes are skilfully woven into a biography of this thoughtful and often humorous adventurer.
Steven Kotler shares his experiences in a worts and all, highly personal, account of his travels, trials and tribulations within the surf. His research into the aspects of the human mind is thorough and intelligently sown together…it’s obvious that this man has read greatly around the subject. He has an obvious knack of taking complex ideas and conveying to the reader, in understandable language, the essence of the major theories.
Ever wondered what is really going on in your brain when you catch that perfect wave?
In short, this book is well worth a read…or two.
Find more information at Steve Kotler’s website
www.stevenkotler.com
The summer is well and truly over and Christmas is fast approaching. You’ve spent the last few weeks honing your skills in the autumn swells and are ready for the next level…I know, it’s time for a new board right?!
But think, does it really have to be a new board?
Well, from a sustainability point of view prevention is better than cure. The fewer number of new boards made mean that fewer resources are used up and less pollution is released to the environment.
Another important advantage is that the cost is often much much lower and items such as board bags and leashes are also thrown in as part of the deal. Also, as a surfer looking to move on, you will probably have a board that you would like to sell on to fund the next challenge, so a buoyant re-sale market is a positive thing.
Descriptions of pre-loved boards are usually more detailed. Information from people that have actually surfed the board can give you the best insight as to how it handles in different kinds of surf and which kind of surfer the board would suit best.
Below are just a few links to websites that advertise hundreds of pre-loved surfboards where your new magic carpet could be waiting – Happy Holidays.
Ebay
secondhandboards
extremesportstrader
secretspot
preloved
surfguru
the gorilla firm
a1surf
fluidconcept
surfboardsforsale
tikisurf
downthelinesurf
Welcome to the 2nd instalment of video following the advenutres of Makumba and his quest for awesome waves. The soundtrack “10 feet away” is provided by Monkey Militia, which remains the band’s most popular track to date. Enjoy.
Check out MonkeyMilitia.co.uk
Check out a video of the band performing “Chandelier….”
We follow the adventures of cult surfer and base-jumper Makumba…click the clip…enjoy the video and pumping sounds.
Soundtrack provided by Monkey Militia – Falling out of planes – from the album “In the Kitchen, On the Table, In the Sink”. Thank you fellas.
more to follow….
Heading down to the beach for a surf or swim and worried about water quality? Then check out the Environment Agency’s (EA) Bathing Water Profile home page before you go.
Put simply, you can be at risk if you bathe in areas that have failed the Bathing Water Directive quality tests. The EA sample waters from nearly 500 designated bathing water sites in England and Wales during the year, with weekly sampling being undertaken throughout the bathing season running from 15th May to 30th September. On the EA website there is also an EA Bathing water interactive map of the UK that you can interrogate (by clicking on the coloured dot once you’ve zoomed in to a beach) for relatively recent (days) information or examine the history of sampling results over many years.
Alternatively, for a more historic, but in-depth view of your area of interest then select the Bathing Water Profiles for;
Anglian Region
North West Region
South East Region
South West Region
Yorkshire North East Region
Environment Agency Wales
For Saunton Sands for example the information provided is very comprehensive;
Picture of the beach,
Location of sampling points,
Positions of sewage and other outfalls,
Catchment area description,
Pollution Management,
Streams and Rivers feeding into the bathing water,
Improvements made by water companies,
Emergency Storm Overflows,
Improvements made by Local Authorities,
Working with the Farming community,
Working with Private Landowners,
Presence of Algae within the water.
Each profile also displays a date that it was written and a review by date. The Hotline number for reporting incidents is 0800 80 70 60.
Below is an informative clip produced by the EA that talks about bathing water quality…well worth a look.