lexthroughthelookingglass

Beach Clean with The Cornwall Conservation Volunteers

new midlength by Empire Surfboards

I'm so pleased with my new Empire Surfboards 7'2 number*9.

I wanted a midlength since ages, to surf waves which just aren't so much fun on a longboard as they're either too onshore, chunky and closey or hollower breaks, where a longboard just doesn't fit in the wave so well. I've been surfing a 5'8 quad fish this summer a lot on those small onshore waves and really enjoyed to get a couple of turns in , where a longboard just wouldn't have fitted in the face of the wave. However, when the surf got a bit chunky I found the fish too skiddy. These are the conditions what I've got this board for. It's still long enough for me to paddle easy and get the wave count in, but shorter to get a few more carves in. I contemplated to get a single fin, but the quad gives it more drive and keeps it more versatile for my many travels abroad ..I think it will be a real good travel board. We will see this winter... Report to follow.

Don't worry when it's flat!

 The Cornish summer turned out quite nice this year! We had an amazing July with a massive heat wave and a 2 week long flat spell. So what do you do when it turns flat for a while? Are you twisting your thumbs and dreaming about waves that just aren't there? Or are you enjoying the outdoors with other activities? I went out on a camping trip to Dartmoor with a big red square mat and some climbing shoes to find a different adventure, bouldering.

 It's a great alternative to surfing and in my opinion somewhere the two vastly different disciplines intersect, it's all about being outdoors and embracing the elements Whether, I take home the memory of the carves and nose rides of my last ridden wave of the day, or the challenge to find the next grip on a square inch of rock and the feeling to have conquered some walls, it doesn't matter, they both bring a satisfied smile in my face.

Portrait for Wavelength

Art Exhibition "Through the eyes of.." at Cafe Irie

An exhibition of paintings by Lucy Smedley, and photography by Alexa Poppe, inspired by the beautiful and ever changing landscape of Cornwall. Cafe Irie will be open for yummy food and drinks, while you browse some of the work from Alexa and Lucy. The Exhibition will be open from the 1st July until the end of August, so there will be plenty of time for you to go and check it out.

Opening night: 19th July, 7pm - 10pm

On Bank Holiday Monday 27/5/13, the second annual Revolver Surf Shop Single Fin Shoot Out went off in style in Newquay. Even though the rain poured and the wind did its best to chill everyone’s bones, there was a full turn out, good times and good waves.

The event is the brainchild of Gee Piper and John Issac of Revolver Surf Shop, who wanted to put on a contest to celebrate the style and fun of single fin surfing. The competitor field for the day was almost as eclectic as the single fin boards that were amassed for the event. Longboarders, shortboarders and any boarders rubbed shoulders under the shelter of the wind blown easy up tent, whilst hooting and hollering the best rides...

Spot X

ten board challenge 2013

It's been far too long since I had a pen in my hand and I really enjoyed getting back into illustration when I designed the new ten board challenge poster. I'm sure there will be more like this coming soon..

more about the event:

Alexa Poppe’s and Sarah Bentley’s Ten Board Challenge is back again this year at Godrevy on the 16th June. It is a girls-only fun competition with an emphasis on style and stoke. 

Entrants choose one of ten boards which will include fishes, longboards, shortboards and mid length boards by a variety of shapers. The competition criteria is designed to encourage all kinds of surfers to enter, to push their surfing on boards they might not always ride and it will be a great chance for people to try some different shapes. The day is all about getting together, trying different boards, good vibes, sharing the stoke, drinking tea and eating cake. 

There will also be an evening surffilm showing by Approaching Lines in the National Trust Cafe at Godrevy and some great prizes supplied by our sponsors. The event is supported by The National Trust, RNLI, Surfgirl and Vans.

To enter please email: [email protected]

Welcome to Peru

Peru is still a developing country and surfing among Peruvians outside of Lima is still very much at a fledgling stage. There is over 2500 km of desert coastline to explore. Most of which is sparsely populated. Empty lineups are common and with large areas of almost inaccessible coastline, discoveries are still waiting to be surfed. The north of the country is the area most frequented by surfers and for a good reason, the climate is pleasant and the waves are regularly perfect. So, that is where we went in search of Peruvian long lined-up lefts...

Surfing in England

After a good run of sunshine and surf early spring, the weather and waves let us down a bit recently. So I got up this morning and checked the forecast: 5.9ft@9sec, offshore. The sun was out and I got all excited to go for a surf and a walk with Jed before work…

When I arrived at the beach it looked like this.. Surfing in the UK can sometimes be very frustrating..

mermaid

I’ve been meaning to post this since a while..a great example of having fun with a beach clean. The mermaid at Perran Sands made out of rubbish found on the beach. There are also bin bags of collected rubbish just behind her. For some reason the banks have been pretty good out there recently, maybe it’s a little sign from mother ocean to say “thank you”.

Remember, next time you’re at the beach and find rubbish just pick it up and take it to the next bin..it’s just a small effort, but every little helps..