Vans, fishing and finally the odd bit of windsurfing!

Firstly, sorry it has been so long since I last blogged! This has been due to two reasons: 1. Not much wind so not many sessions, 2. I have been super busy as we have a new van! Amazing news!

So, below are some pictures of our new van through its conversion. Loads still to do and it seems to be absorbing our money but it is a lot faster, cheaper and more efficient than our last van so it should mean many more trips to the beach!! I could give loads of advice on building vans but I think the most important bit this time has been good insulation-this time the temperature is so stable inside we don't have to get up at 7 in the morning on a hot day like in our last van! Should be loads better for the kit too....

Here is a video we recorded while testing the bed as we are putting a timelapse together of the whole build. As the bed is adjustable, the pin didn't locate properly the first time we tested it, have a look at the result!

Windsurfing hasn't been too brilliant over Summer-we have had lots of frustrating conditions of about 12-15 knots, not quite enough for small wave gear but too much to spoil any surf. Very frustrating whilst watching the World cup! It has been perfect for slalom if I had the kit! We have grabbed sessions where possible, a few flat water ones, a session at Fistral which was interesting with the 200 odd beginners! (We weren't hated on too much and stayed out their way!) Yesterday we had a really fun session at Gwithian on 5m, unexpected and really fun despite small shoulderish waves. We also had the wettest session ever at Whitsands during the rainy period, where if you know the beach you will know the mission of a walk down and back up the cliff for 15-20 mins, with a river running down it at the time due to the rain!

This is Whitsands cliff, bit of a shoulder mission carrying windsurf kit down here!

Classic small summer waves, fun in the sun!

We have also been doing some spear fishing (or I just snorkel really as I am not sure I could stab a fish...the boys do the spearing!), but that has been brilliant for breath holds -getting some practise for the Autumn storms when they come! I wear about 8kg of weights with my winter suit making me neutrally buoyant so it is so easy to get to the bottom and sit/swim!

Perfect spearfishing weather, calm and clear

Anyway enough from me, I will update with more van pics and hopefully get some windy sessions in-hurry up storms!!

Pozo as its meant to be...

One last picture... our last couple of days when Pozo had reasonable waves. Amazing place to sail when its like this, such a playground, and so different to the busy choppiness it can be when there are no waves...

Last day in Pozo, Home time!

So we had some really good wind, and finally some waves! I had a really good sail here the past couple of days and I am so sad not to be staying longer as I think I would improve so much here! My backloops are getting much better and I had some really fun waveriding yesterday. I was fully overpowered on 3.4 though and pulled my shoulder again so today I am resting before flying home tonight-it looks windy in the UK for the weekend so my shoulder needs to get stronger again!

Today the guys are on 3.4, it is so windy but some really nice waves are coming in, it looks like a playground, though I need a 3m sail! Some guys are going to Ojos Garza, a side shore spot, if I had longer here I would join them, oh well!

Anyway here are some pictures. Hopefully the UK will be good for our first weekend back!

Pozo sessions, injuries and close calls

So 10 days in Pozo! It is great for 4.5 days leave, as now I have to be so careful with my leave as I only have 5 weeks a year, which is nothing to be able to train hard! Pozo looked liked the most windy destination for this time of year. We have had some good days on the water, the first was a little choppy but the others were 3.4 weather and better waves. I had a session at Vargas practising my forwards, then here at Pozo learning to backloop. No luck yet but I know what I need to do to do better.

Yesterday and this morning have been strange here with no wind and even some rain this morning! So we had a really fun day at a mini water park instead, and today a little wind but I am resting as I ended up yanking my shoulder a little on one of the slides so it feels a little loose, which sucks.

My Polish friend Justyna has had a really bad time here, on her second day she crashed a big forward and has broken 3 bones in her foot and a bone in her ankle. I hope she gets the operation she needs and gets back on the water soon.

Eva also had a close call with another sailor in Pozo. Sometimes there are really difficult conditions here to see and it can be pretty busy, it just shows how everyone needs to be so aware of everyone around them. This was a really good sailor so Eva was lucky he didn't panic and throw his gear away or try and jump over her.

More Windsurfing Videos

Normal windy Pozo:

Being a normal tourist ;)

Weird clouds in Pozo:

No wind!

Bigbury weekend and Pozo!

We have had some good wind and a tiny bit of swell recently, getting a small surf at Fistral and Whitsands and a weekend windsurfing (flat water) at Bigbury. My brother-in-law Hylton is learning to windsurf and did really well getting his first waterstarts. He also became water camera man and between him and my sister Ruth, took the photos below.

Me and Stef have also booked a last minute trip to Pozo for ten days, as we couldn't resist the 4 day bank holiday weekend, taking 4.5 days leave to get 10 days on the water. Hopefully it will be ten fully windy and wavey days! Leave on Saturday, sooo excited!!

Windsurf 4 Cancer Research Video!

As promised, the windsurf for cancer research video! Don't forget to donate HERE!
More Windsurfing Videos

There has been dissapointingly no proper swell since we returned from Chile, but we have had a few bump and jump sessions and some desperate onshore surfing! Last night we had a session at Bigbury in an Easterly. Amazingly there were some knee to waist high waves to play with, and my new Flywave felt pretty good. I can imagine with a big SW swell and an Easterly wind it could be amazing, but so rare!

I am gutted I am missing BWA Rhosneigr and Ireland due to work committments. Its a shame as I will lose my British Wave Champion title this year! Instead I will hit it hard after work when there are some good conditions!

Windsurf 4 Cancer and a new board!

We have just come back from an amzing weekend in Wales, which turned out to be a multi activity weekend due to the lack of wind. On Saturday we stopped in Taunton on the way up, paddling a Canadian canoe around a large area of flooded fields and dropping our passengers off on the way on random fence posts and trees sticking up!

Sunday was windsurf for cancer at Llandeggfedd reservoir. There was a great turnout with pirates and silver windsurfers, cake sales, BBQ, SUPs and kit to use and of course dedicated Mike Walklin teaching a team of windsurfers. We arrived for 8.30, getting straight on the water for a windsurf in about 6 knots, teaching our 'zero' Doug Reid. He did well in the little wind, learning tacking, sail 360s and sail and body 360s. No planing though in that wind, so he isn't a hero yet! We will take him again when its windier. The rest of the day we decided to make full power with all the watersports we could fit in, SUPing, diving off boats and rafts, paddling our surfboards and even fishing! We finished the day running up a hill followed by an amazing roast from Mrs Hilder!

Bank holiday Monday followed with more exercise, climbing at Llangorse. I even managed to climb the indoor tree trunk all the way up!

There is a video coming soon, but if you can spare any cash for a good cause, please donate HERE!