Bit more Lanza fun.

Hello all and Happy Christmas!

 

Well the glorious winter sunshine we’ve been blessed with has finally broken with a couple of drizzly days and a full on lightening storm. Won’t be long though, you can always be surf that the sun comes out to play in the happy islands!

There seems to have been loads and loads of pretty good surf, maybe just lacking a few world class days but all in all right on! On the 10^th we got another tow day out at La Santa… nothing like as big and heavy as the October tow day but still great to get out there and have a couple of fun ones. The regular tow monkeys (Sven, Gonzaque, Joff and yours truly) met up down in La Santa and were greeted with some good solid 10-15ft waves at the Point.  El Quemao was looking very, very solid too, with just the local sponge chargers and La Santa hellman Marquitos taking it on. With some north in the swell the infamous inside death section was nasty. No one in our group was in the slightest bit interested and focus stayed on the right. With work and family commitments keeping the other guys out of the water until the afternoon I opted for a paddle.

Coming out from the harbour (to avoid getting clipped sneaking out in the usual channel) I skirted past the El Quemao madness and headed out to the La San Cristia peak out the back of the Point. After about an hour of playing cat and mouse with some fairly hefty chunks (and a beating, of course) I gave up and caught a little one in.  Better save some energy for the pm session.

Gonzi had just got his ski up and running again so we launched from Ghost Town and made the run to La Santa. Over lunchtime it had looked like the swell had jumped a bit and with the stiff offshore there’d been some big barrels. However by the time we got out there I think the swell had eased off bit and the wind had changed to a light south.  Ok it wasn’t quite what we’d expected but it certainly wasn’t too shabby either. Gonzaque put me into a couple before we found a good one. Once again my tow board went great, really good in fact…. Something I’m stoked about, as it’s hard to get ‘em right! Still it wasn’t all-good, kicking out of me last wave I got caught by the next one and had the mandatory Smally beating. Still it was like a gentle caress compared to the last one and Gonzaque came and picked me tout suite! Cheers buddy! Out the back again I saw that I’d blown a footstrap and that it was over for me for the day. I was relegated to spectator, along with Sven who was hanging out with his kid Marlon while Gonz towed Joff into a few mini bombs.

With a small window this week there’s a chance of some bigger stuff this week, hopefully we’ll be on it and able to enjoy Santa’s seasonal pressies!

Happy Crimble, Rob.

SWELL !!!!

Hi all,

well the phone rings this morning at 7.00 am and it's Joff Owen and the crew saying that the surf was on for a tow. Julie, Gally the visla and I raced down the hill from Casa Penelope and hooked up with Joff anf the other team of Sven and Gonzi..... there were waves everywhere and certainly some size. Light winds, warm water, PWCs ready so it was a green light for a warm up session and then on to something more serious.

After launching at one of the local tow spots we hooked into some fun shoulders and got used to the feel of the day. Being the first session of the year we played it pretty cautious and really just water skied a few .... all good fun though !!!

A quick drink of water, a refuel and it was off to La Santa Right.. the direction was good but it's a dangerous place at size and it took us an hour or so to get into our stride and finally get some bombs. Not huge but not too small either. After a little tiff (tow surfing can be like that!) and some motor hiccups I settled into driving and managed to put Joff in a couple of beauts. Sven and Gonzi had their thing down too and were getting some beautiful waves. After over an hour of driving we swopped over and I was firing to get me Bilbo special tow-board going. I'd just sorted the straps and wanted to see how it felt. Joffy whipped me into a medium one to started with and it was a dream, smooth, powerful, la crema colega! After this I'm amping for a big one and Joff straight away puts me deep on a set. I see it standing up and can't resist a little fade. Board's good and I come around the bottom to see  it standing up across the bay. I go up a little a try and get around the section but have to straighten out. I know it's coming so I get low and try to ride as far as possible in the white water before it sledgehammers me and I'm getting royally fu**ed. I come up ok but there's another big one and Joffy can't get to me so I wear it on the head. This happens another 3 or 4 times and now I'm getting tired and don't really know how close I am to the Slab death zone. Joff comes to get me and gets hit by a 10ft wall of foam and has to bail the ski.... the ski goes past me and now we're both getting hit by white water but we're inside and pretty much safe. Joff goes after the ski which is inside and OK whilst two local guys are in the water and coming to see if I'm ok.... I am but it felt great to have a little help... THANKS GUYS !!!!

I get out and try to find out boards... I'm so pissed 'cause I just felt the best I ever did on a tow board and it might be gone.... luckily they both turn up and again the local guys get them for us. Joff spends 20 mins waiting for a lull while Sven and Gonzi have come inside to help. Gionzi comes to the beach with me and Sven takes his PWC back to the ramp with Joff.

All in all a good day, stoked with my board but not too keen on getting hit like that too many times !!!!!!

We'll keep you informed .

Cheers,

Smally.

Bali Blog 2

Bali Blog 2

Hello,

well, well who’d have thought it ? Rainy and small in September.... Ho hum Bintang time ! No really it’s been a bit dull up until yesterday when the sun came out and the swell came back, still funky winds had everyone wondering what was up and scuttling about for waves. I lucked in with a slightly cross-shore session at Sanur. What an incredible wave that is !!!! With a pushing tide and winds unseasonably SW there were a few 4 or 5ft sets and after waiting for the (slightly less than welcoming) local crew get theirs, plenty of waves. Of course, even after a warning from my Brazilian mate Marcos , I tried to go right through the end section and ended up bouncing of almost dry reef. Thankfully minimum damage to both me and equipment..... should’ve listened ! Ended up catching some great waves away from the masses.... about bloody time !!

Today dawned clear again and with more swell.... straight off to Uluwatu to see what was up. The last time I was there was 20 years ago..... like all of Bali it’s changed beyond recognition. There’s a full scene from the top of the cave to the parking lot (!!!!!) up top. The warungs are still there but added are the surf shops, photographers documenting everyone and charging a fortune (one guy wanted US$300 for a disc of photos) and surf shops selling everything. Thankfully the wave remains the same and today it was growling away in a very not clean and perfect Indo dream-wave way. 6ft plus sets, occasional bombs, loads of water moving and plenty of beatings.

Of course I got nailed paddling out. In fact just in time to see Aussie legend Jim Banks stylishly fly past in timeless fashion(good pairing those two, Banks and Ulus) before the mandatory trip down towards Padang. After a couple of trips around I finally got into a few waves wishing that my 7’0” Island series Bilbo pintail was a little bigger... Dodging the biggest sets (except for one screamer that went all the way through... ye-ha!!!) I went about getting a few beautiful waves and having fun on a difficult day at one of the surfing’s iconic waves. A bit bumpy, a bit heavy but a total joy. The 7’0” handled it well and made me think that we’ve got it right in the travel board department.... good clean, versatile shapes that go in the difficult demanding surf as well as the picture perfect days. Cheers Bilbo !!!

Talking of difficult days I saw Batty’s Kandui tube on youtube the other day, HEAVY !... and heard an Aussie bloke talking about him in the water at Ulu’s today !!! Good to see they’re getting the message !

Hope all well with everyone, stay tuned.

Rob.

Hi all,

here we are in Bali getting some sun and plenty of surf, it’s good to have warm water and consistent surf again after another patchy summer !!!

Staying in Tuban and mostly surfing the reefs out the front although the whole place has been firing. Crowds of locals, Japanese, Aussies, Euros and every other type of surfer you can think off!!!

Been trying out a couple of new Bilbo boards, 6’4” and a 7’0”. Haven’t really got to grips with the bigger one yet but the 6’4” is great. It’s 6’4” x 18 3/4” and 2 3/8” more foiled than my Lanzarote boards and about as small as I can get away with.... however with no wetsuit to worry about and clean conditions it’s proving to be a peach. Works really well with the Future Fins Vector Foils, good stiff fins that seem to push through the turns especially when there’s a bit of power.

We snuck of to a spot west of Canngu a couple of days ago and got some fun little walls. Thanks to local Brazilian Marcos for showing us the spot away from the Bukit crowds! No problem anyway as his two visiting mates, Rodrigo and Luciano are Gracie JuJitSu instructors.... Seriously though a couple of very mellow guys that it was a pleasure to surf with.

Anyhow check out the sequence, it’s a bit distant but you can see that a good bit of fibreglass can make an old (ish) man quite happy. I think this model is going to be a good all round travel board for the slightly more mature and slightly heavier guys who still like to give it a bash !

Speaking of older guys, Scotty Duddings ex Rip Curl UK is over from NZ and ripping... like the Sultan of Speed in reverse !

Had a beer with Jack Nicholson too !

Cheers all,

Rob.

Young fella smiles, old fella smiles (and rants!).

Hello, hello from sunny Cornwall again. Not a ripple but more clear skies and warm breezes. It's great how a bit of summer gets people smiling isn't it ?!

Whilst I'm waffling on about smiles I have to say I've seen I've seen a couple of beauts in the shop today. The first was from up and coming Bude longboarder Lewis Stitch. He came in to pick up his new 9'1" Bilbo quad mal. Mark Neville had made an absolute cracker for the young fella, who at only 15 and currently 5th in the UK junior longboard rankings is looking to be a real threat in the next few years... watch out chaps!!!!

Lewis surfs with a progressive style but likes to noseride when in smaller surf, so if you see aclassic looking blonde kid thowing some cool turns and cross stepping to the nose at Crooklets in Bude this summer you can bet it's Lewis. Check out his new stick above. And Check out this footage on youtube:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=uP1qsWwJXQE

The other smile was from KB....... there I was chatting to him about Bali yesterday and this morning he's in here with photos (of himself of course), waving his arms around and hand surfing his way around the Bukit Peninsula. Generally being the most enthusiastic surfer over about 21 I've ever met, which is bloody brilliant. Here's a little photo of Keith at Ulus Outside Corner on a meaty one........ you can see why the bloke gets worked up ! And another of Padang Padang looking sweeeeet!!!

Enjoy,

Smally.

Bali Bound !

Hello there,

what a kick off to summer we've had in Cornwall. Sun, cracking surf and a lot of contented, brown (or red and blistered), and surfed out people wandering about last weekend. I sneaked a couple of fun surfs on my new TVS 5'10" quad, obviously the lack of length compensated by sufficient girth to float me and my gut !! Managed to wiggle me way along a few sunny little waves at a couple of spots and went off to work full of the joys of spring, well early summer really. Heard stories of cracking banks at **********, ******** and also *********(find 'em yourselves you buggers!).Bledy 'ansome down here when she's like that.

Got extra happy when Julie suggested a surf trip to Bali in September.... how can life get any better ? Quick surf before work, spread a bit of surfboard love about during the day and then get home to find the missus booking Bali tickets. Incredible ! I haven't been on a surf trip for quite a few years (Lanza doesn't count.. I have to work there !) and already feel really excited although it's 3 months away. I'm so keen for it that I've been hassling the shit out of Keith Beddoe and Lenny Ingram for where to stay,eat and surf etc. KB's going in october and I think he's relieved we're only crossing over for a couple of days.

I've got fretting about boards to. Do I take an 8'6" just in case the Outside Corner comes on or do I just wing it with a 7'6" ? Will I need a fishy one for the smaller days or do I just take a spare 6'4" ? Channel bottoms or do we I try a bit of Slater Pipe styley madness ? I could just whip
Banks, a Linden and a Brewer out of stock and be done with it, but am I better working with Matt Barrow and adapting the Bilbos he mad for the Canaries this winter to those beautiful bali breaks ? What to do, what to do ??!!!

Enough wingeing for now, I'm off to fondle a few sleek fiberglass sleds and dream of dropping in KB at Padang Padang.

Cheers now,

Smally.

Like Christmas In May.

Hello All,

finally back in Newquay after a few days in London with the missus.... always notice how grey people look in the middle of our wonderful nation. Makes you think about how lucky those of us who get to live close to the beach are. Hippy moment over and it's back to me me me !

Popped into Bilbo-Tunnel Vision a to check out the newly re-fitted shop and have to say we're looking pretty smooth. There's even going to be a coffee and juice bar, which is going to make talking about the latest happening in the Surfboard World even more pleasurable than previously. One of the most laudable management moves ever !

For me the good news didn't stop there. I'd got a bunch of great new Bilbo's shaped by Matt Barrow this winter and unfortunately didn't get conditions to even ride all off them, ho hum, next year for sure. I'm hanging out to try a quad gun and Matt shaped me a beauty 9'0" that I couldn't find anyone to bring over to Lanza for me. Turned out to be a bad move as we had a couple of days that were just in the right size range at the Point in La Santa. Missed opportunity.

It was nice to finally meet up with said 9'0" and there's a definite mutual attraction. I plucked her out of the rack of guns, upstairs in the boardroom, and she just felt right under the arm. Nice and weighty and a good bit of thickness, 3 1/4 I believe, and as we all know when things get serious it's all about the thickness. The fins look a little strange but only because I'm so used to seeing thruster guns.... the word is that the quads come up on a rail easier and drop down the face faster. Easy and fast, just how I like me boards ! If this one goes anythimg like as well as my quad tow board then she'll be a keeper. Let's hope we get an unseasonable swell and the Cribba has a little rumble so I can report back.

The shop has some some other stuff that's pretty exciting too... I saw a cracking 11'1" Bear Monster Glide, wood tail blocks and beautiful polish. Reckon KB was dreaming of endless 2ft peelers at his beloved point in JBay when he shaped that one. There's also a few funky Stewart S-Wingers. These are souped up little 5 fin machines that the longboard and retro crowd are going nuts about in California. Certainly a board for the open minded amongst us ! The new Rustys are looking good as are the TVS and there's a chance of some new summer stock from JC and Surf Prescriptions. I love working in there as you get to see just about every type of surfboard (and surfer!) possible, the only bummer is not being able to try one of everything, not that I would, I'm staying faithfull to my new 9'0". Honest. Well maybe.... we'll see....

Home to Blighty !

Hi All,

well it's that time of year again, with the Whit Bank Holiday coming up it's goodbye Lanzarote and hello Newquay for a few months. Looking forward to seeing what the summer serves up for us all this year !

I'll be back in the Vision, or Bilbo as we now are (I think!) for the duration and hear that the place has had a bit of a face lift, there's even talk of a coffee shop....... which for those of you who know Rich and Andy will give you a pretty good idea of where to find them at any given moment. 

Rich was also telling me that we're going to have a couple of new brands and some interesting boards so I'm excited about checking it all out and getting some kit out there into the water. Might even have a little trundle myself !

The late season here was a bit of a wash out, loads of north winds and ropey surf conditions. It'd got so crappy that I'd actually packed away all my lovely quiver of new Bilbos (most of them not ridden due to lack of surf) and concentrated on trying to get the final paperwork for the house done..... Spanish paperwork is one of the most trying things on the planet, I'm amazed that the county actually functions at all because it's a full time job just to post a letter..... 

Just as things were getting too much I got a call from Joff Owen (proud new PWC owner) that there was a late season swell. Sure enough there was a summery 4-6ft swell and light winds... out there ! We hookrd up with Swiss - Geman tow team Sven and Mario and shot out to check out a mysto outer reef. With only a smallish swell on the main breaks we still had triple overhead peaks out at this super deep water wave. After a couple of false starts I managed to flick joff into a few beauties and we had a fun afternoon riding great waves in an isolated spot away from the Sunday crowds. And just think..... overheadish in La Santa... triple overhead out there..... watch out next winter !

That's all for now, off to try and get some pieces of paper signed !

See you all next week in the shop !

Smally.

Balls To The Wall !

Hi,

just had a week with longtime Tunnel Vision / Bilbo customer steve Balls. steve is a Norfolk kingpin who usually manages to sneak away from the cold (and the family) and come over to my guesthouse for a few waves and hopefully a bit of wind too (I know, I know, some of youn think kitesurfing is suspect but it does get you of the sofa on those choppy days). However with the two options you can be either really happy or doubly skunked..... this time Steve lucked out and it's been Balls To The Wall all the way ! In this instance the wall was the long and perfect one of La Santa Point. After a fun first day we awoke to a rising long period swell with no wind. Before lunch saw 3-4ft waves cracking down the point, tube sections, bashable lips and bags of power. One of the local boys was calling it a skatepark and I reckon he wasn't far off the mark ! As the tide filled in through the afternoon we saw the size jump to a heavy 6ft with a few bigger bombs and a definite surge in the swell. Skatepark had turned into the day of the year with a full on feeding frenzy going down. Great rides, broken boards and leashes and a few dented egos.... all the ingredients of a good day's surfing. I rode me new Bilbo 6'2" an should've gone with the 6'8" but the little board went so well I'm not afraid to say I could of passed for 30...... Ok well 35 then ! So thsanks to Bilbo and Matty Barrow for making an old fella feel new again ! Balls  also had a good session he reckons he rode his biggest wave since Hawaii, so HAPPY DAYS!

By the way no photos of the day of the year yet.... everyone was in the water.

As always the run of good surf had to come to an end but being kitemonkeys we knew we'd squeeze in a couple of days sailing ( I say 'sailing' purely for Bilbo shop manager Richard Pope's benefit). Steve let himself down with his silly twin-tip kiteboard but a little brutal teasing ensured a try out sail (that one's for you Reedy) on my 5'11" hand shaped epoxy Tunnel Vision. It's essentially a normal surfboard with a couple straps and too little volume for me to paddle..... a KITESURFBOARD as opposed to a kiteboard !!!!! That bastard Steve Balls jumped on it and rode it better than me straight away... get your own board Balls !! He's tried the moulded kit from the kite brands and reckons real surfboards are the way to go.

So while I'm still smarting from having a bloke from Norfolk our surf, or a least out kitesurf me at me own beach I'm going to drop him at the airport and go down the beach to salvage me reputation !

Cheers all.

Balls To The Wall !

More Good Surf For Lanzarote

Well once again we've had a great week of surf with La Santa Right being somewhere between fun and really good for most of the week. With the swell having a lot of West in it the right works well and also holds some size.

Yesterday (and hopefully today, I can see the point peeling  from here!) was the pick of the swell with some 10 - 12ft sets and little wind until well into the afternoon. As usual with a bit of size the crowd factor wasn't important and there were plenty of waves for all. Along with some of the local crew Newquay ex-pat Joff Owen and Swiss team member Sven Grossenbacher got some bombs and I had another trial run with the 9'6" Linden, which went pretty good !

All in all a classic Canarian winter day's surfing ...... and as I just saw another nice peak break of the point and with lots of the local guys being on La Graciosa I reckon it's time to sign off and have a Sunday afternoon session !

Hasta la proxima.

Jack Davies Rocks The Rock !

Jack Davies, Rhino team member, Newquay Habour Wall Rat and all round hurricane came out to visit last week with his Dad Simon. Lucking in to a week of great waves and some winter sun the father and son team made the most of it and got stuck into La Santa's waves and laid back pace of life (Father may have got stuck into a beer or two as well!). 

After a couple of surfs at El Centro Jack seemed to get pretty comfortable in the head high (for him) left hand reef waves and stamped his own brand of reckless energy and relentless cheek all over it. In fact he's the first person I know to have a wave in La Santa named after, Jack's Peak, a mini righthander only rideable at high tide and ignored by the rest of the World's surfing population....... to think it was there under our nose's all the time!

In fact Jack got so comfortable that he was even spotted driving a clapped out 4x4 along the dirt tracks behind Famara Beach.......... 

Quick photo !

Hi All,

well after a week or so of shitty weather we're now back to lovely Canarian winter sun and looking at some good conditions over the next few days.

The photo (thanks Matt Owen) looks like it's an inside wave from the 2nd Jan session in La Santa. The Point can be a really frustrating wave because it's so sensitive to swell direction. When it gets over 6 or 8 ft you have to be really careful where to sit and to pick the waves that'll run and not close out through the middle of the bay....... unless the swell direction is west that is... then you know every wave is going to have a beautiful long wall on it and leave you in a nice wide channel.  This was such a fun day that I made sure I got a couple for all the boys at the shop.... except for Reedy.. he can only go left and to be honest there aren't too many lefts on days like this... Missed out Reedy !

Hi all and welcome to the new blog!
Right now I’m at home in Lanzarote with a massive swell hitting La Santa. The wind’s shit for this side but there’ll be good waves at Lobos, on la Graciosa and the East coast.. probably check it out this afternoon.

Christmas and New Year really cooked with some classic Canarian winter conditions. Pretty much the whole north shore cooked with all the spots having their days. For me the highlight was Jan 2nd at La Santa Point. Light winds and a perfect 3m west swell, about as good as it gets. With lots of 12 ft + sets from right out the back at La San Cristia right through the bay I tried out me new 9’6” Linden. Absolute magic (thanks Tunnel Vision). Little bit wider in the tail, nice and thick went like a beauty !!!! Hopefully I’ll be able to stick a couple of photos on the blog soon.

El Quemao was off its face for days on end too. The local boys are pushing the limits out there and a few of the sessions were real shows. The standard of surfing on the island is rocketing and you notice it when the conditions get heavy. Unfortunately a respected local surfer ,”El Fula” died at El Quemao on New Year’s Day, a tragedy that has left the Canarian surfing community reeling.

Anyway, chatting this morning with local legend and big wave charger, Sergio “el halcon”, he reckons that we’re gonna see loads more big surf this season. I hope so ‘cause I’m waiting for a whole bunch of new Bilbo boards including a 9’0” and a little tow-in number and it’s always good to try ‘em out in good surf!!! Last year we had loads of nice surf but very little waves of size and quality. We deserve something more demanding this season !

Moley’s threatening to come out sometime next month or March so I’m going to have to get the ski serviced so we can go and check out a couple of sneaky spots out ! Last time Dan was out here we got some great surf so I’m hoping we can repeat that success !

That’s all for now.... keep you up to date with island happenings as they happen !

Check out the guest house at : www.guesthouselanzarote.co.uk

Hola from Lanzarote