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.