Sunlight at Scarborough

The UKPSA is back on the road again for the Autumn round of contests. Starting in Scarborough the conditions weren’t good for the surfing but we definitely had some great weather. The 3rd day this year I have been able to sit in my bikini.

It was really nice to catch up with everyone and some old friends. Hanging out around the contest area in the sunshine, van life hit the North Bay – we could have been in France.

Me and Claire doing check-in in the dry for once.

Gordan Fontaine turned up and said the coastline reminded him of the Basque country. Everyone really loved the set up and the Animal bike team put on a good show keeping the crowds entertained.

Another day of waiting on the Sunday to see if by any miracle the swell was going to arrive to run the Pro Junior but it wasn’t to be so we set off on the long journey to Thurso. Can’t wait to start some of the contest surfing over the next few days.

The Officials hard at work

 

Day 2 in Sri Lanka and we are making the journey across the island to Aragum Bay. We start up early in the morning about 8am. Still a little bleary eyed after jet lag and the Sri Lankan wedding most were roomed above went on until the early hours. Squeezing 21 of us plus the almighty stack of board bags onto the bus and we are off.

 

Roadside truck... where in the world?!!

It’s my first time to Sri Lanka and like many places in the tropics – Bali, Vietnam, some spots in Mexico etc it has a very similar feel – and smell!! It’s nice to be back, for the last few years I have travelled to ‘safe’ places- the States, Lanzarote, etc where everything is easy and fairly comfortable. I like places like Sri Lanka as it makes life that bit more interesting and gets you out of the comfort zone.

There is much to see along the way. Like the places, the people are so interesting. Everyday expressions worn on beautiful faces, often with such intensity at the smallest of movements. Despite the lack of sleep taking it’s toll the assault on my eyeball’s keeps me awake – yanking open the window to try and capture another colourful roadside situation.

 

 

Bus queue from the passing bus!!

 

 

 

 

Nelly the Elephant??

The bus journey is long – about 10 hours, so we make a couple of stops, for some fresh fruit by the road side and then for food in a Safari hotel just outside the National Park we have to cross. Once we hit the road again it isn’t long before one of the girls (possibly Lucy!!) explodes with excitement at the wild Elephant by the side of the road. Not often do you get to see animals in their natural habitat these days. The have to be kept out of the villages by electric fencing as humans have encroached on their land and thus they come searching for food in the settlements. After a couple of sightings we manage to wangle our way off the bus and over by the fence where the Elephant obliges us by coming within 6ft of us and our thrown bananas.

 

 

A new way of riding the bus!

After about 8hours onboard we really have gone stir crazy. The long journey to London from Cornwall, 11hrs flying and a day on a bus have taken their toll. After some classic games of snap, some of the guys and girls get up to some bus surfing along the windy mountain roads… pretty interesting with all the near miss driving (I will be hearing a horn in my sleep I am sure!!). Still it puts a smile on the faces of partakers and audience and before we know it we are being dropped of in Aragum bay at the hotels… everyone is frothing on the dawny tomorrow… shooo hooo bring on the surf!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

My travelling companions... plus Rodwell on camera

So after much deliberation and scrambling aorund we finally got the go ahead to head over to Aragum Bay for the UKPSA  Champion of Champion contest.

The comp has been running for a few years (with a break in the middle because of the fighting), but this year they are bringing the ladies back as well so I am stoked!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fish out of water.

Travelling up to London in the glorious sunshine, it was hard to believe we were leaving 30¬? heat… but sunshine and surf awaited us on the other side!!

 

 

Meeting at Heathrow it was definitely funny to see everyone away from the beach and in an Urban setting. The poor guys at the check in desk didn’t quite know what to make of 15 people checking in at once, each with about 3 boards each. Plus me and Lucia with our logs.

Some hiccups at check in meant most of us were scattered around the plane in single seats. Makes a long journey really long. After years of solo travelling I’m used to making friends on flights, but due to it being a night flight most people were out cold straight away. There was a fair few didn’t get any kip so we were all a bit bleary eyed at the airport when we finally arrived in Columbo.

 

 

 

 

Hopefully the girls won't kill me - but my camera is blurry so hopefully hides the eye bags!!

The locals gave us a nice welcome, and the beautiful smell of the Frangipani necklaces definitely gave me and the girls a lift after the long journey! So pretty, and such a nice thing to experience.

Then a small bus ride and we made it to the hotel. Straight into the pool in the sweltering heat. The guys were all frothing on getting in the water- the beach having a few small onshore waves- and made straight out. I contemplated it but the water looked a bit grim, after keeping myself out of the water and away from the FlowRider to give my foot time to heal for the last couple of weeks I didn’t fancy starting my trip with an invitation for another infection!!

 

 

The guys having a surf check as soon as we got to the hotel in Nagumbo.

 

 

 

 

 

Returning for it‚Δτs second year on the June 18-20 the much anticipated Gul Night Surf is shaping up to be even more spectacular than the first.

This is the third stop on the UKPST Tour and there’s a whole heap of things going on at Fistral for the event. Custard Point surfboards are back with the Stand up Paddle board competition, still the only Stand up paddle board competition on the UK Pro Tour event, Faltown Longboards will be bringing their crew down for an exciting display of what you can do when the surf is flat! There’s also have a mini ramp for a shortboard showdown of tricks and air.

If you are feeling the love for the world cup 2010 but want to cheer on your favourite surfers we will be hooking you up with a huge outdoor screen for the England v Algeria match on Friday the 18th! We can‚Δτt imagine a better way to watch the match than on the beach. It will also be showing some of your favourite surf classics and new British surf movies with live streaming and highlights of the Gul Night Surf event.
If you cannot make it down to the event for the full 3 days, this years event will be streamed live on the internet, where you will be able to see the event unfold under the new and more powerful lighting platform to help provide better coverage of this years lineup.

Gary Stringer & Jack Bessant from REEF and THEM IS ME will be performing tracks from their new project STRINGERBESSANT and after the fireworks you can then join in the after party at the Beach Nightclub in Newquay.