Surfing at Perran Sands

Posted on August 25, 2007
Filed Under - leisure |

Ever since I moved down here I have been keen to learn how to surf. I’m not after the full-on surfer lifestyle, it’s just that surfing looks so much fun. So far I have bought a wetsuit and had a few lessons. But the surf has been so inconsistent this summer that it has been difficult to get much practise in. However I have been spending the voucher that my ex-work colleagues bought me as a leaving present. Rich from Breathe Adventure has been sorting out surf lessons for me courtesy of his stable of surf instructors. He has also been great about lending me boards to get out and practise, so I’ve had much more than my voucher’s worth. Rich really is a star!

Rich has a surf shop at Perran Sands, a Haven holiday camp in Perranporth. I’ve been going up there the last couple of days to surf and just hang out at the shop in the sunshine. The shop is a popular stop-off point for some of the staff at Haven to sit and have a chat or a smoke during the working day. Here are surf instructor Phil and camera-shy Rich, working hard as usual!

Phil and Rich at the surf shop

I am actually starting to make progress with my surfing. I’m able - more or less - to paddle out and catch waves but there’s a lot of work and refinement to be done. My stance, for example, is the cause of much amusement as I have a tendency to crouch down quite low and look like I’m trying to surf the barrel! I had a hard time paddling out back yesterday even though conditions were not that difficult, so my paddling needs a lot of work. And then there is also the skill of waiting for the right wave and choosing your moment. We were reminiscing today about the classic Guinness “white horses” advert. The voiceover says “he waits; that’s what he does”. And then Waimea Bay goes off. What a great ad!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zff9hVH3ptY]

Stumble it!

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