SURF SOLUTIONS

VQS Finals: HOssegor

Toby Donachie provided the in-water inspiration for the big crew of Brits down for the epic Volcom VQS Euro Finals. His 3rd place was a hairs whisker away from the winning spot and his surfing looked lively and different. The comp was crucial experience for the other Groms and Squids such as Stan Norman (below) in terms of competing against a much stronger set of surfers than they ever get at home. The present standard is very much European and the Brit juniors futures very much depend upon their involvement there. 

Euro Trip for Brit Competitors

There's a healthy stack of Brits heading down to Hossegor next week including Harry De Roth, seen above in this Alex Williams pic from a trainig trip there a couple of years back. All the finalsist from the recent Volcom comp at Porthtowan qualified for the Volcom VQS Euro finals and now get a chance to test themselves and become part of a bigger peer group.

He's Hard from the NORTH

Ben Tucker just got his best ever result in a National comp coming 4th in the Under 14's at the Brit Schools. He also shredded through the Under 16's division and about a zillion free surfs. A couple of weeks back he fell off his skatey and it was confirmed today he's been surfing through a broken arm. Toughened on tyneside!  

British National School Champs

The Brit School's just finished and was headlined by Miles Lee Hargreaves taking out the 18's for the second year running. Congrats indeed. It was a comp of many tales and mega positives for the Surf Solutions crews. Stan Norman at 10 years old making the Under 14's final where he was joined by Ben Tucker from Newcastle who's surfing is coming on at lightening speed. Liam Murray Strout looked polished and hungry in his 14's win but my King of the Comp goes to Rory Morgan. He trained hard pre event and concentrated on doing the right things each heat. His Semi-Final win was perfectly executed. Im sure the drive back to Bournmouth will be a whole lot better than the one up.

Rory roar

For some it's as easy as wandering down the street. But for others it takes a little more effort. Car loads from Newcastle, Bournmouth and Wales bombed down to Bude last night after school. And after a 'worst ever' drive Rory Morgan (seen above) ran down the beach and straight into action and was a standout at pre-comp training last night in Bude.

UK action returns to BUDE

This weekend see's the British Schools comp at Widemouth Bay, Bude. Miles Lee Hargreaves (seen above from last week) will be making the short journey down the road hoping to take the prestigious title. In anticipation of the event, tomorrow (Friday_ afternoon 5 -7.30pm we're running a COMP PREP session at the event site. Anyone interested get in touch to confirm spot asap. joelsurf@mac.com

The start.....

Click this link to check out some clips of the Grom Squad from last week.The young dudes are full of stoke and energy and their skill set increases with each passing swell and experience. Kelly Slater is more than 30 years older and has 11 World Titles to his name. Like anybody though, Kelly's skills and performances are a product of his body of work over the last 35 years or so rather than and god given 'talent.' These young dudes are just starting on their own road of inputs and experiences. Maybe they will be World Champions one day. Why not?  

Big Results for Cadet and Grom Squaders

Over the last 2 weeks both the Cadet and Grom Squads have spent time comp training in windy poor conditions. The reason was justified today as Seth Hughes (4th) and George Hudson (1st) above, made the Groms final of the VOLCOM Sidfish event. Stanley Norman and brother Bertie, below, took 1st and 2nd place in the SQUIDS division. As such all 4 young surfers are now buzzing at the prospect of testing themselves at the Euro finals in Hossegor in a couple of weeks.

Euro holibobs anyone?

Finally the UK comp season kicks off this weekend. The VOLCOM SIdfish VQS (Porthtowan) event and the RIP CURL GROMSEARCH (Wales) events both offer a chance to put winter practice into effect and win some heats. The cherry in the pie however is a chance to test yourself again the Euro peers for all Volcom Finalists and the top 2 from the RC series. A great and much needed reward for British junior surfing. 

Cadet Squad Easter clips

CLICK HERE fora link to some clips of the Cadets surfing the good but cold easter conditions last week.