SoCal went SoQuick!.......

I'm now sat at home with a mug of tea, trying to work out what time of day it feels like. The clock reads 00:31 and I've been awake for over a day but strangely feel wide awake. In my wide eyed state I've taken the chance to browse through my photos from the past week and reminisce over my little adventure.........


After such a consistent run of surf, at the end of the trip we decided to pack up our boards and head up to LA a day early. A cheap Motel6 was booked just off Hollywood Blvd and we were there, proper tourists armed with cameras!


We saw the sites, Venice beach, Beverly Hills, Walk of fame, Chinese Theatre, the list goes on.....


Hollywood was buzzing at night. We did the done thing of hitting up Hooters for a meal and then on to the pubs and Club. After a quiet chat with a pretty sound promoter we boycotted the queue and gained access to a rad club called Supper Club. The sound in this place was off the scale, sick dubstep tunes and huge bass drops were being blasted out by the DJ. $1000 bottles of champagne were delivered by abseiling scantily clad women and you don't get that in the Venue!


It was an epic finale to such an all round perfect trip. Here's a couple shots to sum up the final couple days.

 

SoCal......

Epic trip so far, California has fully delivered. 


We've had awesome weather, the hottest start of the year on record and pumping surf.
Rumours were flying around the line-up that we were due the swell of the year. TV news reports were warning everyone of a high surf forecast and to be careful. 12-14ft forecasted for the west facing exposed spots.


Here's Surfline's swell map.

The boys have all been frothing over this constant run of swell and we've been surfing our nuts off. I haven't even thought about taking photos, but today was a small day, so we took turns to take a few shots.

Loving this place so much, met some great people, surfed some epic waves, eaten ridiculous amounts of food and drank a fair bit off beer. In the water I've surfed with icons and legends, Joel Tudor, Taylor Jensen, Rob Machado, Alex Knost and John Peck.

Here's a few snaps so far.

Leaving on a jet plane.....

That's it, my bags and boards are packed. The alarm is set for 3.30am and this time tomorrow I should be sat in my condo in Carlsbad, California. Super excited about this trip, California is the mecca of longboarding and after this run of howling westerlies at home, I am so glad to be escaping to warmer waves.


Below are a few shots that https://www.facebook.com/PaulBlackleyPhotography took at this years British inter club championships.

Happy New Year!

This year summed up........

Another year is nearly past and what a great one. 
Plenty of quality surfs, banter, great comps, stag do's, awesome weddings, travelled heaps and bought a house!


Here's this years comp results.


1st British Longboard club championships 2011
1st Paddle For Relief 2011
2nd Gold Coast Big Boy Paddle 2011
4th Overall in League, Open Division Hotdoggers 2011
5th Longboard Jesus Surf Classic 2011
9th Gold Coast Longboard Classic. 2011
13th in British rankings 2011

In the past year (or just over) I've been lucky enough to hit up Sri Lanka, Portugal, Spain x2, Moroccco x2 and California in a couple weeks time.


Big thank you to Tiki, Elusive, Black and White and Obsessive Disorder.

Tiki trip Moroc 11

After walking through the hail and torrential rain today, last weeks trip to Morocco felt like a life time ago! 

Last Saturday I was lucky enough to join the Tiki crew on a trip to the land of the right handers and camels that is Morocco. Armed with a huge quiver of the bamboo and carbon latest technology boards, we boarded the plane at Gatwick to leave the cold weather behind.

Arriving at Taghazout, I was amazed to rock up at the luxury La Source apartments, at the end of Killer point. This trip was far different to my normal Moroccan experiences, but I wasn't complaining one bit! 

The swell forecast showed a smallish swell running all week, with super light winds, but with the large amount of North in the swell we knew we would be struggling to score the points epic. I think all travellers to Morocco thought the same about the points and we managed to surf Killers nearly everyday glassy and empty.

A long trip 200km south one day saw us score pretty epic right handers. And allowed the Tiki guys to fully test the new boards and suits. Everyone was raving about the new Zepha suits and so far I'm bloody stoked with mine! 

At this right hander, Tim Heyland (Mr Tiki) was sitting out back waiting for the bombs and dare I say it for an 'old' boy he was charging. Plenty of rum was drunk and epic stories were exchanged which kept everyone entertained, the week flew by and everyone is eager to head back.

JH Artwork

How sick is this art work by my good friend Johnny Hentley. The lad's got heaps of talent and he painted this little beauty for my new house. Thanks fella.

Trophies.........

This weekend saw the British Longboard Club Championships return to Saunton. Teams from as far away as Scarborough turned up to compete for the title, each team fielded there strongest 6 surfers and individual heat scores were combined to give a team total. With fun 3ft cleanish waves on offer, the Hotdoggers 'A' team (Myself, Ben Haworth, Ashley Braunton, Angus Murray, Greg Robinson and Phil Hill) won the event and kept the trophy at the club!

That evening was the end of summer party, a cracking mix of beer, carvery, music, raffle videos and presentations. Everyone had a great time and I was pleased to hear I had finished 4th overall for the season against some very talented surfers. The night got even better when in the raffle I won a free VW car of my choice for a weekend.................stoked.