IOW Surf History on BBC Countryfile
A few weeks a go I was contacted by BBC Countryfile saying they were filming on the Island later in the month and had come across the Wight Surf History website and were interested in showing the history of surfing on Island on the show. One of the BBC Countryfile presenters would have a surfing lesson and speak to some of the surfing legends about the legacy of the sport on the Island. One of the people they were particularly interested in talking to was Betty Tricket and too see Archie’s old surfboard and wetsuit.
The BBC Countryfile team turned up at Compton on Thursday morning in style with a lovely blue VW Camper from Isle of Wight Camper Van Holidays. Ellie Harrison met up with Scott Gardner of Wight Water and son of Geoff ‘Ned’ Gardner, (one of the first to surf on the Island back in the sixties) to have a surf lesson.
The car park was a busy place while the film crew got ready for the days shoot and Scott got Ellie set up with a board. Ellie got a few tips from Sid Pitman one of the first members of the Isle of Wight Surf Club that was formed in 1967.
The conditions weren’t ideal with strong onshore winds but the sun came out and there were waves and Scott went out and grabbed a quick wave showing Ellie how it’s done. After a few lessons on the sand and a some warm up excersises Ellie and Scott finally hit the water for the lesson. After a couple of initial tumbles Ellie looked like she was getting the hang of it and having a blast at the same time. By the end of the lesson Ellie was up and riding waves and getting huge cheers from everyone on the clifftop (sorry I missed you standing up Ellie, I’d gone to pick up Archie’s surfboard).
Rob Drake-Knight from Rapanui (and recently ‘Come Dine with Me’ fame) went in the water as spotter for Jules Benham the BBC Countryfile researcher and water cameraman. After Ellie’s lesson some of the guys from the Isle of Wight Surf Club went out and grabbed a few waves too. I just got back in time to see Joe Truman take out a 1970’s Tiki single fin surfboard to try out.
Ellie then went onto speak with Matt Harwood (Chairman of the Isle of Wight Surf Club), Mart Drake-Knight (Rapanui), Alan Reed (British Masters Longboard Champion), Mark New with Betty Tricket about Archie’s surfboard and wetsuit from the sixties.
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Alan Reed then got to take Archie’s homemade surfboard for a surf. Archie had surfed until he was 74 and the board hadn’t been in the sea for 15 years. Betty was really looking forward to seeing the board in the water again and remarked as Alan started to paddle it out that it reminded her of seeing Archie paddling the board all those years a go.
Al came in after catching a few waves saying how well it rode and it was a really lovely moment when Betty walked up a agve Al a big hug. Archie’s surfboard got a lot of interest and many of the the boys said how the shape of the board was actually ahead of it’s time with quite a lot of rocker in it.
At the end of the days shooting I bumped into Steve Williams who remembered Archie when he used to turn up the beach in his old Ford Anglia and walk down past the wreck to catch a few waves.
2011 British Interclub Championships
The Isle of Wight Surf Club team headed down to Woolacombe last weekend for the 2011 British Interclub Championships. Matt Harwood had put together a strong team with Doug Richards, Josh Jupe, Chris Mannion, Mark New and Craig Sharp joining him. This years event was being scored differently to previous years with only one day to fit everything in and there was only one heat for each team member. During free surfing the boys looked good, but during the heats they couldn’t seem to find the high scoring waves. Local knowledge paid off for the teams from Devon coming out on top. With the Island scoring 2nd’s, 3rd’s and 4th’s in their heats it wasn’t enough for a podium this year. In the Masters category the old timers in the team faired better, Craig and Chris showing that experience was the key coming 2nd overall.
Fantastic finish to the Frost Bite Series
Rapanui Frostbite Surf Series Event 5 May Bank Holiday Monday saw the fifth and final event of the 2010/11 series take place at Sandown. After a poor run of swell no contest took place in April but a fortuitous Easterly wind-swell arrive at the start of May. With strong winds & currents it was going […]
From Dawn till Dusk
Freshwater Bay once again delivered some epic waves. The swell to hit the Island was a good as almost anywhere in the country. I got to Freshwater Bay before sunrise and there were already 4 surfers in the water. It was a really beautiful morning, as the moon slowly disapeared we were treated to absolutely […]
Fearless at Freshie Bay
Saturday saw a huge swell hit the Island and I heard it was going off almost right around the Island (Would love to see some pics of the other side of the Island if anyone has any?). I managed to sneak down to the bay for an hour with my camera (was our wedding anniversary so I was supposed to be elsewhere) at lunchtime and then for a bit at dusk to see Chris Mannion, Matt Harwood, Will Rome, Phillip Skelley, Mark New and a couple of others take on some monsters. By lunchtime there was a light SW wind and it mean’t only half of the waves coming into the bay were makeable but it didn’t deter the boys from having a go.
IOW Surf Club Frost Bite Event No 4
The Isle of Wight Surf Club held the 4th event in this Winters Frost Bite series at Ventnor on Sunday. Conditions were difficult and wave selection was a quay part in scoring highly in heats. The semi finals saw Al Reed, Chris Mannion and Jamie Whittle get knocked out as the competitors found it hard to find high scoring waves.
The final came down to Matt Harwood (current leader in the championships standings), Joe Truman, Josh Jupe and Mark New. It was another closely contested final with Mark coming out the winner, with Josh 2nd and Matt 3rd. Congratulations to the Isle of Wight Surf Club and all the people who helped make this another successful event.
Harwood Surfs to Frostbite Win – County Press
Matt Harwood won IW Surf Club Frostbite event and leads the series, after putting in a solid performance last weekend.
Saturday 8th January 2011
them to finish our walk at The Buddle and so managed a look at Niton. I only had my phone with me but here is a short clip from Niton (best viewed large).On passing Freshwater Bay coming home late afternoon it looked really nice so I grabbed the camera and just got a few images before dark that I have put onto a slideshow here and a little bit of movie footage below.
IOW Surf Club Frost Bite Event No 3
Sunday saw event 3 of the Isle of Wight Surf Club Frost Bite Series. The Surf club had been patient through December waiting for a nice swell and this weekend was worth the wait. A small clean swell started to build on the Saturday and a few managed a session in at The Pearl or Freshwater Bay. Sunday saw a good turn out and I even got my first surf in January for a few years.
In the early rounds Josh Jupe, Chris Mannion, James Ranson performed well, but just missed out on the final. The final came down to Alan Reed, Joe Truman and Matt Harwood. All three got some great waves but it there can be only one winner. Matt Harwood just taking the win from Al Reed.
Some of the free surfing on show was outstanding, and Robin Forrest showed he is one to look out for in the future. Although James Ranson didn’t make the final he definitely stole the show by pulling off a ‘Backside, 360 air’ getting great cheers from the beach.