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Monday, 13 August 2012
Wednesday, 6 June 2012
World Bellyboard Champs 10th Anniversary
World Bellyboard Championships celebrate the best of British.
Taking place at the National Trust’s Chapel Porth beach in St Agnes, Cornwall on Sunday 2nd September is a very special 10th anniversary celebration.
The World Bellyboard Championships is a unique celebration of a surfing culture which is long established as a great British seaside tradition. The National Trust is instrumental in organising and hosting the Champs and looks forward to Septembers’ 10th anniversary party at Chapel Porth. Contributors and competitors will gather in their hundreds to share stories, display boards, eat cake and go surfing with like minded people from Truro, Swansea and New York!
The National Trusts’ care of Chapel Porth and it’s surrounding dramatic landscape means that it has changed little over the past 50 yrs. It provides a perfect back drop for the vintage atmosphere, authenticity and characters of the World Bellyboard Championships.
‘We have been bowled over by the success of this annual event and delighted to work with the other partners to grow it into such a fantastic celebration of British eccentricity and sportsmanship. The day itself is always fun, whatever the weather, and attracts global interest and a huge number of people wanting to join in. I am sure the 10th year will be better than ever and I hope will show just how special the places looked after by the National Trust are, and how much fun can be had enjoying them’, said Mark Harold Regional Director for the National Trust in the South West.
Peter Robinson, founder – Museum of British Surfing, Braunton, North Devon says:
‘The art of surf riding – or bellyboarding as people have come to describe it – dates back at least a century here in Britain. Surfing prone on a wooden ‘paipo’ or bodyboard is in fact one of the original forms of surfing from ancient Hawaii & the Polynesian islands centuries before. It remains the same simple pleasure; an art that remained largely unchanged from the early 20th Century to the present day - being ‘hooshed’ in on the crest of wave on a simple plank of wood.’
There is evidence of surfing in the UK in the very early 1900s, but it became a popular beach activity in Cornwall and Devon at the end of World War I. A mixture of wealthy Brits travelling to Hawaii & learning to surf, and soldiers chatting to Commonwealth surfers in the trenches combined to create something quintessentially British.
A cup of tea, a cucumber sandwich and a spot of jolly good surf riding in the rolling Atlantic breakers became a must do activity for hundreds of men and women. Their equipment ranged from modified coffin lids to ‘Crest Riders’ made from ply with a kick in the nose.
Bellyboarding bloomed again after the Second World War as Brits returned to the beaches in their droves, and many thousands of bellyboards were made in the 1950s and 60s to service the growing demand.
The Bellyboarding Championships started as a small memorial gathering of friends and family of Arthur Traveller, a panel beater from London who surfed on a plywood board at Chapel Porth, has become a creative celebration in the art of prone wooden surf riding. The ‘King’ Arthur Challenge Cup is still presented today.
To view a great video about the champs check out this VisitCornwall video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=hChI5TzKSrU&gl=GB
To take part in the Champs, enter online and more details here on the website www.bellyboarding.co.uk
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Taking place at the National Trust’s Chapel Porth beach in St Agnes, Cornwall on Sunday 2nd September is a very special 10th anniversary celebration.
The World Bellyboard Championships is a unique celebration of a surfing culture which is long established as a great British seaside tradition. The National Trust is instrumental in organising and hosting the Champs and looks forward to Septembers’ 10th anniversary party at Chapel Porth. Contributors and competitors will gather in their hundreds to share stories, display boards, eat cake and go surfing with like minded people from Truro, Swansea and New York!
The National Trusts’ care of Chapel Porth and it’s surrounding dramatic landscape means that it has changed little over the past 50 yrs. It provides a perfect back drop for the vintage atmosphere, authenticity and characters of the World Bellyboard Championships.
‘We have been bowled over by the success of this annual event and delighted to work with the other partners to grow it into such a fantastic celebration of British eccentricity and sportsmanship. The day itself is always fun, whatever the weather, and attracts global interest and a huge number of people wanting to join in. I am sure the 10th year will be better than ever and I hope will show just how special the places looked after by the National Trust are, and how much fun can be had enjoying them’, said Mark Harold Regional Director for the National Trust in the South West.
Peter Robinson, founder – Museum of British Surfing, Braunton, North Devon says:
‘The art of surf riding – or bellyboarding as people have come to describe it – dates back at least a century here in Britain. Surfing prone on a wooden ‘paipo’ or bodyboard is in fact one of the original forms of surfing from ancient Hawaii & the Polynesian islands centuries before. It remains the same simple pleasure; an art that remained largely unchanged from the early 20th Century to the present day - being ‘hooshed’ in on the crest of wave on a simple plank of wood.’
There is evidence of surfing in the UK in the very early 1900s, but it became a popular beach activity in Cornwall and Devon at the end of World War I. A mixture of wealthy Brits travelling to Hawaii & learning to surf, and soldiers chatting to Commonwealth surfers in the trenches combined to create something quintessentially British.
A cup of tea, a cucumber sandwich and a spot of jolly good surf riding in the rolling Atlantic breakers became a must do activity for hundreds of men and women. Their equipment ranged from modified coffin lids to ‘Crest Riders’ made from ply with a kick in the nose.
Bellyboarding bloomed again after the Second World War as Brits returned to the beaches in their droves, and many thousands of bellyboards were made in the 1950s and 60s to service the growing demand.
The Bellyboarding Championships started as a small memorial gathering of friends and family of Arthur Traveller, a panel beater from London who surfed on a plywood board at Chapel Porth, has become a creative celebration in the art of prone wooden surf riding. The ‘King’ Arthur Challenge Cup is still presented today.
To view a great video about the champs check out this VisitCornwall video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=hChI5TzKSrU&gl=GB
To take part in the Champs, enter online and more details here on the website www.bellyboarding.co.uk
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Location:Chapel Porth Beach , Cornwall , UK
Friday, 13 April 2012
Bob Green
This man is documenting as much as he can about this noble pastime of ours ... he has approached me a few times & despite well meant intentions i am ashamed to have not yet supplied him with anything useful ! That said there is a wealth of info & words from more knowledgeable sliders than myself on here ..
Tuesday, 13 March 2012
Thursday, 8 March 2012
Prone prints
Whilst trawling the tinterweb the other day i came across this lovely little print featuring prone surfriding , i thought id share it here & maybe some of you will contact the good lady & purchase a print or two ..
Her blog is here ....
http://studio-window.blogspot.com/
Her blog is here ....
http://studio-window.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, 7 March 2012
Tuesday, 6 March 2012
A New Beginning
Oh my it's 2012 already & i havent posted since the Champs last year ! Apologies all round . I got caught up in old cars & scratching a living having ben made redundant by Gul wetsuits last year when they went bust .. A good thing in many ways , i now have to photograph everything from interiors to cars, motorbikes, fashion & pretty ladies .. someone has to do it !
Anyway enough of my warbling , its getting warmer & the ply needs flexing .. to start off heres a few portraits from last years champs by my good friend Gary Margerum .
Enjoy x
Tuesday, 6 September 2011
Saturday, 20 August 2011
Not long now !
National Trust Press Release
15 August 2011
World Bellyboard Championships attract worldwide entrants
On Sunday 4th September, the ever expanding community of traditional wooden 'prone' surfing enthusiasts will descend on the cosy location of Chapel Porth beach in St Agnes to take part in the 9th annual 'World Bellyboard Championships'.
Organised and hosted by the National Trust and sponsored by Skinners Brewery, the event has grown from humble beginnings with just a handful of entrants, into a genuine World Championship competition which has gone truly global in recent years with entrants from Australia, New York, San Francisco and British Virgin Islands
National Trust Ranger and contest director Nick Holden says ‘This year’s World Belly Board Championships will be bigger and better than ever, and suitable for anyone and everyone of any fitness level with the minimum of gear; from 80 year old ladies to teenage boys. It will be competitive, entertaining, inspiring, traditional, bucket loads of fun and the coolest event to take part in.’
The traditional art of surf riding has deep roots in the British Isles. First produced in Britain in the 1920’s and known as surf riding boards, wooden bellyboards are a direct descendant of the ancient Hawaiian paipo boards. The competition embraces all aspects of prone wooden boards and will showcase the work of an evolving low key industry, which produces wooden surf riding equipment.
English poet John Betjeman regularly used the boards at Polzeath and perfectly summed it up by declaring that ‘I don’t know if there’s anything so exciting as getting a perfect surf, timing ones shoot off from the waves, riding along the waves…’ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whW5exlFoc4
One thing that makes the World Belly Board Championships stand out from all other surfing competitions is the lack of wet-suits. Belly Boarders are not allowed to wear them in the competition so rather than the sight of monochromed sleek surfers you are greeted with views of traditional bathing costumes from knitted all-in-one bathing outfits and structured bathing costumes giving more than a nod to times long since past.
The Museum of British surfing, based in North Devon will also be present with a great collection of wooden boards. They recently discovered that the doyenne of crime writing, Agatha Christie, was one of the country's first "stand-up" surfers - research has revealed she took up surfing in the early 1920s, when the sport was in its infancy.
‘If you have heard of the Champs and always intended to come along then this is the year. After nine years there are still untold stories, un-seen boards, un earthed talent, inspiring people and wonderful memories out there that can add even more depth to this brilliant event’. The fascinating stories of surfing described by the colourful characters who take part has helped the competition develop a reputation as providing one of the most enjoyable, inclusive and friendly atmospheres you can encounter in the surfing world’, added Nick Holden.
All ages, abilities and experience are welcomed at this free to enter bellyboard extravaganza. Not only is the coveted World Title up for grabs but competitors can also walk away with trophies for best vintage board, best artwork, best swimwear and many more. The “WBBC Bake Off” cake competition provides an opportunity to be involved without getting wet, or you can simply soak up the atmosphere as a spectator.
For more information and to register for this free event go to http://www.bellyboarding.co.uk/
-Ends-
Further press information and images from: Claire Bolitho, National Trust Communications Consultant on 07901 971156 claire.bolitho@nationaltrust.org.uk
Blog at www.ntsouthwest.co.uk
Follow us on twitter at www.twitter.com/ntdevoncornwall
Notes for Editors:
• The World Belly Boarding Championship (WBBC) was first started nine years ago at Chapel Porth by Martyn Ward (RNLI Lifeguard Supervisor) and Chris Ryan (Chapel Porth National Trust Car Park Attendant) as a memorial contest to the late Arthur Traveller, a Londoner who holidayed with his wooden board at Chapel Porth every year. From its humble beginnings with only a handful of competitors it has now grown into the World Championships we see today
• The Trust looks after a number of the best surfing spots in Devon and Cornwall. These include: Godrevy, Chapel Porth, Holywell Bay, Crantock and Woolacombe.
• As a charity, the National Trust relies heavily on hundreds of volunteers every year who help to maintain coastal footpaths and take part in various beach-cleans.
• The management and conservation of this coastal land costs approx. £3,000 per mile per year.
• The Trust owns nearly 90 coastal car parks in Devon and Cornwall. Income from the Trust’s coastal car parks is ploughed straight back into the management and conservation of the surrounding area.
• In managing the coast, new challenges such as climate change and sea level rise, fisheries management and the need for a marine planning system have led the Trust to shift its focus beyond the limits of its land ownership and get involved in issues affecting the broader coastal zone.
• Set up in 1895 to protect places of historic or natural beauty for the nation to enjoy, the National Trust is Britain’s largest coastal landowner and Europe’s largest conservation organisation. It protects 760 miles of the coastline in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
• In 1965 the Trust launched The Neptune Coastline Campaign in response to growing fears that development was slowly destroying the best of the nation's natural coastline. Four decades on, the campaigning spirit and generosity of thousands of people has helped the Trust to raise £45 million and acquire over 700 miles of coastline in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and open it up to the millions of people who enjoy it every year.
- Posted using a lightsaber
Location:Chapel Porth Beach 4/09/2011
Tuesday, 5 July 2011
Monday, 4 July 2011
Jetset joins Original Surfboards team !
It seems that all the groms are getting into this ply craze , bending your veneer has never been more popular as demonstrated by Jetsets steely gaze on that lip about to pitch earlier today at a beach with far too many steps ! Riding the new Wenge/Zebrano Championship board from Sally .
- Posted using a lightsaber
- Posted using a lightsaber
Location:Whipsiderry
Friday, 1 July 2011
Wednesday, 29 June 2011
Monday, 27 June 2011
Zebs back !
The Original Surfboard co uses the Traditional English template for a more classic ride .
Im so stoked with these , not only do they look like Mid Century works of Art they also jog along at a fair rate of knots !
Available in limited quantities .
Monday, 20 June 2011
John Betjeman
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whW5exlFoc4&feature=youtube_gdata_player
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Saturday, 4 June 2011
Time Flies !
I cant believe its been nearly 8 months since i last posted .. sorry , had to do a 9-5 job in the surf industry which sucked ! The majority of surf companies are only interested in making a buck , no longer surfers trying to finance their watertime but corporate monkeys using surfing as a parasitic platform to hawk their poorly made for a price in China surf tat !
& the best thing is ?
That traditional surfriding is overlooked as not profitable !
Thank god for that ....
Hope your thinly foiled bits o wood are being unnaturally bent in a shorebreak near you !
John
Friday, 1 October 2010
Thursday, 16 September 2010
Monday, 23 August 2010
Get Ready !
Its that time of year again , lets hope all that practice this summer has been worth it !
Thursday, 15 July 2010
Dick Pearce 1929-2010
It is with great sadness that i report the death of Dick Pearce . Dick was the man for wooden bellyboards in the UK having continually made ply surfriding boards since the sixties up until the present day . I am stoked to have met the man who's passion for life & twinkle in his eye remain an inspiration to me . May he be at peace & riding endless lines of whitewater shorewards .
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