As another year on the World Tour draws to a close the race for the coveted crown of Guernsey Fantasy Surfer Champ is coming down to the line. Chez leads the way with Vepo Surfboards and Pierre728 chasing hard on his heals. If you weren’t in the running this year why not sign up for the 2014 season. Just search for Guernsey Surf Club in the private club section after registering athttp://fantasy.surfermag.com/.
Ok it’s a bit on the chilly side but here’s something to consider for a new years resolution… Ever thought about becoming a Beach Lifeguard – where you can work overseas patrolling the beaches, or even lead on to become a Surf Instructor? The GSS ran two RLSS Beach Lifeguard courses in September and October this year. If you are interested in doing courses next summer please get in contact with the GSS for more info. All candidates must be 16 years or older and must have some ocean/water skills. Ideal for those wanting to work locally or abroad and excellent for us surfers/beach users/parents wanting to learn some valuable life skills.
For further details please contact Steve on 07911 710789
Last year it was Johnny W’s turn to lift the trophy again after a last minute barrel at Perelle to knock front runner off the top spot. So who take the title year? And remember there’s more to it than just the Open men’s division. The Juniors events have already been held with the Open, Longboarding and Masters yet to go. Here are snaps of some of last years winners. We’ll be sure to post all the 2013 results as soon as they come in and let you all know when the presentation night is.
As many of you will know (and many actively participated) SAS came to Guernsey early in 2012 to petition the States to stop dumping untreated sewage into the ocean around Guernsey, most specifically the outlet at Bellegreve. In early 2012, the States of Guernsey decided to continue discharging raw sewage daily into their beautiful coastline. 65,000 people’s raw sewage and wastewater equals approximately 16,000 tons dumped at sea daily. Not pleasant. Studies show that Guernsey’s main discharge at Bellegreve creates a plume that moves anti-clockwise around the island with tidal flow. Because there is no treatment of the sewage, bacteria and viruses can survive in that effluent plume for many days, sometimes weeks and so this represents a huge health threat to those using the water for bathing and recreation. So the next time you get an ear infection you probably know where it came from.
This is an ongoing battle as the States have outlined in their STRATEGIC PLAN ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY PLAN that “The environmental merits of sewage treatment must also be considered against the competition for finance and resources generated by other projects including other identified environmental infrastructure. Setting a strategy for liquid waste management therefore presents an environmental, political, financial and resource challenge for the island.”
For more information contact Surfers Against Sewage
Al Mitchell was lucky enough to score two weeks in the Maldives at Kandooma back in July, we catch up with him and find out how it went:
Travel: BA fly direct from Gatwick to Male. 11 hrs and 40 minute boat ride (4 hour time change)
Not really too much negative to say about Kandooma. The Island is blessed with white sands, azure skies, lush tropical greenery, clear turquoise water and a picture perfect right hander peeling metres away from your front door. With a world class left and six more waves within a short trip by boat, great food, 5-star level accommodation/facilities (albeit a 4 Star hotel) and a kids club – Kandooma is a perfect destination for a surfer to go with a partner or a family.
Here’s a run down of the waves on offer:
Kandooma Right: Straight out the front of the resort, this long reeling right hander is fun at any size but at 3-6ft on the lower tides the fun really begins. It has two distinct take off sections, the outside is the softer mal friendly option but the inside peak reels off down the reef for 100 metres. The Crowds fluctuate depending on whether its an Australian school holiday and how long it’s been between swells but I found that if you avoid the earl y and head out when everyone is at the breakfast buffet you can easily find yourself sitting in an empty lineup.
Tucky Joe’s: One of the best left handers I have ever surfed, about a 45 minute boat ride from the resort and notoriously fickle. A freight train left with 200 metre plus rides. It just goes on and on and produces the sort of waves you scribbled on your books at school while you were daydreaming in history. Apparently it can get crowded but I surfed it with 3 other guys until my legs felt like they were going to fall off
Riptides: A short boat ride or wade across the lagoon to the neighbouring island. A peaky, playful right hander, usually a foot or so bigger than Kandooma Right but no where near as punchy.
Foxy’s: Just over the channel from Riptides a fast racy left that breaks over a shallow reef, 100-150 metre rides are frequent.
Quarter’s: Just off the nearest island to Tucky Joe’s is Quarter’s, so named because it breaks alongside the staff quarters for the Anatarra resort. When the wind switches this is the only option as it’s sheltered by the buildings on the headland. definitely the poorest quality wave but the inside section of this right hand point can still provide a punchy barrel section.
Perfectwave.com run the surf tours on the resort and the guides (Rob, who’s from Narrabeen and Brian, from Ireland) are top blokes. so i recommend booking through them.
