Tag: surfing

How To Wax Your Surfboard

Posted on | by Anna Ross
Waxing a Circle One Bamboo Surfboard

 

Have you got a new surfboard? New to surfing? Or just want to brush up on your skills. One of the most important parts of surfing is the equipment that’s under your feet. In particular how you wax your surfboard. Making sure that your feet or hands don’t slip when you go to stand up. Surfboard wax is designed to be applied to the top of your surfboard and creates sticky bumps on the surface of your board. This gives your feet something to grip on.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED TO WAX YOUR SURFBOARD

You will need a few items to wax your surfboard, which you can order with free postage by clicking on the links below:

  • Surf Wax for the correct temperature sea, we love Matunas! Matunas surf wax cares about the environment, it’s non-toxic, biodegradable, with labels made from recycled paper printed with soy based inks. Not only that, it works brilliantly, it’s super sticky and smells great!
  • Wax Comb, Wax Cleaner and cloth, (if you have old wax on the surfboard).

1. MAKE SURE YOUR SURFBOARD IS CLEAN

If you are waxing a new surfboard, then skip head to the next step. If you are waxing a used board or you are re-waxing your own surfboard, it is important to first clean the surface grip area. Any old wax on the board will make new wax put on top flake off earlier and create layers of old useless wax which isn’t good for performance or your surfboard.

To clean your surfboard deck, first scrape off all of the wax you can with the straight side of your wax comb, including off the sides (rails) of the surfboard. Be sure to use a wax comb and not just any old tool as you may damage your surfboard. You then want to use a surf wax cleaning product and an old cloth or rag to remove any excess wax which is left over. There is usually a thin layer of wax still remaining that you’ll be able to feel and see if you catch your board in the correct light. Once your board looks glossy and new, and feels smooth you will know you have all of the wax removed and can begin putting on a new coat.

wax remover

2. APPLY THE SURF WAX

You need to ensure you select the correct temperature wax for the water you will be surfing in. Cold or cool water wax will be suitable for UK / European waters and winter surfing whereas if you are heading somewhere warmer like Indonesia or Sri Lanka you will need tropical wax to account for the higher water temperature. Next hold your bar of surf wax so the outer edge or a corner is touching the board. Using “very light pressure,” rub the wax in small circles, then slowly move along the deck of your surfboard with each new circle. Continue to put wax in circles on the board until you’ve covered the deck area from rail to rail on the areas you’ll place your feet and where you put your hands when you pop-up. For a longboard, this could mean the entire deck. For a shortboard, this could mean covering about two feet on the center of the board as well as the tail. If you’ve got some pressure dings that aren’t filing with wax, use the corner of the bar like a pencil get some wax where it needs to go.

 

 

3. AFTER YOUR SURF

Don’t be surprised if quite a bit of the wax flakes off while you surf. The above process should last you a few months before you need to reapply. After a surf, it might be good to get a wax comb and just score some lines in the topcoat wax to break it up a little and create more friction if it has gone a bit flat. This should mean you can surf again on that same coat without reapplying.

4. OUR TOP TIPS

  • Remove and reapply your surf wax when it gets dirty! You’ll see visually the surfboard wax will become dirty and in turn become less grippy when you’re in the sea.
  • If your wax is looking a little flat, use a wax comb to mark diagonal lines in the existing wax to rough it up a bit and make it sticky again, instead of applying more wax on top which can just make it all messy.
  • Make sure you use the right temperature wax for the water you are surfing in.
  • Apply a quick coat of wax every time you surf!
  • Got to the beach but don’t have wax? If there’s old wax on your board you can rub sand into it to help with traction during that session. (Not recommended for multiple sessions)….

On some minimals, midlengths and shortboards we recommend you opt for a traction pad at the back of your board, a traction pad will help to stop your back foot from sliding off the surfboard whilst turning. As a general rule, surfboards under 7 feet benefit greatly from the addition of a traction pad.

 

 

Surfing in Osnabrück shopping centre, Germany

Posted on | by James Price | Leave a Comment on Surfing in Osnabrück shopping centre, Germany

Yes it’s true! You can now surf, (or as close to it on an artificial wave) inside a shopping centre in a city called Osnabrück in North West Germany!

Surfing the Osnabrück Citywave® is like no other surf experience we’ve ever come across. Since we surfed at Surf Snowdonia Wales in 2017, artificial waves have been created in huge numbers worldwide. The WSL alongside Kelly Slater have even created an official World Surf League stop at the landlocked mid Californian artificial wave park. With this growth we have now seen surfing officially recognised as an Olympic sport and it cannot be denied artificial wave parks will definitely play a fundamental part in the future of surfing.

So surfing in a shopping centre… this is the next level of adapting humans into wave riding mammals. In the small city of Osnabrück you can go shopping for your groceries, maybe some clothing and then go for a 45 minute surf! We even met people in our session who had swapped out there gym routine entirely for a few sessions a week on the Citywave®.

The official Citywave® description reads:

‘Citywave® is a next generation wave pool that makes surfing available to everyone, everywhere, even far away from any ocean break. Grab your board during lunch break, enjoy a refreshing surf session after an exhausting day at the office or spend your weekend ripping regardless of tide or weather conditions.’

Riding the Citywave® takes a small amount of time to adjust to from ocean waves, and it is similar to a river wave in the way that the water is approaching you from the front at an incredible speed. But once you have mastered how not to bog the rail into the current, you suddenly feel the thrill very similar to surfing an ocean wave! After 15 minutes of attempts it had clicked and to say the least we left Osnabruck feeling stoked!

Check out these photos from our session on the Citywave® Jan 2019 and Surf Snowdonia 2017.

Thanks to Lengermann & Trieschmann for the experience, to all the staff that work on the wave and of course Citywave® for creating this machine!

Surf Trip Planning Tips

Posted on | by James Price | Leave a Comment on Surf Trip Planning Tips

Don’t let the January blues get to you! After what feels like a long month of socialising and festivities, for most of us it’s back to work and quieter evenings. So now you have some more free time, it’s time to book your next big surf trip! We have put together some of our best tips for you to remember when planning your next surf trip.

Aren’t surf trips just the best thing to plan? You can research into where you are going to go, exactly where you’re going to surf, how warm the water is and then watch videos of the surf breaks on repeat until you go… (some of us do anyway).

With all this in mind there are a few important things to remember when you’re planning your big trip.

Research every part of the trip (not just the surf)

The surfing is the most exciting part of the trip for most of us, so exciting it seems that we can often forget to research into the things that will help us all out. Things like daily costs to live, (food costs etc.) Do you need to hire a car? Do you need a visa? These important things could extend the amount of time you spend NOT in the water!

Choose the destination accordingly to your ability

Judging your own surfing ability can be difficult but generally you can figure if a destination is good for beginners, intermediate or advanced surfers, use this as an idea to compare to your own ability. The last thing you want, is to be paddling out in heavy overhead waves when you aren’t ready. Likewise if you are advanced more than likely you’ll want pumping overhead waves.

Airline baggage fees (surfboard)

if you are going to be flying somewhere hot for your surf trip, make sure you have read all of the T&Cs of the airline that you have chosen to fly with. The worst thing you can have is getting caught out last minute at the check in. If you are flying with your surfboards this could be especially frustrating. Check out this 2018 Carve mag airline guide.

Get some good travel insurance that covers Surfing

Nobody wants to think about what could go wrong, but its definitely for the best if you find a good travel insurance policy that covers you whilst surfing. Without a doubt, its better safe than sorry.

Remember to pack some additional essentials

Snapping a leash or breaking fins add additional costs to your trip and in some destinations be very hard to come by. Pack some extra accessories in your bag, squeeze in at least an extra set of fins and a spare leash. Check out our accessories here.

Sun-care and a decent first aid kit

Don’t forget these items, sometimes easy to forget when you’re packing your bags up, but be sure to remember that these two will always come in handy when you’re away.

 

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Tim Nunn Surf Photographer’s Camera Recommendations (The Plastic Project)

Posted on | by James Price | Leave a Comment on Tim Nunn Surf Photographer’s Camera Recommendations (The Plastic Project)

Tim Nunn world renowned surf photographer of the plastic project brings us a breakdown of the best cameras for taking surf snaps. Take your time to read through his expert advice on which cameras are best for our sport and why they are so good. Tim also provides a helpful loose price guide so there is a guaranteed to be something in here to suit your budget. Check out the plastic project and Tim’s adventures online and see why we support this great cause. https://theplastic-project.com

Words by Tim Nunn.

The Plastic Project is essentially a photographic project and I’m not sponsored by any camera brands. We have had some support from all major camera brands in the form of lens loans etc. but I pay full price for every bit of gear I own so this is a real analysis. I’d also say, if you already have a bunch of lenses for one system, probably best to stick with that system so you don’t have to re-invest all over again. The real world difference especially between the top end cameras is very negligible. As the old saying goes as well,

“The best camera is the one you have on you.”

Nikon

I was a real Nikon fan boy for years and they make awesome cameras, so I have had the joy of owning and using all of these.

Money No Object

The Nikon D5 is an awesome camera, if you have 4k + to burn and Nikon lenses, it’s awesome for shooting surf. It ticks along at 12fps and the low light performance is pretty epic. It still isn’t truly revolutionary, it’s an upgrade on the D4s, but Nikon still haven’t captured the massive step up and revolutionary performance they had when they released the D3s. Having said that, it will work in anything, so is a very good surf camera.

The Nikon D3s used to be the best full frame camera for sports in the world. Low light performance which is critical in Northern Europe is awesome, frame rate ticks along nicely at 9fps, you can happily shoot at ISO 3200 and beyond and it is practically indestructible. If you want a top end pro camera for under £1k this is an awesome option. Couple it with the Nikon 16mm fisheye and a good water housing and you have a good water rig.

Mid Range

I’m talking £800 – £3000 here, what the manufacturers like to call semi pro setups. When I first wrote this Nikon didn’t really have a semi pro camera when it comes to shooting surf/sports which is what we’re all about in ether full frame or APSC, but that has all changed.

The Nikon D500 is basically a baby D5. It clocks along at 10fps, and has a 200 shot RAW buffer, and it is compatible with every Nikon mount lens. Modern APSC sensors are also good. There is a question of why you need to go full frame, there are only a few occasions where you need that resolution. Couple that with the extra reach it gives, and the incredible Nikon 10mm f2.8 fisheye and this is an awesome sell camera.

Nikon have also released the Nikon D850, again it ticks along at up to 9fps, and has an incredible 45 megapixel full frame sensor, if you want to be the next Ray Collins, the is not only one of the cameras he uses, but s probably the one for you.

In the rest of the full frame lineup the D610, 750 and 800 are all very good cameras, they do really good in low light, but their frame rates are a little lacking. Six and six and a half frames per second isn’t sluggish, and don’t be ruled by frame rates, but especially when shooting fast action in and out of the water they are important.

When it comes to the other mid range up to date APSC sized sensor then Nikon went from having the market leader to a very good but slightly restricted offering in the D7000/71000/7200. The image quality and low light ability, as well as the autofocus on these is very good, the frame rate however is a little low at 6fps, and the buffer depth in RAW, is also poor. (that’s the number of shots it takes to fill the memory before the frame rate slows down).

Bargains – Sub £800

Nikon kill it when it comes to bargain cameras. First the full frame D700 is an epic camera, with a grip and dedicated battery it will burn along at 8fps for three seconds, has amazing low light ability, decent autofocus and great ergonomics. It’s essentially a non weather sealed baby D3s, and if you hunt around, you can pick one of these up for £450-600, a housing for about the same, and you have a pro rig for very little. Granted the resolution and overall image quality isn’t as good as a modern model, but this thing will spit out double page spreads until its shutter fails, which will be a while.

If that’s a little pricey, how about the same camera except with a smaller APSC sensor? The Nikon D300 with a booster is a weapon. I just checked on ebay and there is a tatty one going for £150, in five years at Wavelength this was both mine and Ben Selway’s weapon of choice. I only upgraded two years ago, and at 8fps, with great autofocus it’s a bargain sports camera to get you going in and out of the water. Downside compared to modern cameras is the resolution and ISO performance, I wouldn’t use over ISO 800, and it’s best at 200-400.

Canon

Money no object

The Canon 1DX2 is currently the best DSLR for sports in the world, no two ways about it. Autofocus, low light performance and frame rate (14fps), coupled with a full frame sensor smoke everything. Whilst Nikon were high fiving that the D3s was the best camera in the world and laughing at Canon’s inability to make a full frame sensor sports cam (the 1d 1/2/3/4, are all APS-H), rather than figuring out they could make the D4/5 amazing, Canon went away and smashed them with first the 1dx and then the mark 2.

At this moment it is the best DSLR for sports in the world, and the video is pretty good as well. If you have £4k + to burn and don’t own loads of Nikon lenses get this, it won’t make you a better photographer, but it will allow you to do things easier and more efficiently. In the real world I doubt a D5 is that much different, but having used them both I just feel this has several notches up on everything, hence why I own mark one.

Mid Range

Personally I’m not a fan of the 1d Mk1/2/3 you can pick them up for absolute bargains, as little as a few hundred pounds, but their low light performance is terrible and there are autofocus issues in all of them from my experience. The Mk4 is a different kettle of fish, good autofocus, decent low light ability, fast and decent video, it just sucks it hasn’t got a full frame sensor in it, but is still a good camera and pro level and goes for around £1k new!

Then there is the 5d1V, it’s an awesome camera, decent low light performance, decent autofocus, and a useable 6 fps, make it a solid pro alternative to the 1DX. Being full frame you can utilise the amazing Canon 15mm lens in the water, and it makes for a good all round filming and photographic body. If you want full frame, and don’t have the pockets for a 1DX get this.

Canon changed the game really by introducing the 7D Mk11, the 7D has issues, but the Mk11 is a pretty sick bit of kit. It is essentially a baby 1DX, 10fps, very advanced autofocus, and critically Canon have sorted out the image quality which plagued the Mk1. It’s still not perfect as the sensors in Sony’s APSC sized cameras outclass it in image quality and low light ability but it is an awesome camera, and having that crop factor when shooting from the beach is a huge advantage over a full frame. This is essentially a pro camera.

Bargains – Sub £800

The 7d MK1, awesome camera, good autofoucs, good frame rate at 8fps, great ergonomics, small in size, but it sucked even at relatively low ISO for image quality. I owned one, we used to cringe when we got files shot over ISO 320 at Wavelength, and this really lets these cameras down in my opinion. Having used one, for about 8 months, I would advise to stay clear. Having said that the video is pretty sick.

So at a lower end I’d go a Canon 70d/60d – Little slower frame rate wise at 7fps, but the 70 has incredible autofocus, great video and awesome image quality, I really like this camera and would go for it over the 7d MK1 any day.

SONY

A few years ago I knew little about the full frame Sony’s but recently it has been the only thing I have used, up until the MK3’s of the A7 and A7r were released they suffered from an underwhelming frame rate and buffer and truly shocking battery life, which meant for water shooting it was a massive pain in the arse. But all of this has changed.

Money no object

The A7111 is probably the best value full frame camera you can purchase, at just under £2k new, it cranks along at 10fps and and the mage quality is as good or better than the top end Canon and Nikons in the same price range, and more expensive and its low light performance is borderline magic. I’d say its autofocus is not quite as good as the pro level Canon and Nikons, but it’s not far off.

The A7R3 is even more incredible its megapixel count, 10fps, and battery life make it a high quality dream. It blows away the Nikons and Canon top end cameras for around £1500 less, but just lacks very slightly on autofocus, and out and out speed, but if you’re looking for quality, this your camera. A lot of pros use this, for example legendary Carve magazine Ed Sharpy shoots both stills and vid with it.

Then there is the A9, a camera that’s borderline witchcraft, incredible image quality in all light, ridiculous autofocus, and it ticks along at 20fps for 220 frames at full quality, which makes it a surf photographers dream. It doesn’t have the battery life of the Canon or Nikon pro series cameras, but it is good enough, and it comes in cheaper than both canon and Nikon flagship models. The downside? Although weather sealed this just does not seem to be as bomb proof as the Nikon D seres or 1d for canon, other than that it is the best camera in the world for shooting action.

Bargains – Sub £800

Personally I love the A6000 camera, it doesn’t cost much, sub £500 new, it ticks along at 11fps, the image quality is insane, the autofocus whilst not as good at the 7d mk11, 1dx or Nikon D, is still more than respectable. I own one, it’s my back up to a 1DX. I love this camera! If you don’t believe me, check out Burky’s review of it here to see what it can do.

Battery life is a downside and the weather sealing is zero, but for the money it is epic. If you want a little more, skip the A6300 and go the A6500, it has the advantage over the A6000 of better image just and an almost unlimited buffer depth but is three times the price.

Anyway hope this helps, it’s not full reviews just my personal thoughts on cameras, in summary, get what you can afford, it’s better to be shooting with a cheap camera than saving for an expensive one, good photos come from the photographer’s creativity not the price tag.

Personal Recommendations

Money no object – Canon 1DX2 or If you want to go Mirrorless the Sony A9
Bargain Pro Level Camera – Nikon D700, but the Nikon D3s is in this category now
Best APSC DSLR – Nikon D500
Best Bargain – Sony A6000

What do I shoot with, well I do love the A9, and got one secondhand and it died, which sucked. So as I do a lot of shoots in really crappy conditions I switched back to a Canon 1DX, and it is bomb proof, and you can pick one up now for around £1,500, then have a Sony A6000 as a backup.

FUJI/PENTAX/PANASONIC

I haven’t shot too much with any of these but a lot of guys do, Ben Selway and Russell Ord both shoot with the Fuji XT2, and it is epic and has epic glass.

Pentax, pretty good as well, if you’re invested in their glass, excellent cameras. Panasonic – awesome micro four thirds performance, but more for video than stills.

I hope this has helped you in the camera buying process, we all know the marketplace is huge and shooting surfing presents us with difficult conditions.

Please check out The Plastic Project and thank you to Circle One for their continued support.

If you’d like to come along on a Tim Nunn weekend workshop click HERE

Jeff Townsley’s Cold Water Surfing Tips

Posted on | by James Price | Leave a Comment on Jeff Townsley’s Cold Water Surfing Tips

It seems we have been dropped straight from summer into the heart of winter. The first hard frosts have been felt on our dawn surf sessions and the evening wind chill feels like are suddenly living in the Antarctic. However winter in the UK is always the season to score the best waves, we have decided to put together some of Jeff Townsley’s very own cold water surfing tips to keep you surfing through.

Don’t try and surf through the winter in your 3/2 summer wetsuit

This might come across as common sense, but you’ll be surprised how many people try and go for shorter sessions in their 3.2, in the depths of winter this can be extremely dangerous with hypothermia, fatigue and cold shock are not things to take a risk with. Winter wetsuits are a must.

Layer up when you’re heading out to the beach

Before you’ve even got to the wetsuit stage, keep warm! Grab a thermal hiking top or if its dry pop your Polypro Thermal Long Sleeve underneath your clothes. Being warm before you start out is always going to be beneficial for you, plus it keeps you motivated to get into cold water.

Eat some carbs. (scrap the diet)

In all seriousness, some healthy carbs don’t go amiss when you’re trying to keep warm for long periods of time, root vegetables are the ones to go for. So when your preparing lunch box or eating the night before, be sure to add some potatoes into the mix.

Paddle around the lineup

Keep your body on the move when you are out in the lineup, your blood will be flowing and warming every part of your body. The fitness benefits are also incredible! You may even find yourself paddling into the perfect takeoff positions.

Find the perfect fitting surfing accessories

The boots, the gloves, the hood and the thermal rash vest. Make sure all of these surf accessories fit you perfectly. Neoprene products generally hold water within the materials making them slightly larger when wet, try taking a size small to make sure when you are in the surf your accessories are one hundred percent fitted.

Pre-heat some tea or soup before you go for a surf

This is a classic idea that just works. What is better than to return to your trusty surf wagon to be greeted by a steaming cup of something hot. Flasks will keep most drinks hot for a number of hours now and for the time it takes to make this magic happens, the reward is huge!

Protect your ears

Your ears are extremely important to keep protected, even more so in the winter months. Surfers ear is nothing to joke about, whether you are bodyboarding, surfing or just in the ocean. Buy yourself some decent plugs.

Get the crew out

Get all of your friends to brave the elements with you, one of the greatest feeling is watching your friends pull into perfect winter waves while a north wind howls… Okay actually this would be much nicer if it 30 degrees and warm water. However your friends are great for safety reasons plus enjoying your post surf hot drink chat is much better with them.

Do you have any cold water surf tips that help you keep warm? Post them in the comments below.

 

How To Learn To Surf

Posted on | by James Price | Leave a Comment on How To Learn To Surf

You’ve decided to learn to surf?

Learning to surf could be one of the most frustrating things you will ever do, but also one of the most rewarding. With the correct guidance you can master the art of riding waves in an elegant and stylish way. (Only the exceptional few have actually mastered it, such as the likes of Kelly Slater, but we can dream.) The learning process is much longer and drawn out than most sports and even when you think “yes this is it! I’ve got this” you will take a few more steps backwards. One of the biggest lessons most seasoned surfers learn is that they wish they learnt the correct way, or without ‘that’ bad habit.

So here’s our take on learning to surf.

Most importantly, take surf lessons! Surf lessons are available at most of our popular surfing beaches here in the UK. Taking surf lessons will allow you to learn how to surf the correct way without the common bad habits of some seasoned surfers. Imagine learning the wrong basic techniques and then having to “unlearn” your bad habits before you can continue your progression. Surfing England is the recognised National Governing Body in England, look out for this accreditation when selecting your surf school.

So you’ve done some lessons, maybe even hired a board and surfed a few times. You are ready to move onto the next stage.

Buying your first surfboard.

Having the correct equipment helps you perform in any sport and surfing is no different to this. The level of which you are at will hugely affect your surfboard purchase. Choosing an incorrect surfboard will completely change your experience, maybe even ruin surfing for you. Getting this right is a must. Basically when you learn to surf you will need to look for large volume and flat rocker (the curvature of the board). You could choose either longboard’s, Mini Malibu’s or foam boards that are wide, thick. Our favourites to learn to surf are the 8ft Razor Mini Mal and the 7 ft Soft-board, both surfboards have a lot of float and a flat rocker allowing for a high wave count and maximum fun when learning.

Where to surf?

Where you are going to learn to surf is extremely important. Surfing spots vary incredibly. Most surfers will tell you “learn on a beach break” this is correct, however this advice isn’t always the best. Always check out the specific beach conditions before heading out, look out for tell tale signs that the conditions may be above your ability. Are the waves heavy? Are they mellow? Some beaches have a consistency for being a beginners wave however even in large swells this could be too much. Check out local surf forecasting websites who give you the lowdown on exactly what is happening in the water. (For example Eyeball Surf http://www.eyeballhq.tv).

The main lesson

And finally for us the most important lesson is persistence and enjoyment! If you keep surfing as often as you can and laugh even when its not going as planned, you will be gliding along waves in no time.

Are you using a Circle One surfboard? Join the community, use the hashtag #CircleOneSurfCo on Instagram, we always love to see our surfboards being enjoyed.

10 Things To Do Whilst There’s No Surf

Posted on | by James Price | Leave a Comment on 10 Things To Do Whilst There’s No Surf

Whether you are an inland surfer or a coastal living wave chaser there are inevitably going to be times like these, small pulses of long range swells come and go but on the whole there’s a serious lack of surf. We’ve come up with some fun alternative beach activities to pass the time.

1.) Snorkelling

Snorkelling will still satisfy your need to be in the ocean and with the current lack of waves, the visibility is incredible. Its amazing what you can see if you head to the Devon, Cornwall and Welsh coastlines, the underwater world is truly fascinating. Who knows you may get to see a seal or two. Click here to view Circle One snorkel sets.

2.) Skateboarding

Skateboarding is a great way to keep you in the surfing mindset, find a cruiser longboard and carve up the tarmac. Mind surf those streets! Be careful though concrete isn’t as forgiving as water. Not only does skateboarding help with your balance on a board the fitness gained is phenomenal.

3.) Skim-boarding

If you’re not so keen to on land on tarmac, why not try your hand at skim boarding? Most sandy beaches work well for this and if there’s a very small wave you can even surf if back to the beach. Our range of skimboards have something to suit every level. Click here to browse.

4.) Yoga

Keep loose for the next time there are waves, surfing requires so much flexibility why not keep training for that whilst you have the time out of the water.

5.) A beach clean

Help out mother nature, she is struggling at the moment with the amount of plastic and litter pollution on our beaches. Every little bit of litter removed from our beaches is a help to clean up our coastlines. Our planet will not clean itself and you get to enjoy the beach! For more information on beach cleans and plastic pollution check out The Plastic Project here.

6.) Ride the largest board you can get hold of

There have been small windows of swell to grace our shores, keep an eye on the surf forecast and if there is the chance of some knee / waist high surf, grab the largest surfboard you have and go surfing! A wave is a wave… feed the addiction. Who knows you may learn to tandem surf with your buddies. Here are some 9Ft + boards from Circle One Surf Co.

7.) Wild swim

The southwest is home to some picturesque wild swimming spots, take the family, your friends, your partner and spend some time to relax in the countryside. Be sure to check out some spots online before you go.

8.) SUP

Stand Up Paddle Boarding will get you in the water even on the flattest of days, maybe choose a lake or river to go for an adventure. This is not only relaxing its also extremely good fitness training and of course allows you to be outside enjoying the sunshine.

Circle One SUP’s

9.) Walk the coastline

Take a walk on the wild side, the UK’s coastline has so many hidden beaches there are around 1500 beaches currently mapped. Go explore!

10.) Plan your next surfing adventure

Look at flights, book time off of work, check swells, lets go! Use the time you would have been surfing wisely, your next overseas surf adventure is waiting, so why not book it now?

Stay positive! The surf will be back soon! 

Circle One Surf Co.

The Plastic Project: A surf that prompted the question of change

Posted on | by James Price | Leave a Comment on The Plastic Project: A surf that prompted the question of change

Last week was spent listening to the chatter of a longer range swell that would hit our shore on Sunday evening. By Friday, it seemed that this rumour was going to become reality, after studying local winds we decided that a day surfing in Wales would be the place to find almost zero wind and perfectly shaped waves.

“The Journey is the Adventure”

If you have not had the chance to explore South West Wales its highly recommended that it’s your next surf trip. After throwing in a selection of our zipless summer suits (the first summer suit surf of this year) some boards on the roof, off we went. We left the M4 and took the mountain pass through the Brecon Beacons national park, our surfboard laden car slowing on hills allowing us to enjoy the incredible landscape!

Losing track of time we headed towards the Gower peninsula. Rhossili Bay from low tide is where we planned to be.

Upon arrival at Llangenith the views from the hill allow you to make your judgement on the wave conditions, the sun was still high and it seemed we had struck gold. 2-3 foot peeling waves and peaks along the whole beach! Yewww!

The three hours passed, sharing waves with both friends and strangers and made everyone’s day. Sun combined with great company, an adventure and waves that suit all, is enough to make everyone smile.

When leaving the surf a gloomy look was cast over everyone’s faces. The shoreline of the incoming tide was scattered with disposable BBQs, toys and half empty bottles of drink. Whilst we set about wildly trying to capture as much as we could from the grasp of the ocean, we realised the extent of the damage. As far as the eye could see this Sunday’s perfect surf was ruined by a shoreline of litter being churned up off of the beach and swept out into the sea.

So the conversation on the drive home began…

Can it change? And how can we make people change?

Change is needed, please help us to respect our beaches, respect our oceans and leave only footprints.

Circle One are proud sponsors of The Plastic Project. Check out the amazing work they do here.

Tim Nunn – The Plastic Project

Posted on | by James Price | Leave a Comment on Tim Nunn – The Plastic Project

It’s official, we have become sponsors of the well known adventure with a purpose: The Plastic Project.

Waves are what draw us back to the ocean time and time again, with the current state of single use plastic pollution it is becoming increasingly common to stumble across bottles and other single use plastics in the line-up. This is having a devastating effect on our ocean environment. We have become sponsors of The Plastic Project to help raise awareness and educate others of the issue. Circle One hopes that we can inspire others to help the cause and look after what we love.

It started as one photographer, Tim Nunn, documenting the environment as he went to some of the remotest coastlines on Earth. Then he realised that surf photographers had accidentally documented the rise in plastic pollution for three decades. Read more below…

What is The Plastic Project?

We are a dedicated group of core photographers, film makers and athletes from across the surfing world and the world of adventure. Led by award winning British surf photographer Tim Nunn, we are uniting the outdoor sports world to lead the charge to educate the world planet the damage rubbish is doing to our planet.

Our focus is on education at all levels, from the youngest groms in pre school up to college students and beyond. We as a collective are in a unique position to document the damage being done to our planet, from the remotest beaches to the wildest mountains, and we have the tales to inspire people to want to get out and take care of our planet.

It started with photographer Tim Nunn fifteen years ago, his first assignment with a camera was to look at the fly tipping on a beach in North Cornwall called Milook. From there the obsession began, not just with pollution but trying to get to the wildest places on Earth to surf.

What is the Aim?

“Myself and mate Ian Battrick would do anything to get to the wildest coastlines on Earth, we’d sleep rough to extend our time in expensive places just waiting on good swell”. But when you’re out in these wild places you not only get an intimate portrait of their beauty, but what is also going wrong. “After a while I realised that you can’t go to these places and not turn your camera to what’s really going on; plastic covered beaches in the Arctic are not a new thing, so ten years ago I started shooting it and sharing it”.

We are about using our position as photographers, film makers and athletes who are on the front line of this problem. We don’t need to mount expeditions to wild stretches of coastline or wilderness, we go there anyway. By documenting the beauty of these places, we inspire people to want to go there. So now it’s time to document the other side, and inspire people to want to protect and change the way they use plastic and treat waste to achieve this.

The power of imagery, film and the people who are involved in creating them passing their experiences on to people cannot be underestimated. We have sat in too many meetings and watched peoples eyes glaze over as they are bombarded with stats and monologues about climate issues. It’s time to use our talents to reach and inspire every human on the planet, because to genuinely change our plastic future, everybody has to be aware and make a difference.

Visit the plastic project site to see how you can make a change – https://theplastic-project.com

Follow Tim Nunn on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/TimNunnPhotography/

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/theplasticproject/

 

 

Circle One Wetsuit Care Guide

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Following good wetsuit care is so important in extending the life of your wetsuit and making sure it protects you from the cold when you need it to! Here are some top tips on wetsuit care to keep your new Circle One wetsuit as good as new!

  • DON’T stand on your wetsuit to remove it, yes its hard work but be gentle, this equipment is to help you.
  • Work in reverse when removing the suit. Do not pull too hard. Remove the gear slowly and carefully.
  • Try to put on your wetsuit in a clean, dry place away from sand, trees, and rocks that can snag the fabric. For full wetsuits, wearing a rash guard under the suit will make putting it on and off easier.
  • Grab yourself a bucket or wetsuit bag to keep it from ruining your car.
  • Use said bucket as a rinse aid when you are home.
  • Do the “Circle One squeeze” use both hands to squeeze your suit in fresh water until the water is dirty. Then rinse the wetsuit before hanging.
  • Do not use hot water, use cool or tepid water. In hot water, neoprene loses some of the flexibility, so if you are changing in a shower, use cool water to rinse the suit and then soak yourself in warmth.
  • Use a special wetsuit cleaner that will help remove salt, chlorine and organic residues. Never use bleach or any harsh cleaner.
  • Hang your wetsuit on a ‘suit’ hanger or similar with wide shoulders, this will prevent stretch and any deformations of the wetsuit shoulders.
  • Store on a hanger out of direct sunlight.
  • Hang to dry inside out. The outer surface will be protected and the inside will dry first to make putting the suit back on much easier.
  • MOST IMPORTANT, ENJOY IT AND KEEP SURFING!

Winter Surfboard Testing in Morocco

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In the winter of 2017 – 2018 we sent some of our newest products along with team riders to the place where endless sand meets the Atlantic. Central Morocco. After a tough autumn surfing season in the UK we decided that what would be better than to relive the dream and surf ‘the magic bay’ (Imousane) first of all we needed a plan! So with that a flight was booked…

Morocco is a playground for surfers. It offers a unique variety of waves from long slow walls to face paced lip chucking madness. This is why it is and always has been the perfect testing ground for Circle One products. From the very beginning of Circle One the Atlantic coast of morocco has been part of our history, in the latter years of the 60s Jeff and his trusty Volkswagen camper-van travelled to the same coast of which we still explore and test our products today.

The Magic bay didn’t disappoint! For the best part of three weeks straight, the waves continued to pump through. As if a machine was producing the swell. Every morning had a wake up call that was the sound of 6ft walls rolling down the point. The Circle One Pro surfboards looked alive and full of energy under the feet of the surfers. Each and every session ending in smiles and tales of ‘that one wave’.

Everyday of the trip became instantly memorable by the number one wave of that day. It really was eat, sleep, surf, repeat. At the rate these guys were surfing we really did not expect them to leave the country.

With spring 2018 very close to our doors we have now finalised the details of our newest range. Circle One Pro. This range has been extensively tested in all conditions (both in morocco and UK). We have really put it through its paces, keep your eyes on our social pages for more information.

For more information on the Circle One Pro surfboards click here

Follow us on Socials, Facebook and Instagram

Thank you to Olo Surf and Nature for accommodating us on our adventure.

Circle One Surfboard Care Guide

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The do’s and don’ts – Circle One Surfboard Care Guide

So you’ve finally decided which surfboard to buy! Following good surfboard care is so important in extending the life of your surfboard so here are some top tips to protect your new surfboard:

  • Rinse the surfboard after using it. Doing this stops the salt stains on the surfboard but also helps prevent corrosion from grime/salt building up in the fin boxes/grub screws.
  • Avoid wrapping your leash around your board. Remove your leash and stash it somewhere you wont forget it next time, trust us on this one! It makes a world of difference when your leash isn’t tangled in the water.
  • Don’t store your surfboard somewhere really hot and avoid extreme changes in temperature e.g. going straight from cold sea to a boiling hot car. This goes for having your surfboard in the sunshine too – try and find a nice shady spot for it if you are going to be chilling on the beach for long.
  • Don’t leave your board wax-side up in the sun, it will cause the wax to melt and won’t last as long so you will have to re-wax your board more often.
  • Be careful when carrying your board, it is easy to hit into objects and ding the nose and tail of your board in particular.
  • Learn how to properly wax your surfboard, and fully clean the wax off regularly and reapply so it is doing its job and protecting your surfboard.
  • Remove your fins when you are storing your surfboard for long periods of time, they are liable to be snapped or worse cause damage to your surfboard.
  • Keep it wrapped up, check out our range of board bags; they definitely help stop the dings you don’t find, until you go to surf.
  • DO NOT SURF if the surfboard has damage which has penetrated the resin, get it fixed. Surfing it will cause more damage by allowing water inside. If there’s no other option (sometimes we just have to surf) use a quick ding repair kit like Phix Doctor UV Epoxy/Poly Ding Repair Kit which can patch up your board for a quick fix. 
  • DO NOT use wax to fill a ding, this doesn’t work and will only make any repair harder to carry out.
  • If you are going to be storing the surfboard for a while, remove the wax. **dirty wax smells!**

Check out our full range of surfboards for sale at Circle One!

 

Baguettes, brie and board breaking beach breaks.

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The world surf league France stop at La Graviere is always an exciting one, this year in particular because Circle One had one of the team on a front row seat, sharing the action with the elite. We caught up with JP to see how things went down.

So JP in brief?

 “Well the competition was called off on days that most people would call perfection, but that allowed us to share some waves with the top guys and girls. But the competition did not disappoint, head to head rivalries such as JJF and Medina kept the crowd standing in awe. Plus he pulled another Rodeo flip!?” 

And the free surfing?

“the free surfs were mind blowing, dropping into waves whilst the pros are sat on the shoulder is a great feeling! But watching them rip from the line-up was pretty awesome.”

“To top all of this off you also had the French cuisine”

 You were riding the 2018 Circle One Pro carbon tech boards that you helped design, how did they go in such heavy beach breaks?

 “Yeah, so both of the boards that I rode performed so well in steep hollow conditions, they also have a really sharp pintail design which allows you to keep slotting exactly where you need to be. This also allows for drawn out turn when the wave lets you out. These boards are speed machines! You cant stop smiling when riding them.”

 Anything else you want to add?

 “Ha, congrats to medina on the win and the sick rodeo! I cant wait to get the Pro boards back in the water… also a special thanks to Koala Surf house for making the trip even more epic.” 

Follow JPs Surf trips on his Insta @JP.SURF

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Surfing penguins at Living Coasts

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Here’s proof of just how cool penguins are – at a zoo in Devon they surf! To mark World Penguin Day, on 25th April, keepers at Living Coasts, Torquay’s coastal zoo, gave their penguins a hand-shaped surfboard.

Their miniature board was made by Circle One, based in Crediton, near Exeter. Circle One owner Jeff Townsley discussed the idea with the animal staff. He said: “In over 40 years of manufacturing and shaping surfboards I have never been asked to make a surfboard for such a surprising or worthy cause – but after thinking it over we were able to make one just right for penguins.”

OK, so none of the birds actually leaped on the board and started to recreate scenes from the 2007 computer-animated comedy Surf’s Up. But a two-year old macaroni penguin named Yoyo was happy to be snapped beside the board. Maybe by World Penguin Day next year he’ll be riding the waves!

World Penguin Day is an excuse – as if anyone needed one – to celebrate penguins, to find out more about penguins and to raise awareness for the conservation of penguins. Living Coasts, a registered charity, supports penguin research, rescue and rehabilitation in South Africa.

Living Coasts’ Clare Rugg: “Zoos routinely use what we call environmental enrichment, including specially-designed toys, novel items and activities, to stimulate animals mentally and physically. Someone suggested a surfboard as a joke – but then we began to wonder what would happen if a penguin really had a surfboard…”

Yoyo was hatched on 27th May 2013 to parents Corin and Blue, but had to be hand-reared by keepers, so he is especially confident around people.