Noel
Age: 36 (2008)
Job: Web Solutions Developer
Years Surfing: Nearly 2 years and still struggling to get good! (2008)
Habitat: South Pembrokeshire.
Boards: 3
Quiver:
-
Channel Islands Flyer F 6'0"x19"x2 3/8" (my board of choice)
-
Channel Islands Red Beauty 6'4"19½"x2 5/8"(only for when the Flyer's in hostpital)
-
Bilbo Flying Fish 6'0"x21"x3½"(my small wave board)
Local Break: Freshwater West and Manorbier.
Places Surfed: Only Pembrokeshire so far, but done all the well known breaks and a few of the lesser known. I don't get bored of my locals so rarely venture further.
Favourite Surf Films: UK films - The Elusive is probably my favourite. Also New Emissions of Light and Sound just for the trippiness.
Worst Wipeout: My first session on the Bilbo when it still belonged to Lee...got taken out by the rip and on the paddle in decided to speed up the journey by going for one of the bigger waves.
Paddled, popped up, got stuck in the lip, desperately trying to get down the face when the wave jacked up and threw me forward. Didn't have time to take a breath before going through a particularly harsh spin cycle at least 3 times. Got complimented on my wipeout style by one of the other surfers.
Favourite Manoeuvre: It's called an inverted reverse 360 handstand combo and it's way too complicated to either explain or master so I won't. Actually at my level I'm quite happy with just catching a wave; doing tidy nice bottom turn and riding up and down the face for as long as possible.
Weirdest experience: Nothing specific, but isn't it weird that a totally sandy beach at low tide is full of ominous dark shadows when you're sitting on your board at high tide?
Best Surfing Experience: My first session surfing under a deep red sunset - seeing the silhouettes of some mates in the line-up and realising this is what the photos actually look like. Oh, and of course meeting some great people.
Other Interests: Mountain biking, sea fishing (rod and spear), playing my guitar, travelling to strange places, photography, running, walking.
