Winter …it hasn’t really arrived yet ….but keeping your feet dangling in water temps of 10 degrees and below (hope not !) can still make them a little numb at times.

Personally i’ve always gone for thicker wetsuit boots (5mm) when needing to keep the feet warm in winter or surfing reefs, but a new product from ION ESSENTIALS has had my feet plodding in ballistic luxury of late !

The problem with 5mm boots is the disconnection you can feel whilst riding your chosen board , be it a KITE/ WAKE / SUP board.
ION ‘s new barefoot feeling socks bridge the gap between boots and socks providing the ultimate combination of warmth and barefoot feeling in your foot.
The ARMAMID: super resistant sole protects against sharp mussels, coral reef and other sharp objects meaning you have the ability to feel those minor board adjustments under you feet and react without feeling like your wearing shoes !

Another problem associated with Kitesurfing in winter especially is your ability to get your feet into your footstraps easily and comfortably.The Ballistics socks from ION are 3/2 mm which mean there is a lot less neoprene to squeeze into a footstrap, and therefore it does feel like you’re wearing a pair of really warm… and flexible socks.

You can buy them from us for £19.95 – CALL US ON 01792 367453

Believe me there great!

Summer has most definitely gone …but keep that smooth SUP style going by watching this cool movie and asking santa for a Carver surf skate available from us at STANDUPPADDLEBOARDING from £135 or call us on 01792 367 453

NEWS JUST IN

Custard Point launches a two event Stand Up Paddleboard Series!

An elite Surf SUP tour sponsored by Custard Point

UK Pro Surf Association is pleased to announce a new series of surf events on the UK Pro Surf Tour. The best Stand Up Paddleboard surfers from across the UK will participate in this new series of events for points and prize money on the Custard Point SUP Pro Series.

The first venue will be in Scarborough at North Bay on 1st and 2nd October. It will be part of the Scarborough Pro Surf Festival. Taking place alongside: Junior and Open Surf Events, along with BMX and Skateboarding demonstrations. In addition there will be live music, DJ’s and the first Drive-In Movie on the tour.

Leg two will be in Wales…hoorah ! at Rest Bay, Porthcawl, the following week, 8th 9th October. This event will be part of the Porthcawl ‘Splash Up’ and also include: Open, Women’s and Junior Surf Events, plus skateboarding and BMX. Also a Street Dance festival located in the middle of Porthcawl.

At both events Custard Point will provide a demo zone for surfers to try out their latest Stand Up Paddleboard designs.

Comment from Tim Mellors Director of Custard Point: “…It is exciting to once again partner with the U.K Pro Surf Tour and introduce a series of SUP events under their umbrella. Custard Point surf, based in Newquay, Cornwall, have been involved with SUP since it was first seen in British waters and are dedicated to actively promote the rapidly growing sport of SUP. We look forward to meeting new and existing customers at these prestigious events and displaying our brand new range of cutting edge SUP surf boards and equipment.

For further information please don’t hesitate to contact UK Pro Surf Office: 01637 854854

‘Adrenaline’ boost for Rest Bay
The regeneration agenda for Porthcawl is delivering other exciting new developments for the town.
As part of the regional project between Bridgend County Borough Council and the City and County of Swansea, Rest Bay is set to benefit from enhanced facilities such as new freshwater showers, better beach access, new information signage and improved interpretation for visitors.
The improvements form part of plans to make Porthcawl a premier surf and water sports destination of international importance and the home of a new annual ‘adrenaline festival’ which will be held every October.
As well as extending the visitor season and increasing vital footfall, one of the festival’s key aims will be for Porthcawl to host the UK Pro Surf Tour, which will be the biggest event of its kind in Wales.
It will also incorporate land-based activities such as BMX and skateboarding, which will attract international competitors.
As part of the festival, facilities will be available for the public to use and enjoy while professionals will be on hand to offer tuition and guidance.
This will hopefully attract further spin off events to Porthcawl which will help to sustain the local economy.
More details will be announced as the project develops.

Welsh Water investment to bring benefits to Overton

The seaside village of Overton, Swansea is about to benefit from an investment by Dwr Cymru Welsh Water to improve wastewater treatment locally.
The Overton village is swamped by surfers not sewerage when wind and swell combine to attract Swansea, Gower and visiting surfers to its Reefs.

Overton mere is the starting point to a collection of reefs found west of the small village nestled in the Gower countryside – This recent news will come as a bonus to surfers who visit the reefs to get their fix , the water quality has always been an issue especially at ‘Port eynon point’ and ‘Sumpters reef’ so the upgrading of the wastewater will only benefit the area.
The Gower reefs are fast, hollow and shallow and unsuitable for learners and the vast majority of intermediates.
Sumpters is named after Rod Sumpter – a former UK surfing champion from the 1970′s who discovered the break. It’s a popular spot as it’s a right hand wave, breaking into a deep water channel.

The company is to spend £700,000 on upgrading the works at Overton Wastewater Treatment Works to improve the quality of water released into coastal waters.

The company is due to start the investment work on 11 July and is set to be completed in early December 2011. The majority of work will be carried out within the boundaries of the treatment works.

Martin Kilroy, Welsh Water’s Capital Delivery Manager said, “This is essential work that will deliver an environmental benefit to the coastal waters. We have planned the work by working closely with the local community, Environment Agency Wales, and other stakeholders.

“While we don’t anticipate any significant disruption to the local community, we wish to keep inconvenience to a minimum, but local residents may notice an increase in construction traffic to the works during the first week of the scheme when the site compound area is being set up. We have informed local people and hope they will bear with us while we complete this vital project. If anyone has any questions about the scheme they can contact us on 0800 085 3968.”

Dwr Cymru Welsh Water continues to invest in improving service to customers. The company is investing £1.3 billion in its water and sewerage network between 2010 and 2015.

Welsh Water is owned by Glas Cymru and exists to give customers the best possible service while keeping bills as low as possible. Profits are reinvested in the business to deliver further benefits to customers.

Later this month SUP Magazine hits the national news stands for the first time with a bumper 116 page high gloss publication. This one-off edition for summer 2011 will feature the sports biggest names and will be the reference point to the world’s fastest growing board sport. We look forward to thumbing through !!

Hasake is a board-boat hybrid of the Stand-up Paddle (SUP) Board family, with alleged Israeli and Arabic roots, possibly dating back to as far as the 8th century A.D. There are some striking parallels between the Hasake and its increasingly popular Hawaiian cousin. But one of the many things that sets them apart is information. While the Hawaiian SUP has seen a worldwide surge in popularity and much has been written about it, the alleged Isreali-Arabic SUP still remains under the radar for most of the waterman community.

So there’s the history Make sure you get on a SUP this summer – see our courses here

read rest of post here

Great news the planning for the scheme has been approved!
Swansea Council planners yesterday gave their unanimous support for a scheme that will see a restoration restoration of Mumbles Pier and new modern lifeboat house.

Councillors approved the joint application submitted by pier owners AMECO and the RNLI. The lifeboat charity hopes to relocate their operation to a new hi-tech facility capable of launching their new Tamar class vessel by 2013.

The full list of restoration proposals includes rebuilding the pier stem from its existing stanchions by installing new steelwork and decking. The landing jetty at the end of the pier is to be demolished in order to create a new enlarged pier head capable of supporting the new lifeboat house.

First built in 1898 as a jetty for visiting steamers, the top section of the pier was rebuilt in 1956 but is now nearing the end of its maintainable life. Plans have been submitted to replace the rusting steelwork with modern anti-corrosive materials.

Designers have ensured that the functional elements are in keeping with the Victorian period and the intention is to retain as many original features of the grade II listed structure as possible.

All major components that make up the 835ft structure will be shipped in and erected by barge. Engineers estimate 72 weeks for construction & commissioning from the date of planning consent.

The restoration project relies on AMECO’s ability to gain separate planning consent for multi-million pound foreshore redevelopment scheme to help finance the work.
Mumbles Pier Development are taking on the old lifeboat station once the new one is built, which will save the RNLI a fortune in maintenance. It’s a listed building so they can’t tear it down. Instead it’ll be used as a drop off point for boats and possibly the new Severn Link

Stay in touch with updates on the Mumbles pier-re devolpment facebook group

Regarded as the axis of Llanelli Waterside the eighteen acre North Dock site is at the heart of the Millennium Coastal Park and overlooks Carmarthen Bay and the rejuvenated dock.
It therefore offers a unique waterside setting that’s sure to provide an appealing environment for a variety of uses.

Dragon 24 has transformed the dock edge and forms a business district that links into the town centre itself and right across Llanelli Waterside into developments at Burry Port and Delta Lakes.

The Discovery Centre (pictured above ) – a landmark building housing a restaurant, tourist information, ice cream parlour and meeting facilities – sits in the centre of the site with the promenade running alongside.
The unique building was purposely designed to excite people’s imaginations and makes no apologies for its bold appearance.

As its name suggests, the award-winning Discovery Centre is primarily a place where people can learn about the various parts of the Coastal Park and the many other delights that Carmarthenshire has to offer.
It is ideal to sit and watch the other half kitesurfing , wakeboarding or Stand up paddleboarding while you sip on a cappacino in the centers cafe!

The Pumphouse – an exciting plan to transform an eye-catching and historic grade II listed building on North Dock into a restaurant and chef academy is currently underway and scheduled for completion in spring 2011.

North Dock has evolved organically over the years generating a variety of development opportunities. It has steadily grown into a natural visitor destination with increased footfall year on year due to the many leisure activities North Dock offers.
The Kitesurfing potential in the Lougher estaury is untapped check the beach guide
Have your stag or Hen party with us an experience a special weekend you’ll not forget.

An awesome morning on Stand up paddleboards, they really are so versatile and a great way to explore any waterway, inland or sea.
Give us a ring to book your SUP experience on 01792 367 453

SUP – Paddleboard, Three Cliffs, Gower, Swansea from Grafic House on Vimeo.