Thank you to the lifesavers

Carve surfing magazine and Sharps Offshore Pilsner have come together to say ‘Thank you’ and raise funds for the volunteer beach patrols equipment ( https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/thank-you-lifesavers ) of the surfing and surfing lifesaving communities, who selflessness ensured the safety of beach goers during the heatwave of spring 2020.

In late May, large waves, spring tides, hot weather and the easing of Covid-19 travel restrictions combined to form a perfect storm. As people left their houses to head to the beach, rips, tides and big waves made for dangerous sea conditions for those not used to such conditions.

Fortunately, the surfing and surf lifesaving communities had foreseen the problems. With no lifeguards on the beaches due to Covid-19, they launched voluntary Beach Patrols with basic equipment and quickly established safety procedures. It was perhaps the biggest mobilisation of coastal lifesaving communities ever seen in the UK. The beach patrols offered advice to prevent people getting into difficulties, set up observation patrols and hundreds of volunteers around the south west prevented many serious incidents and performed numerous rescues.

Despite all their heroics, going beyond their day jobs and giving up personal free time, most of the front-line work of the lifesavers to keep the public safe has gone unrecognised. That is, until now.

Steve England of Carve surfing magazine had a vision for a film that would capture the essence of the community’s selflessness and courage. He reached out to fellow surfer James Nicholls, (who heads up the marketing team here at Sharp’s) to support the creation of a dedicated film to say thanks.

Steve says, “Surfers and lifesavers are the frontline on many of our beaches for a large part of the year. For the most part their interventions and lifesaving go under the radar, but in the absence of lifeguards, the coastal community stepped in. It was such local, grassroots action I don’t think any of them have any idea how large or valuable their collective action has been in preventing loss of life at sea. They predicted the swell, weather and the trouble that some may find themselves in as a result of visiting our coast. They used their immense knowledge and skillsets and acted swiftly in great numbers to keep the general public safe on the beaches of Devon and Cornwall. Hundreds of volunteers were making thousands of interventions. It was outstanding – one of the most remarkable actions in the coastal community I have seen in my 42 years of surfing. They deserve a huge ‘thank you’ and that’s what this joint film, and Just Giving campaign, is delivering.”

James Nicholls, Marketing controller here at Sharp’s Brewery, says, “It has been truly humbling and inspiring to have witnessed the community step forward to keep our beaches safe during this crisis. Our incredible coastline is an integral part of our county and as a North Coast business it gives us great pride to be able to work with the team at Carve Magazine to recognise and share the courageous acts of these selfless heroes.”

Andrew Mayhew National Operations and Safety director at Surf Lifesaving GB says, “In Devon and Cornwall alone we recorded 1,621 interventions by Surf Cub volunteers, and we are still counting as we have just not had the time to look at all of them. At a glance, we will nationally be well over 2,000 saves.”
Andrew continues, “Most clubs have put in ‘monster’ hours, and on average per club over 100 hours per week. On Bank Holiday Monday we saw the likes of Perranporth Surf Lifesaving Club doing a big turn out and putting nearly 400 volunteer hours in in just three days. It’s certainly an incredible response and if you add up the national total that’s equivalent to nearly 10 years of reporting since the ease of the lockdown.”

St Agnes Surf Lifesaving Club led the way with observation patrols and wrote COVID operating procedures that were used by many other clubs nationally.Joel Henthorn said; “Together our 216 volunteer hours delivered 815 preventative interventions/assists and first responses at three incidents at Trevaunance Cove. I have no doubt the club’s community action saved lives.”

The film was put together by Cornish surfers Tim Boydell and Ben Jones of Light, Colour Sound. Tim Boydell said, “As soon as we heard about the project, we knew we wanted to be involved. I’ve grown up on the same beaches that many of the rescues occurred on, and where I’ve spent many hours as a kid playing on the beach or as an adult surfing. I know all too well the dangers that can occur at the coast and regularly step in where others may not have the experience or foresight to gauge a possible problem-or emergency.”

Tim continues, “What struck me the most was the selflessness of so many people. People who look out for others above themselves no matter what. This happened in every village, town and even on some remote beaches which I find incredibly humbling. These people are heroes in my mind without any question of doubt.”

We would just like to say…
THANK YOU.
Thank you for your foresight.
Thank you for your courage.
Thank you for your selflessness.
Thank you for being there.
For never judging.
For offering your experience.
And giving up your time.
To help others.
Here’s to the lifeguards, lifesavers, the carpenters, the builders, the teachers, and the furloughed.
Here’s to the legends, the surf clubs and the heroes.
THANK YOU!
And
Cheers!
Your dedication is not forgotten.
Here’s to Offshore days.

Click here to donate today.

The proceeds from the Just Giving page has been set up to raise funds for lifesaving equipment for the smaller volunteer groups who need training and equipment. We will keep you updated on the progress and show how the money is used.

Deadmans Raw

One minute barrels

Von Froth heads to Skelly Bay
“As a Kid I always dreamt about getting barrelled for a minute, there is only very few places in the world where you get such long perfect wave.. Namibia is the queen of all queens when it comes down to riding endless barrels, as a goofy I had to go there”.

Overcoming adversity during these strange times

I can’t go into detail but I know for a fact a lot of men are having a tough time right now for various reasons.

I wanted to post a story to show that no matter how bad you think things are, life can always get better with time and bit of help. Then I got a message from Tyler Farnham.

Tyler had everything going for him at 26, and then he hit rock bottom, literally, as his parachute didn’t open. I mean if you are going to hit rock bottom that is the way to do it, hey!

You’d think a parachute failing to open would be the worst thing that could happened to a bloke, but it also had knock on effects. He lost his job, got dumped and became dependent on drugs…But Tyler is was resilient and here is the story of how he overcame it all…

Waking up in a hospital bed was not how I imagined I would be spending my 26th birthday. I listened to the Doctor rattle off my injuries: broken legs, broken arm, shattered jaw, broken teeth and a fractured skull. Immediately, I thought to myself, my life is over.

This was April 16th 2009, the day I turned 26 years old, and five days after I survived what should have been a fatal skydiving accident. A malfunctioned parachute at a low altitude along with a couple critical mistakes on my behalf, sent me spiralling to the ground with a force similar to being hit by a school bus.

I had an active promising life ahead of me before it was all turned upside down. I was a lifeguarding Captain in Cocoa Beach Florida, studying to become a Firefighter. My life was shaped around surfing, skydiving and long summer days working on the beaches where I learned to surf as a kid. I also had a hot Billabong model girlfriend, you could say this was the icing on the cake.

Then I was faced with questions I never would have thought to ask myself.

Will I ever surf again?
WIll I ever skydive again?
WIll I ever be a lifeguard again?

These were all questions I would repeatedly ask myself with no clear answer day after day for the following months. When I began writing, it was a couple weeks into my rehabilitation stay. Using my left hand, I would scribble notes on a pad of paper. Who came to visit me that day, what did I accomplish, how do I feel? Bedpans, physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy became my routine to relearn the simple habits we all learn as children.

I stood up with assistance for the very first time on Mothers Day, May 10th 2009 after a surgery to clean an infection in my right thigh where my femur blew out of my leg. I had a glimpse of hope… but not for very long. In the following days I had to undergo a second surgery on my jaw, leaving my mouth wired shut for the following two months. Restricted to a wheelchair and drinking all of my meals through a straw was how I lived my days in May and June of 2009.

This was only the beginning of the story. Then came the breakup with the girl I was then in love with, followed by a strong dependency on my Oxycontin prescription. There was never a clear path for me to follow, only obstacles I had to somehow overcome. I used my writing to keep focus, along with drawing, music and level headed friends.

Eleven months of rehabilitation led me back to my job on the beach, surfing and once again jumping out of planes. Those eleven months were filled with drama, heartbreak, pain and a whole lot of uncertainty. Never would I have imagined that those left handed journals I jotted down on those gloomy days in May of 2009 would have led me to the life I am currently living today.

Fast Forward ten years later.

January 1st 2020, my dream job awaits at Nihi Sumba here in Indonesia as the staph infection and cellulitis is spreading throughout my foot and ankle. Two surgeries later, and no promise the skin graft will take, I’m left doubtful about my future, yet again.

April of 2020 and the world is changing. When the skin is finally intact I start walking again, limited motion in my foot and ankle. I think back to those months in 2009, having to overcome similar battles.

Going day by day, with nothing but positive thoughts and people.
Tracking my progress through journal entries, focussing on the good.
Not thinking too much about the future, as we have no control of what’s in store.
Learn something new, practice a passion, any passion.
Reach out to friends and family, offer support and just be willing to listen.

Having a routine during this time has kept me on track, and sane. For the months that I was unable to surf this year, I would focus on meditation along with some form of exercise to get my blood pumping and heart racing for those much needed natural endorphins. From walks, to burpees to shadow boxing, anything to keep me moving in my small room where I’m left quarantined and rehabilitating back to full health.

We are living through such a historical time. What will we tell our kids that we did during the time of 2020, the Covid times. I like to think many will have done something great.

Now as surfing is back in full swing, the outlook is still hazy. But one thing I know for sure, we can overcome whatever’s next. As human beings we are resilient, sometimes we just need to be challenged in extreme ways in order to realize this. I often remind myself, I am not the only one struggling with finances, relationships and life in general… we are ALL in this together.

So here we are. If you are reading this and it hits a note, stay positive and find support. Pleas do not revert to stereotypes.

If you know someone who should talk, or find help please encourage them to do it.

The pressures of life, events and peoples actions (including on social media) are putting people into desperate positions at the moment. The thing that has struck me is that most of the problems I have seen are not unsurmountable, and in all cases there is hope on the horizon if the people involved can see it.

Another factor is that men tend to get was sad and angry for being sad and angry as they think that it is a sign of weakness. Which it just isn’t.

They also think they should be take everything on their own shoulders and not bother anyone else with their problems. And again just not the case.

If you need help please have chat with family or friends, call your doctor or if you want to remain anonymous call 116 123 in the UK, or find your local group.

And maybe buy Tylers book. https://www.amazon.com/dp/1943302049