The best video you will watch all weekend. Seal wants a tummy tickle. Videographer Gary Grayson get an unbelievable encounter with an Atlantic Grey Seal whilst Scuba Diving in the Isles of Scilly off the coast of Cornwall.
As Atlantic surfers we are lucky to share the ocean with these guys. The wild ones are usually inquisitive but keep their distance, the rescued and rehabbed seals are more playful with plenty of leash pulling and close encounters recorded. As with all wildlife don’t approach or scare but if they come to you like this there’s not a lot you can do but play.
Once upon a time campaigning for clean seas got results.
I went to uni in Aberystwyth and back in the early nineties you knew when the tide had turned as the gates would be opened and raw, minced up sewage would flow into the harbour. You could smell it. Then within half an hour it would creep around the corner and flow straight across the fine, but fickle, boulder reef break at the harbour mouth.
The stench was the early warning. You could get out if you wanted. But the waves, when on, were really good. If you decided to man up and brave it out you could see the slick and the discolouration approaching. Then you could taste it…
If you ever want to practise duck diving with all your orifices clenched hard shut then surfing in raw poop and whatever bacterial wonders the town’s population are suffering from then that’s the way to do it.
It was gross. It was grim. But it did keep the crowd down. And a can of coke afterwards staved off the Weil’s disease at least. Of course the minus side is all of us from that era are more than familiar with the gamut of gross stomach ailments and ear, nose and throat infections. Of course it was our own fault for daring to surf in the ocean in a civilised first world country that saw the sea as nothing more than a dumping ground.
Thanks to the work of local campaign groups, the SAS and Welsh Water it got fixed. A proper treatment plant meaning no more slicks, no more macerated turd-soup horror-show. We could surf in clean water and the local wildlife could once more come back. If you’ve seen dolphins cavorting off in Cardigan Bay and the seals playing you’ll know the sea is good there now.
It’s a pity South West Water can’t fix the sea in their area. Every time there’s a spill going on everyone shouts. Their response is the same: it’s too expensive to fix dated infrastructure. It’s not just us. Blame the council for not maintaining the drainage etc.
Seeing as the council can’t even supply Cornish people with public toilets anymore that’s not a great surprise. Still one small blow against sewage eh?
It’s about time a plan was made. Sure you can’t fix all the south wests dated CSOs in one hit. How about committing to fixing one catchment at a time? This year we’ll work on Godrevy. Next year St Agnes etc? Spend some of that wonderful profit on building a better future for all of us? Hell in twenty years you might have fixed most of it. Then, once future proofed, you can guzzle all the profits you like and bathe in the clean seas with us. Rather than put your heads in the sand every time it rains…
Sewage in the sea is not okay. Especially not in the twenty first century. We need a plan. We need a fix. Not a shrug of the shoulders.
*The screenshot is from today from the SAS app. Middle of the peak season summer holidays.
Now the Daily Mail isn’t a source of any news worth your time. Obsessed as they are with ‘woman wears clothes’ or creepy ‘woman reveals entirely natural bit of body in skimpy… etc’ stories. Which isn’t by any stretch of the imagination news when there’s so much actual news happening. But that said as a website to go and have a look at when you’re in need of a chuckle it’s right up there with the Onion.
A surfer’s bucket list. Yes. Handy info for all you ‘boarders’. So make sure you come to Newquay for the frequent 40-footers. Just remember your big wave gun and to paddle out round the back of the Cribbar. No point trying to duckdive eh? It’s impressive that humble Newqs is third most desirable after the obvious Nazare and Mavericks. So once you’ve ticked those two off and achieved ‘legend’ status come down Kernow and ride the 40s.
Also sound advice about trying the Backdoor when in Hawaii. *titters*
As for 1.3km rides at J-Bay?!? Not to mention the incredibly patronising ‘charming natives’.
Shane Dorian took out the 2015 Four Seasons Maldives Surfing Champions Trophy at Sultan’s Point. Dorian defeated last years Champion Dave Rastovich in the Final and has secured himself a spot in the 2016 event.
In what was a fitting climax to an amazing week of surfing from all competitors, Dorian posted his two scoring waves in the early stages of the heat, a 6.67 and 7.83, for a heat total of 14.50. This left Rastovich to chase down a 7.28. Trailing by only 0.44, ‘Rasta’ was unable to get the score in the closing minutes and Dorian took the win.
“I never thought I would come here and win this event,” said Dorian. “Surfing with all these guys in the Maldives has just been a really incredible experience. The different divisions were so good, I never knew I could have so much fun riding a twin fin, let alone win a heat against Rasta on one. The waves yesterday were so dreamy, it’s been such an amazing event”
2014 Surfing Champions Trophy winner, Rastovich, surfed incredibly all event taking out the single fin division and a 2nd place in the twin fin, he unfortunately was unable to take out back-to-back Champions Trophy titles.
“Everyone has been surfing amazing all week,” Rastovich said. “Seeing everyone surfing on different boards is great. Today was good; Shane and I were just sitting out the back chatting and taking it easy, catching a couple of waves. At the end of the day this is just a great holiday for everyone, with a couple of perks. There is a little bit of structure but it’s mainly just a good time.
One of Rastovich’s highlights for this year’s event was competing and free surfing surfing with 2004 WSL Women’s World Champion Sofía Mulánovich.
“I really feel like it’s great that Sofia is in the mix, surfing with the fellas. That sort of thing doesn’t happen enough in surfing. Every line up in the world is always better with women in the water. I think that’s one of the best things about this event, great diversity”.
Taking out the event means that Dorian receives an automatic entry into the 2016 Surfing Champions Trophy something that the Champion describes as the sweetest part of the victory.
“I’m really stoked above winning that I’ll be able to come back to the Maldives and surf in the event next year, almost as excited as my wife is. I’ll definitely work on some different boards and riding a few twins and singles before I come back for sure,” said Dorian.
En route to the Grand Final, Dorian had a third place in the single fin division, and a first in the twin and thruster division. He also had the highest single wave score, a 10, the first in Champions Trophy history, and the highest heat total, a 19.60 (out of a possible 20)
Both competitors were presented with their prizes by the Republic of the Maldives Deputy Minister for Tourism, Hussain Lirar in a traditional ceremony aboard the Four Seasons Explorer.
After what was an incredible week of waves at Sultan’s Point off the Four Season’s island of Kuda Huraa, event organisers look to next year’s event, which promises to be bigger and better than ever.
It was a nothing short of a sensational day at Kuda Huraa, Maldives today. Amazing surf, weather, and vibes. Plus Shane Dorian posted a near perfect heat total of 19.60 to beat Neco Padaratz in the final of the Four Seasons Maldives Surfing Champions Trophy Thruster Division including a 10 that seasoned onlookers said is one of the best waves ridden at Sultan’s.
Sultan’s turned on and the two traded barrels for what was without a doubt, the heat of the contest so far. Padaratz posted three excellent scores but was unable to escape the combination situation Dorian had put him in.
“The conditions were just magic,” said Dorian. “That Maldivian water clarity, the sun shining, and perfect off shore, when that first one came it was such a perfect shape but I thought it might run a little fast so I had to race straight away. Then I pulled in and it ended up going the perfect speed, it was a blast. The wave is so rippable and user friendly
“I’m really stoked to be here. It’s such a magical place, the Four Seasons Resort is top notch in every way, the staff, the service, the food it’s all amazing and the proximity of the resort to the waves is also incredible”
Padaratz was a clear stand out in and out of the water. At 38, his skills and competitive drive have certainly not left him. (Brazil, if you are reading, you should be very proud of this guy)
“Everything was so perfect for that heat,” Padaratz said. “The water and colours, especially the waves. I have surfed here before and knew you can get barrels at the end, but today it was going all the way through from start to finish, just awesome!”
“This event has been so amazing, it feels good to know I can still perform with these guys. Shane and I were just trading waves and laughing sitting out there”
Dorian now moves through to the Grand final of the Champions Trophy, where he will meet last year’s winner Dave Rastovich.
“Surfing against Rasta should be fun. He’s really cruisey and mellow and goes with the flow but as soon as a heat starts he’s all action, he’s actually a bit of a contest machine. It’s always such a good vibe in the water with Rasta so I can’t wait.”
The two met today in semi-final two where Dorian’s 17.90 got him through by 0.70 of a point as Rastovich was unable to find an 8.78 in the final minutes.
In another close semi-final, Harley Ingleby, needing a 7.50 took off on one of the last set waves of the heat, but it only offered one critical section and Ingleby had to settle for a 6.77 and an equal third place.
“I could see a good sized set and let the first one go,” said Ingleby. “I didn’t think there would be four waves in the set so took the third wave, but it only had one good section and then raced away. It was a super fun heat though; it’s been an incredible experience here, having really good heats, in really good waves, it’s been a dream come true trip.”
Brad Gerlach was unlucky to get knocked out in the opening round. Posting a 9.00 early in his heat, ‘Gerr’, although staying busy, was unable to find the eight point back up that he needed.
“The waves are super fun, it’s super shredable. I suppose that’s the most frustrating thing, I don’t get to go back out. Overall it’s been a fun week, it’s great to chat and hang with everyone, getting to surf these waves without anyone out, it’s been great”
With an amazing display of stylish rail surfing, 2004 WSL Women’s World Champion Sofía Mulánovich was not able to progress. She showed off her amazing ability off against the guys as the only female in the event.
“This was my first time competing against guys,” Mulánovich said. “It’s been such an amazing experience getting to surf against my idols, in these waves and in paradise, it’s an honour, I’m super happy to be here and I hope I can come back in the future.”
Tomorrow is the final day of the waiting period and means our two finalists, Shane Dorian and Dave ‘Rasta’ Rastovich will take to the water on their own choice of craft and a Champion will be crowned.
