WOOLNUTS

Ewe tube...

JJ'OLLIE

No one did f/s ollies like JJ.

A Jason Jesse frontside ollie is just beautiful. The style, the power, the commitment - all totally evident.

In his very first appearance as a professional in a vert contest he found himself going head to head against Gator, who at the time was a well established pro, very consistent and always hard to beat. During their heat Gator had a couple of uncharacteristic falls leaving the door wide open for JJ to easily advance to a possible top place finish in his debut. All he had to do was stay on, complete his run and he was guaranteed to win the heat...

But no such thing as playing safe for Jason Jessee, he dropped in and went full bore for a head high air to fakie and slammed! Gator won the heat.

Afterwards JJ shrugged it off saying "I don't care, I'm going for a surf."

NEW FACE

Welcome Nellie, new member of the family.

TELL ME WHY?

I asked all the West Country based bloggers in my list one question - WHY DO YOU BLOG?

Here, in no particular order, are their answers...

"Because I secretly love shouting 'look at me I'm great!' :-)"
CP Adventures in Trim

"I've always seen websites as constrained by branding and marketing objectives whereas blogs allow a true personality to shine through. Blogging has been the easiest way to share my passion for alternative post modern surfboard design with like minded souls… I don't have to push myself out there, I just share stuff as it happens and people who are interested find it, and have regular updates on everything from my latest bonzer designs to who I snogged on the beach at Penhale between surfs in 1981… There are no rules, just expression and I find that really appealing…"
Tim Just Bonzers

"It is quite simple really. I started back in 2004 with the Alma Pura blog while living in Brazil to try and show the more alternative, and simple side of surfing. Then did the Royal blog just for my boards. I found that it was silly and time consuming to have 2 blogs, so dropped the AP one and now just use the Royal blog.
My main interest is using it to showcase people/things that may not be out there yet, be they friends of mine or just interesting folk. Of course it also allows me to display my own boards, but I intend on that being a way to show that the UK has some great and current designers/board builders and that we aren't just following US trends, but can innovate on our own. Plus, the UK experience is unlike anywhere I have lived before, in terms of climate, countryside and culture.
Other than that, I guess I just need to find another hobby to keep me busy..."
Rob Lion Royal

DAYS OF DRY

I actually can't remember the last time it rained.

TRAIL

They're back.

BLU PERRAN CLASSIC

If you are thinking of going along to the Bathseba & Watering Hole Classic this weekend - don't! It's been postponed due to low-flying volcanic ash... (lack of swell actually!)

New dates are 8-9th May instead.

AFFIRMATIVE

Simple truth.

I like his style, both in and out of the water...

NORTH CLIFFS

Betwixt Deadmans Cove and Samphire Island.

AMBIGUITY

Make it - don't fake it.

SOUNDTRACK

Don't you forget.

It's my life
It never ends

THE REPUBLIC OF ME

... and this is my flag.

CRANTOCK

We spent hours upon hours skating in this barn. Originally it housed a 9ft vert ramp, one of only a few indoor halfpipes at the time. Although a private ramp, skaters from all over the UK would somehow find their way along the winding Cornish lanes, pad up, drop in and roll to the sounds pumping out from Dave's mighty boombox.

Evenings spent in the Bowgie, sleeping bags on the platforms, fresh gaffer tape and stinky pads donned again the next day for yet another session. Lots of tail slaps, lots of body slams - good times indeed.

Downsized to a 5ft mini a few years later.

Photo courtesy of Chris Fowler

PT

Lookin' fine in the Spring sunshine.

PAVEMENT

Slanted and Enchanted.

Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain.

Brighten the Corners.

I'm having a Pavement day...

TENNIS GIRL

Over the last few years I had often passed him walking his dog as I made my way home from work. Usually meeting him along the same narrow country lane, I'd be in my car and would slow down as I drove by and we'd exchange nods. Then often during the summer if I was on my bike, we'd say hello in greeting. Nothing more than that, but it almost became a small ritual in my daily commute. I hadn't seen him for a while and recently saw a woman walking the dog instead.

A few days ago I found out he'd died after a long bout with cancer and that his name was Martin Elliott, the photographer who took the infamous Tennis Girl picture.

Tennis Girl - 1976, Martin Elliott.

CERAMIC

Flip-flops made of stone.

I really like Gerry Wedd's pottery. Check out more of his stuff here.