Pushing Tide : Blog of North Devon Surfer Nick 'Lloydy' Lloyd

Diplock surfboards are hand shaped in Cornwall by Chris “Bro” Diplock, and finished by the world renowned Phoenix finishers.

Bro made me a 5.10 … 19 1/4 … 2 1/2 choad i ride it with a fcs red tip fin in it and the board fly’s!!! Im so stoked with the board i have just ordered another board off Bro

Loose Fit surf shop in braunton stock an eclectic range that will appeal to intermediate and advanced surfers alike.

All boards can be custom built, with a strictly 3 to 4 week lead time.
so go check them out !!!

Well the past few days in North Devon have seen plenty of snow and it looks like there is more on its way too not much in the way of surf up until today . I cant surf because im ill at the moment and have new ink !!! here is a pic from today taken by local legend Trev Toes Lumley

Well the end of 2009 saw one of the best days surf at Croyde . Quite a few snapped boards alot of closeouts but the odd epic pit was there to be had ! Im still trying to find some good pics from the day but the light was bad so not many photogs on the beach so here is a pic by ste cocoran from the day before ! Happy New Year !

Edit just found this pic from Steve Cave who works down at loose fit

Got a few pics sent to me today from my trip to Sri Lanka taken by Tony Plant a amazing photographer from Newquay check out his website at www.surftwisted.com

Well got back from my trip to the Hinako Islands on the holidays with a purpose boat, Indo Jiwa! Amazing trip! We did 3 days work painting and gardening at the orphanage in Gunungsitoli , great kids they have nothing but always have a smile on their face.. Because of the storm at Gunungsitoli we went round the bottom of the island to Lagundri Bay and surfed the world famous right hander. Met lots of friendly locals. Then, for the next part of the trip, we went up to the Hinako Islands and surfed Bawa mainly because of the winds and swell. Its an amazing wave and we had it all to ourselves so we were very happy!! We also visited some of the other projects holidays with a purpose have on the islands one of them on the island of Asu, The coconut kids club. I had an unbelievable holiday with a differance. To actually put something back into the local community was enjoyable and humbling. I will hopefully go back one day.

I recently won a competition through       http://www.baggys.co.uk/            to go to the Hinoka Atolls, Indonesia. It is an eleven night trip based on a boat off the Hinako Island. I’m so stoked to be able to go on this trip, I have always wanted to go to Indo and this way I will be surfing perfect waves and have the opportunity to help the local community who have been effected by adversity.

Join them for a LIFE CHANGING experience … yours and theirs!

10 day trips include:

* 2 nights hotel in Medan for arrival and departure
* 2 return domestic airfares Gunungsitoli/Medan.
* Airport greeting and transfer to boat.
* 11 nights onboard on Indo Jiwa.
* Accommodation in 5 double air conditioned cabins.
* Three meals daily.
* All non alcoholic beverages.
* Use of all onboard facilities: TV/DVD/CD; 3 tenders; fishing and diving equipment.
* Services of expert English speaking crew.

Check out the website     www.holidayswithapurpose.com

One week after ther final of billabong pro mundaka

Former Abay Surf Club Chairman Dies – 49 year old Former Arugam Bay Surf Club Chairman, Ranjan, died of a massive heart attack whilst surfing at Baby Point, Arugam Bay, on the East Coast of Sri Lanka. Attempts of CPR by both local people and western tourists alike, to revive him, proved fruitless as numerous locals stood helpless around him. Ranjan died doing something that was close to his heart and will be sorely missed. He was a mellow and humorous pillar of the local community, leaving behind a wife and three sons. Alan, the eldest, is a regular surfer, who uses UK surfboards donated by Paddle4Relief. He has been a force within the charity by using his skills to repair our computer. Ranjan’s death again shows the need for both Beach Life Guard and a Medical Centre in the village. With the Civil War over, internal travel within Sri Lanka, particularly the East and North is more relaxed, so seeing increasing numbers of both Western and Sri Lankan Tourists crowding the beach and sea. It is now more apparent that there is a desperate need of qualified life savers. Regularly local surfers are rescuing individuals from the unpredictable tropical coastline. The young surfers of the village are demanding action to prevent further loss of life. They are willing to undergo training and man the local surf breaks in an attempt to save life and prevent injury. These young men are turning to the International Humanitarian, Medical, Surfing, Surf Life Saving and Water Sports Communities to assist them in their quest! Out of respect to Ranjan the community of Arugam Bay are focused on achieving this quest and hope that all that read this article can be generous in offering either practical or financial help. Please either contact Fawas, present Chairman of ArugamBay Surf Club – abay_surfers@yahoo.com or Tim Tanton, Paddle4Relief – tim@paddle4relief.co.uk

Check this out its sick ! Second trailer for the upcoming surf movie featuring Jamie O’Brien. Coming Fall 2009 with support from Redbull, Etnies, Boost Mobile, Rusty, and Arnette.

UK Pro Surf Tour Next Event @ Xperience09

NORTH TYNESIDE EXTREME SPORTS FESTIVAL
Xperience’09
-Saturday 24 – Sunday 25 October-

Thousands of extreme sport enthusiasts and spectators from across Europe are expected to gather at this year’s Xperience09 Festival, in North Tyneside.

The festival, which is in its second year, is a weekend of extreme sports action at the coast, and takes place in Tynemouth on Saturday 24 – Sunday 25 October, 2009.

Building on the success of the UK Pro Surf Tour surfing championships held in recent years, Xperience’09 is set to be bigger and better than any other year. In addition to surfing on Longsands beach, Beaconsfield in Tynemouth will play host to snowboarding, BMX, skateboarding and more.

There will be opportunities for spectators to join in on the action and participate in certain elements of the festival, learning from the very best in the business.

With over 20 years of experience, Team Extreme know everything there is to know about extreme sports and will not disappoint with their risky but exciting performances.

A massive Big Top will also feature a half pipe and skatepark. Some of the best UK snowboarders and skiers will demonstrate their skills as they catch some serious air on the specially built ramps. There will be full commentary, the chance to find out more about the sport and the opportunity to try out the snow tubing ramp for free.

Meanwhile, surfers from around the world will compete for prize money and tour points in the UKPSA’s North East Surf Open, which is part of the UK Triple Crown of Surfing.

Xperience09 will play host to a fantastic beatboxing schedule this year, featuring the UK’s finest and most established beatboxers; the UK’s leading female artist, Bellatrix, the UK’s male current beatbox champion, Reeps One, and one of the world’s finest beatboxers THe PETEBOX.

The MBS Big Air Mountainboard Show has been confirmed as part of the line up and the team will be performing their backflips, spins and frontflips on the demo ramp. There will also be mountainboard ‘have a go’ sessions where people will be given the opportunity to try out mountainboarding and receive instruction from ATBA qualified instructors.

Serving up the soundtrack to the action throughout the weekend will be DJ ‘Ivy’. She’ll be mixing hip hop, electroclash, baile funk and punk overlaid with her trademark turntable trickery and sample triggering. Ivy promises that you’re in for a good show!

New Line Graffiti artists will be at the festival giving participants the chance to graffiti small boards and best of all – you can take them home with you! New Line Graffiti works with groups of young people from a variety of backgrounds, to educate and help them understand the issues around graffiti.

Circadium – which is part of Let’s Circus’ bigger picture of developing a home for circus arts in Tyneside – will feature a Big Top venue dedicated to all disciplines of contemporary circus arts. There will be workshops, performances and best of all lots of participation – enthusiasts and newcomers will have the chance to try new things, hone current skills and have lots of fun amongst peers and fellow enthusiasts.

Activities taught and displayed will include tight wire, trapeze, aerial silks, acrobalance, acrobatics, unicycling, juggling and hula hooping. Also featuring will be Australia’s award winning ‘Flame Oz’ showcasing their internationally acclaimed fire performance talents and some of the best unicyclists in the UK will be exhibiting high level trick and obstacle course riding all on one wheel.

Stalls and local suppliers will also be there offering their services and equipment throughout the weekend, along with many other surprises in store.

For further information on the UK Pro Surf Tour visit the website: www.ukprosurf.com

For more information on Xperience09 visit: www.xperience-festival.com