Trisurf Exchange

Year 1

Year 2

DEVON, OCTOBER 2005

Our first attempt at hosting a TRISURF exchange week.  The weather was predictably unpredictable, but there were waves.  Check out the week’s programme.

As France had still not joined us for this year we were able to include the TRISURF reserves in this action packed week, based at Skern Lodge, Northam.  The Irish crew rolled up, old acquaintances were rekindled and the week kicked off with an intense surf fitness lesson down at Bude.

This week went very well indeed and highlights included a presentation from Chris Hines (founder member of Surfers Against Sewage and now Sustainability Director at the Eden Project), surfing solid Putsborough in the driving rain, Irish dancing to the tin whistle (played by one of the Irish crew) and various crazy activities put on by Skern Lodge.

We tried to hold a surf competition with our guys and secondary schools in North Devon.  However, this was quickly cancelled as the surf picked up to a solid 6 feet and the wind howled to near gale force offshore.  To back up the decision to cancel, we witnessed a coast guard rescue of two experienced local surfers (nothing to do with the competition) who had got swept out the back and were having a great deal of difficulty getting back in.  Luckily no one was hurt, but it was an important lesson for our group to learn!

ITV South West turned up to do a television news piece on TRISURF.  As the competition was cancelled, they did some interviews with our guys and filmed a local beach life guard giving some surf safety lessons to the whole group.  An eventful day!