A fantastic double day of coaching and training for Team England Para/Adaptive surfers took place in North Devon, over the weekend 12th-13th November.
The charts aligned, the surf was set to be pumping, the sun was shining, and the training session was ON. This training was vital to practise in the ocean, ahead of the 2022 Pismo Beach ISA World Para Surfing Championships that take place early next month in Pismo Beach, California.
Surfers and coaches gathered on Saturday morning at Surf South West in Croyde, for introductions as we welcomed our new coaching team, and ran a session on goal setting. Wave counts were a clear priority, as well as developing skills, rail usage, turns, maximising scoring potential, etc, so we headed over the headland to Putsborough where the surf was pretty epic!
Hannah Dines was straight out back riding heaps of waves, taking some epic long rides down the line & starting to turn in the white water too, coached by Andy Banks and Matt Jones, who helped her to maximise ride length and scoring potential.
Martin Pollock was also out in the midst of a busy line up, picking his spot amongst the crowd and claiming the waves he was after. David Jeffrey (Jock) who came and met the team for the first-time impressed coaches with his skills, showing that Brighton does get waves. Unfortunately, Jock can’t make Cali this year, but has the potential for a bright future in Para surfing. Kevin Dring, out back with these guys, observing the surfing & supporting.
Meanwhile Andy Guy, surfing for the first time in the ocean since injury caught some absolute waves of the day, trimming down the line. The conditions first thing were quite heavy and challenging, but throughout the day the progression was clear, coaches Jack Patching and Ian Bennett pushing him into some excellent waves, one which took him so far right it got the catchers running! This guy is a natural on a board & is one to watch.
Dave Lewis, working with Gary Brickley as a guide for waves, were building the connection throughout the weekend, both working together which saw David riding some lovely open-faced waves.
On Sunday, Oliver Jones joined the crew, wish a fresh board, bright orange in colour and custom build for knee boarding, which was exciting. The board delivered as Oli surfed some great waves.
Sunday also saw heat drills, simulating 20 minutes competition heats that will take place at World Champs. Two 20-minute heats were ran, waves were scored, and it was impressive to see all the surfers getting busy. That mindset adjustment from free surfing, to getting the scores, you could see the switch. Oli took highest scoring wave with a lovely ride carving from top to bottom on a open face left hander!
At the end of both training days the team gathered together for wave riding analysis, everyone learning from each other’s points for development. It was brilliant to see the progression for surfers that attended both days, working on their strategies to improve on the Sunday.
A huge thank you to surfers Dave Lewis, Andy Guy, Hannah Dines, Martin Pollock, David ‘Jock’ Jeffrey, and Oliver Jones for attending and giving it their all, all weekend. It was a pleasure to coach you all.
None of this would be possible without our incredible coaches, Andy Banks, Ian Bennett, Matt Jones, Kevin Dring, Jack Patching, and Gary Brickley. Thank you all, epic planning, and delivery of a brilliant coaching weekend. Also supporting the team throughout the weekend was Hannah Brand, from core Surfing England Team.
Would you like to support Team England Para Surfers?
We currently receive no core funding from Sport England for the Team. Help us get the team and coaches to California by supporting our Crowdfunder and Prize Draw. By donating you are in with the chance to win a:
- GREEN OVERHEAD SURFBOARD – A Green Overhead Arima Atonic 5’10 – click here to check it out.
- SURFBOARD bundle from Daniel Surf, including a NSP Protech Funboard and tailpad, Ocean and Earth boardbag and leash, and Sticky Bumps wax.
- ITIWIT and Olaian bundle of 2 x drybags, towel, wax & sun block!
- Cutty Sark whisky
- North Coast Wetsuit Jacket
- Gecko Surf Helmet
- S.E.A crew t-shirt
- DRYROBE
Team England Partners
Thank you to our major Team England partners who’s sponsorship helps us support our elite surfing teams, korev Lager, Caravan and Motorhome Club, Wild West Jerky, and The Wave.
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