Bigpower

Anybody here into surfing or kayaking by any chance?

or surf kayaking for that matter??

Nope, but my Nephew is a Kyaking guide in Wales, keep meaning to give it a blast, but he's a bit nuts:

(Thats not Wales btw, its Reykjafoss).

The Mrs has been bodyboarding for a couple of months and dragged me into it recently. I can't pretend that I am any good at all but it's good fun & great exercise.

I was just wondering really as it's been a few years since I did any serious kayaking. Following a recent day trip down to the Wye with the wife and kids I got the buzz again. I figured I'd dig out my equipment and see what was what.

I have the Usk literally at the base of the mountain which is only a 6 minutes drive from my place and then there's the Wye which is about 20 minutes further up the road, so loads of scope for getting some time in (and there's no excuse as it's not like you can put a kayak up on axle stands and talk about building it for months on end, it either floats or it doesn't!!)

I'm not sure how this latest kayak of mine will fair, I bought it off a guy down in Cornwall about 2 years ago. He'd built it as a prototype for a surf kayaking competition and had only used it a few times (in the surf) it's not really suited to white or flat water though I'm sure it'll handle well enough, even if it is a bit slow (I'll get some pics up tomorrow).


As for surfing I haven't done any since 2007 when I was over at Coronado in the States with work. When I was over there I spent several weeks convincing myself that I was a pro and then shelled out over a grand on a Gucci' carbon fibre bat wing short board, went through the dramas of carrying it back on the flight and then never actually got round to even waxing the bloody thing, it's currently sat up in the rafters of the gym in a carry bag just gathering dust. I suppose the Gower would be the closest place to me for surfing.

I can see that ending up like the opening scenes of Point Break, with me embarrassing myself in front of a bunch of 14 year olds looking like some middle aged guy going through a mid life crisis.....but fook' it I'm a pro

Have fun Just be careful though.
I used to be a gymnast and even represented Birmingham. Years after packing it in I still kept up with it. I then went on to train the University of Birmingham gymnastics squad so still played about at gymnastics. Anyway, after a staff basketball match we ended up in the gymnastic hall where I did this......

Yes it hurt, I actually thought i'd broke both my feet and my stearnum and a month later whilst playing basketball I suffered a minor heart attack due to bruising my heart

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVNDBluxIv8

Ouch I laughed at Pez' comments about mid-life shenanigans. I'm 42, 6'5" and 16 stone ish, so you can imagine how I feel floating around on a bloody bodyboard Vision carbon or not

Fun though, and a mile away from dicking about with cars which is nice sometimes.