Surfing GB is pleased to announce that 2012–13 British Squad and team selections will be based on a National ranking system developed in consultation with the UK Professional Surfing Association (UKPSA).

Senior Squads & Teams

Surfing GB has registered as a competitor member with the ISA and invites applications from all senior surfers interested in participating in International events to apply to Surfing GB for selection.

Forthcoming events include the ISA world Masters championships in Nicaragua in July.

Surfers wishing to compete for Team GB at any ISA event will need to be members of Surfing GB and follow a published selection process in consultation with Surfing GB. British Squad Rankings will be based on the following criteria:

UKPSA rankings for Open surfers (Mens & Womens).

Masters, Vets. UKPSA where appropriate or dedicated SGB selections based on application.

Longboard. Rankings to be informed by BLU

SUP. Rankings to be informed by BSUPA

Bodyboard . Rankings to be informed by BBC.

Senior surfers wishing to develop a GB team training programme in any discipline are invited to get in touch with Surfing GB.

Junior Squad

*Current Squad as selected in November 2011 remains valid until British Nationals in November 2012. http://surfinggb.com/gb-teams-squad/

*British Team members from ISA WJC 2012 will remain bound by their contracts until the end of 2012 contest season (British nationals)

2012-2013 British Squad Selections will be derived as follows:

1. The Surfing GB selection panel will determine the squad and team selections. Final decision on selections rests with the panel.

2. The squad selections will be based on ISA divisions. Currently this is U-16 boys and u-18 Boys & Girls divisions.

3. The squad will comprise 8 surfers in each ISA division with two additional wild card places available, to be chosen by the selection panel. Total Junior squad size will be 30 surfers.

4. Top 8 squad members in each division will be selected according to their position on the new National Ranking System to be published on the Surfing GB website.

5. The 2012 National Ranking System will be derived from the UKPSA rankings.

6. U-16 and U-18 divisions will be ranked.

   1. Where no u-18s division runs in UKPSA events, U-18s will be ranked according to their position in pro-junior division.

   2. U-16s also competing in pro junior and u-18 divisions will be ranked according to position in u-16 events.

   3. Where u-18 divisions are run, results from u-18s division will determine u-18 rankings.

7. The British Championships will be the final event, and a two star counting event, towards UKPSA rankings.

8. Surfers rankings will be based on top results from 50%- plus- one UKPSA tour event. (eg if 8 events top 5 results will count)

9. Surfing Gb reserves the right to determine selection of BG team and squad members regardless of rankings. This ruling is to enable the selectors to take account of disciplinary factors when considering the suitability of surfers to represent their country.

Junior Teams for ISA WJC 2013

1. National rankings at end of season (British Nationals) 2012 will determine starting rank in squad for winter selection process.

2. Starting position in winter National Squad rankings will be allocated points according to 1 star event points. (First ranked surfer starts with 1000 points, surfer 2 860 etc)

3. To register interest and apply for position in ISA WJC teams, surfers must inform selectors at the end of the 2012 contest season and attend at least ONE winter selection event.

4. Four winter selection events will build on the National squad rankings derived from 2012 results.

5. Top 3 from National Squad ranking system at end of winter selection events will travel.

6. ONE wildcard to be selected by selection panel for fourth position in travel teams. This ruling is made to allow travelling surfers to apply for the fourth (wildcard) position in the travel team, if they have been training abroad, or injured.

7. Wildcard MUST have attended at least ONE winter selection event and must apply with evidence and reasons for wildcard application to selection panel.

8. Surfers applying to be considered for travel team selection must do so by the end of November 2012.

9. Surfers applying for travel team selection in 2013 will be required to sign contracts agreeing to participate in British Squad publicity and fundraising events between the beginning of the winter training and selection programme and the date that teams depart for the ISA WJC 2013.

Current UKPSA/ Surfing Gb selection events will be found on the UKPSA website and via the national calendar www.surfinggb.com

The future of British Surfing was given a huge boost today when the leaders of the UK Professional Surfing Association (UKPSA) and Surfing GB, the National Governing Body (NGB) reached an historic agreement over future co-operation, healing a long standing schism in the sport.

The UKPSA has operated independently of the NGB for a number of years, with elite and professional surfers competing in events around the country for the prestigious titles. Contests run by the UKPSA have become recognised as setting the standards for efficient and professional contest management in recent years.

2011 British Champion Stuart Campbell

Surfing GB has been revitalised over the last few months by committees of dedicated volunteer surfers, led by iconic and inspirational figures, such as former British and European Champion, Nigel Semmens. The British Nationals Championships in 2011 provided a springboard for the improved relations between UKPSA and SGB with both organisations working together to organise the event which had been threatened with collapse.

“This is a massive step forward ” said Nigel, “at last we are all pulling together and that can only be of benefit to all surfers. I see this as being something that will be the instigation of a better future for British Surfing”

“The role of an NGB is to provide a good service to all those that it represents- and for us that means all surfers” said Matt Knight, member services director for SGB. “For years competitive surfers have operated under a confusing system with two contest and ranking bodies, and many of our top surfers having little to do with the NGB as a result. The agreement we have reached today enables competitive surfers to operate under a single system that is co-herent and makes sense, and also to save a little bit of money along the way by reducing the membership and insurance fees paid.”

Surfing GB’s Kerry Powell and Matt Knight with Dave Reed and John Owen from UKPSA

Dave Reed, Director of UKPSA said: “Its good news for everyone that cares about the development of Surfing in the UK. We can work together on delivering a really good progression pathway for surfers, but also for those who want to make a career out of officiating: judges, beach-marshalls, contest directors, elite coaches- many surfers have an interest in going on to work in the sport they love and by connecting the efforts of the NGB to develop grassroots surfing, and the UKPSA who represent the professional side of the sport, we can make these sorts of opportunities more accessible to everyone”

2011 UK Pro tour winner Russell Winter

Areas of common interest covered by the agreement between UKPSA and SGB include a National Ranking System, accreditation of events to ensure standards are maintained, common surfer’s insurance for surfers to reduce their costs and reduced membership costs. The British titles event will become counting final events in the UK pro tour calendar, making for an exciting end to the contest season. Selections for British Squads will also be informed by the rankings.

“It was important to us all in to put the difficulties of the past behind us” commented Bruce Daniel, chair of Surfing GB management commitee. “this is about unification and bringing all surfers together. This is just one of many benefits to having people working together… there are many more good things to come.”

For more details on the UK Prosurf tour events www.ukprosurf.com

To see the work of the National Governing Body for surfing hit up www.surfinggb.com

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Download the tour schedule and press releases here:

UKPS tour_2012 Schedule

UKPSA SGB-Press-release

UKPSA SGB-Press-release

Surfing GB is a membership driven organisation that was born out of the ashes of the BSA in Jan 2011. Having promised a clean break from historical problems the new committee started with bold intentions but by Sept 2011 it was clear that there were fundamental failings. Up stepped a group of surfers, volunteers, experts and interested parties who ensured by gaining sponsorship, calling in favours and securing the goodwill of a sceptical surfing community, the successful running of the 2011 British National championships.

Following the Nationals a new steering committee was convened and they started to pick up the pieces. To be honest it’s been a close run thing, things have been worse than many would have imagined, but by taking a pragmatic and open approach have managed to smooth a lot of issues.

We’ve been busy steadying the ship for 6 months  now, implementing proper procedures, building a new website and integrated online membership system,  sending the junior team to Panama, branding, consulting with existing membership and the wider public through surveys….

To be honest there’s been a lot going on that none of you have heard about, but to give some transparency as promised here are the minutes from the last 6 meetings. Have a read and let us know what you think. Want to help out or learn more? contact us info@surfinggb.com

1—–Minutes Surfing Meeting Steering committee 2

2—Minutes Surfing Meeting Steering committee 2

3—Minutes Steering Committee 3rd meeting 24 11 2011

4— Minutes Steering committee 4th meeting Okehampton 19th Jan 2012

5—Steering Committee Fifth Meeting Minutes

6—Minutes of 6th meeting 14 04 2012

7—-Minutes seventh Surfing GB meeting 3rd May 2012

Joe’s Paddle move’s to June Date

The fifth Joe Way Paddle for life is riding a wave towards the Newquay event on Thursday 21^st June at Newquay harbour

The original Paddle for Life started after lifeguards from Fistral Beach held a Joe Way memorial paddle to raise money for charity in 2008. Joe is the inspirational little Newquay boy who touched people’s lives around the country and beyond.

The 2011 event last September saw over 180 paddlers of all ages and abilities taking part to do their bit to raise money for their chosen charities.

Team Joe and its supporters have raised over £98,000.00 of which £69,000.00 has gone towards building Cornwall’s first children’s hospice which opened two months ago. The 2012 event will see Tiger 24 providing a live stream of the event once again to hundreds of online watchers and with international sensation Titan the robot appearing it will be another family fun action packed evening.

The event is run at zero cost as all the equipment, food and raffle prizes are donated so 100% of all the money goes to one of the 20 charities Joe’s story now supports.

The event which has normally been held in September has been moved to June to encourage more families, schools and surf clubs to take part as well as allowing the event to run later into the evening with more light and warmer seas.

Paddlers and swimmers ages start from 5 years upwards and the entry fee is £10 per adult and £5 per child (under 18’s) which is paid on the day with everyone also getting a certificate, free prize ticket and a discount voucher for food. The event is about family fun and everyone helps each other along. 

The event starts at 4pm and the last registration and time in the water is 6.30pm so there is plenty of time to arrive when people have finished work, Titan the Robot and the lifeguard race is just after 6.30pm. To watch and enjoy Titan is free and with the event being streamed live on line it’s another great showcase for Newquay.

Boards are provided with the lots of help from Newquay surf life savers so all you need is your wetsuit or trunks, swimmers and canoes are welcome. Kids can paddler with parents and there will be dads against mum’s fun paddle.

Because the event takes place inside the harbour those who want to get wet and have fun can and for the people of all ages who want to paddle a bit further we have the space for that as well.

Matt Way Joe’s Dad said “It’s a great evening with loads to do on the beach, games for the kids, food stands and the amazing Titan the robot who is a huge crowd pleaser. We just want Joe’s story to inspire new people who then grab a board and paddle for charity”.

Many paddlers had not paddled before and two jet skis where on hand but everyone of all ages got back under their own steam as it became a real effort to make the late Newquay toddler proud.

The winners of the RNLI Joe Way memorial paddle where Porth beach who will be hoping to retain the cup at the 2012 event.

To take part in the Joe Way Newquay Paddle for life 2012, see what happened at last years event and get up to date news go to www.joewaypaddle.co.uk

For more information please contact: info@joeway.co.uk

Tassy Swallow took on some ferocious waves friday, and by the time the hooter had sounded for the end of the final heat, she was the last British surfer left in the contest.

One by one our boys and girls fell to the power of the ocean. Peony and Lucy were in first with Ellen to follow, and they were greeted by the sight of low tide, top to bottom closeouts when they pulled up the comp site for a dawn warm-up. It didn’t look like much fun to be honest, and the coaching team opted for a “coaching from the beach” session (Café con Leche in the beach bar) whilst watching the girls get pounded).

Conditions didn’t improve for the early heats and one by one the girls were defeated. Only Tassy was unfazed: she dropped into a couple of bombs and made the next round- then did it again in the afternoon.

In between the early Losses and Tassy’s last ditch success, Harry, Max, Will, Miles and, finally, Luke, also bowed out. No-one gave up- despite tough competition; all five surfers could have made the scores they needed- but the ridable waves were hard to pick between the long period closeout sets that rolled through relentlessly all day. Swells like this are crying out for a point break to shape and channel them- but a horseshoe bay like Venao closes out spectacularly at this sort of size and only the main peaks on podium one were consistently showing good shape.

So to Saturday and Tass was the last one in. We pitched up with flags and banners, but the odds were against and despite putting in a good heat, Tass was knocked out. So ended the 2012 SGB challenge in the world championships- looks like we’ll end up about 14^th out of 31 participating countries- about where we were last year (11^th out of 27). Not a spectacular result, but this is a young team with many new faces and much potential, and the experience will stand them in good stead for the future.

Given where we were 6 months ago, with the NGB in a state of collapse and no plans for a selection, training and fundraising process, it has to be considered a success just to have brought a team at all. British surfing has been represented on the world stage and just by waving the flag and battling it out in tough heats, the kids have made a statement of intent and done their country proud.

Our goal in 2012-2013 will be to build on the momentum this event has generated and ensure that there is a solid future for the NGB. In that way we can tap into the funding streams required to raise standards across the board- so that opportunities for young people are extended, and quality of coaching is improved.

For now it remains to thank all those who have supported the British Juniors in their 2012 campaign: especially sponsors Calypso who stuck by the NGB through difficult times this winter. We are grateful also to Breo, Offsure Surf, Robies, Surfdome. And of course to all those who volunteered their time and energy to help with selections, coaching, fundraising- and to all supporters who have buoyed the juniors’ spirits throughout the campaign.

The juniors fly home on Tuesday- for now, we are exploring some of the other surf breaks around the Azuero peninsular which are not crowded with international competitors- and today, Sunday, we will be watching, and learning from, the finalsists!

Empty Lineup, somewhere in Panama- post contest bonus for the GB Juniors.

Luke Dillon paddling. Taz Knight caught inside.

Max & Harry

Miles “I don’t like Tuna” Hargreaves.

Paddy above, Will below.

Lucy coping with the closeouts

Thanks to all our lovely supporters who’ve made the GB junior teams participation at the championships possible.

The Grim Reaper.

Wednesday. Our sudden death heats started this morning, with Angus, Taz & Ellen all facing the axe in tricky low tide close-outs. The coaching team were stoked to have a magnificent turnout from the rest of the team who were down on the beach in the early morning sunshine, flags waving, to cheer their team mates into waves.

Team Surfing GB supporting their mate Angus in a tricky low tide heat early on Wednesday.

By noon all 3 had survived the ordeal and had better conditions to look forward to in round 2 this afternoon (or in Ellens case, on Thursday)

Max was first up in the R2 heats. Conditions had improved and he took full advantage, surfing a superb heat to progress to R3. In quick fire succession we then watched Angus and Taz lose out,both with easily makeable scores to chase, both gutted to be at the end of their journey in this event. Harry DeRoth redressed the balance with compact and efficient surfing, making his heat with a series of snappy turns.

Angus Scotney on his way out, but going down fighting.

Harry de Roth progresses to R3 repos

Paddy was the only u-18 boy to surf today and fell victim to a tight interference call. His contest is now over, but he has acquitted himself with some fine surfing, great style and fanatstic spirit.

The beach has begun to resemble a war zone with the intensity of competition hotting up: the volume of cheers and hoots has increased, the flags and pennants of the different national teams encamped up and down the shoreline are waving more and more vigorously , and assorted structures and vehicles; all lending an air of drama to the occasion. Its exciting stuff.

Certainly the passion of the teams on the beach is evident, and particularly so for the South and Central American teams. Their cheers and songs are the loudest, their teams the youngest, and the flair in their surfing is obvious. Brazil and Peru have been strong teams for a while- but Panama, Venezuela, Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Nicaragua are all making a strong bid for the coveted top 8. The bar has definitely been raised and the level of surfing across the contest has been fantastic. With 30 countries and 300 surfers competing, some big scalps have been taken by surfers from hitherto unrated nations. Traditional seats of domination are under threat, and performance levels are rising.

Taz, like Angus, went down fighting.

This team of committed young athletes have been through a gruelling winter training and selection process, and are being coached in Panama by Lloyd Cole and Joanne Dennison. Like the rest of the coaches who freely gave their time during the winter, Lloyd & Jo have both volunteered their time to look after the kids on this expedition and have thrown themselves into the task tirelessly.

Here Jo takes Ellen Harding through a pre-heat warm-up routine under the SGB beach Canopy. It feels about 40 deg celcius in there, but at least its a degree cooler than the beach outside.

To bring our level of performance up to match the powerhouse nations like Australia, Peru, USA and South Africa, we need to invest money. We need to support our surf clubs so they can nurture the young talent of the next generation, we need recognition from the UK government (which currently does not recognise surfing as a sport!) We need surfing in the P.E curriculum and we need academies, centres of excellence. And we need to pay committed coaches like Lloyd & Jo.

Max Payne, described by the webcast commentators as having a “priceless bottom turn” here putting in an equally impressive carve on the lip of this wave. It earned him a place in R3.

Passionate and committed. Venezuela cheer their team-mate on. The beach looks like a war zone. (Oh and yes, in case you are wondering, that IS a real mini hanging on the judges tower. No idea why!!!)

Day 4 Hightlights

Thanks to all the Supporters who have thrown their weight behind the GB Junior team

Japan and Brazil

The wheels came off a bit on Tuesday. All our surfers are now officially in the repercharge, which means for any of them to claw their way back into the finals will be an uphill struggle. Winning a heat in the reperchage is great news in a points-for-the-team sort of way…. But its tough going for the surfers as there is the disheartening prospect of seeing the next round morph into a monster as the losing surfers from the qualifying rounds are dropped into your next heats.

Having said that, there have been numerous winners who have come from the early repercharge rounds to win the overall title- so we have high hopes still that one of our talented bunch of juniors will push on some distance yet.

Will & Lloyd discussing tactics. Lloyd has been inspirational to the kids.

The contest has now taken on a momentum that all big events seem to gain after the initial set-up and teething troubles have passed. It has to be said that the ISA run a well organised and tight ship. No detail has been left to chance, with air- con portakabin offices craned onto the beach, monumental judging and officiating scaffolds, a slick media office and all the backup systems and staff you could want, for running a surf comp on this scale. Congratulations are due to the ISA exec and to the contest officials.

The temperature on the beach today was less searing than the previous couple, thanks to a bank of cloud that hung around most of the day- with light and variable winds making for clean waves. Tides are starting to grow again however, meaning the dead low and dead high tide surf will become increasingly tricky as the week goes on.

We went into Tuesdays heats on a wave of high expectation, with 8 out of 10 surfers having made their first round heats. The early signs on Tuesday were good with Ellen Harding unlucky to come third needing only a 1.6 to progress. Tass Swallow cruised into round 2 and Luke Dillon Smashed his round 2 u-18 heat making the third round on the back of two firsts.

But there were ominous signs that things were going to start getting tougher from here-on. Paddy posted a 6 and a 4- scores that would have comfortably seen him through round 1, but was well beaten in his R2. HDR similarly crashed into the reps from his R2 u-16.

Lucy ready for action

The girls were in for their R2 at around lunch time, both Lucy & Peony putting up a strong challenge on Podium 1. P was pipped, with 2^nd 3^rd and 4^th in her heat all separated by only half a point. Luce paddled and battled in true Campbell style, and came very close. Tass found herself on Podium two during a high tide lull that offered few waves her size- going out to some solid surfing from a Tahitian charger.

The u-18 boys now faced an increasingly menacing task as the Latin American aerialists, powerhouse Aussie and Americans, and Hawaiian chargers started to ramp up the pressure. In Will Davey’s heat Koa Smith put a 9.0 on the board which had the crowd hooting, until on the very next wave Daveid Silva posted a 9.74 with a massive hack and two backhand air reverses. The Brazilian team on the beach went nuts- and everyone else just had to applaud in awe.

Paddy Daniel

This set the tone for the afternoon as one by one our u-18s fell to high level performance surfing from some of those who will go on to become WCT contenders. Luke Dillon deserves a special mention for coming close in a heat that was stacked to the rafters with talent- losing in the end to a controversial drop-in from Jake Halstead. The British team lodged a formal protest but the Head Judge’s decision was final.

Reperchage rounds beckon- and it is here that we will see the true story of this contest unfold. Those who ar destined for top 4 finishes are already in the distance nearing the summit- for those pushing to play catch, up it is the next two days of grinding out results in back-to back 15 minute heats that will determine the overall placings.

The team is tired, but determined. We have been well prepared, we are well fed, and we are staying in a great spot. Now is the time to dig deep and push on.

Harry De Roth

Luke prepping & focussed

Miles battling

Paddy Daniel stylin in the sea

Peony on her way to a narrow defeat

Tassy Swallow

Will Davey, R3

Luke D

Thanks to all our lovely supporters who’ve made the GB junior teams participation at the championships possible.

Day one of the contest and the long months of preparation and training, fundraising and travelling are finally culminating at the water’s edge, as the GB juniors cheer their first team mates into their heats.

The draw put British Surfers onto podium 1 and 2 at the same time so we have Max Payne and Will Davey in the water, surfing in u-16 and u-18 heats respectively. Max got off to a great start and followed his opening couple of rides with a bomb left, throwing in some smooth carves and a fine forehand smash that had the judges sending him through to round 2 without question. On Podium 1 Will Davey had a plan and stuck to it, sitting patiently for a nerve jangling 5 minutes before the wave he had been waiting for came through for him- a sweet lefthander that offered a nerve settling opening ride. Hefollowed it up with a perfect combination of top- to- bottom backhand carves. Job done.

Next up on podium 2 was Angus and he was unlucky, we all felt, not to progress- The best of his waves was one of the waves of the heat and he duly delivered a trademark Scotney tail slide. The British crew on the beach were whooping and sure he’d made the score… but he still needed a back-up and it just never came for him.
In at the same time on Podium 1, Miles Lee Hargraves was oozing the sort of confidence that previous experience at this level inspires. There never seemed any doubt that he would make his heat one the first wave was in the bag, and his snappy destruction of the rights was duly rewarded by the judges.
A long wait in the searing heat was followed by Taz and Luke’s turn. Taz paddled in determined, but the low tide was offering few scoring opportunities on podium two, and he was consigned to the reperchage with Angus, where a long haul awaits. Meanwhile on podium one Luke ground out a fine victory in the windy low tide conditions, surfing with determination and aggression that left no doubt about the outcome.

All in all it’s been a good opening day for the GB team with 4 out of 6 who surfed progressing and all our u-18s still in the qualifying rounds. Monday will see the girls in and the last of our u-16 and 18 round one surfers.
Everyone is knackered. Its HOT out there. Fitness and stamina are going to play a big part in this contest.

Breo watches, competitor wristbands

Calypso in Red

Yoga before the comp starts

Angus, about to go in

and then unlucky to get 3rd with a big tail slide on this wave

Max payne’s smooth carves earned him a well deserved progression

Max, Job done

Miles lee hargraves using his experience to take second in his heat

Will Davey, fine performance in his heat

and Job done

Taz struggled to find the right wave at low tide, this was the one that offered a score but this opening turn needed a big finish to take the score into the mid range that was needed to progress

Luke Dillon used all his experience and cruised to a well- earned first in his heat, smashing this low tide right

Luke Dillon takes first

 
Thanks to all the Supporters who have thrown their weight behind the GB Junior team

The ISA fiesta in Pedai

Gallery

[Show as slideshow]

The action kicks off at Playa Venao on Sunday 15th and the boys are up first.

Thanks to all the Supporters who have thrown their weight behind the GB Junior team

The Hawaiians are here.

Make no mistake. Behind the big smiles there is a steely nerve; folded, beaten, & sharpened by an up-bringing in the world’s most intense surf.

This is Kaoli Kakuhuloa and Seth Moniz. If the names didn’t completely give them away, the looks would. Historically in Polynesian society, the aristocracy had first dibs on the best waves… I suspect somewhere in the distant ancestry of these two young gentlemen there were some pretty core chargers, and perhaps not a little royal blood.

There is something moving about the appearance of the Hawaiian team on the beach here in Panama. On the face of it this comp is a world championships, its an ISA show, it’s a sponsor’s showcase. But underlying all that its also a gathering of the clans. There is definitely something tribal going on, and the people who started it all, the Polynesians are here. Accompanying them is little bravado, no brashness; just big smiles on the beach, big turns in the sea, and a calm certainty that whatever the ocean throws up in the next week , it won’t trouble nobody.

Meanwhile that wave starting to show on the outside… well, turns out that riding that sweet little peeler is Kaoli and Seth’s team mate, Tatiana Weston Webb. ”Tati” is a sensation, hails from Kauaii, and is of the generation of Grommets that grew up idolising Bruce & Andy irons. She shredded this wave, all the way to the beach.

Tatiana Weston Webb, above, on her n’th turn on this wave… and still a hundred metres to the sand

Morning ding repairs to humans and boards, Dr Cole attends to a patient.

With the contest peaks now rammed with world class surfers, we chose today (Thursday) to go in the opposite direction to everyone else, and struck out to the West on what must be one of Panama’s most pot-holed roads., stopping only for 45 bananas ($3) along the way.

Banana stop.

Cheap, and perfect hungry-surfer fuel… oh and Deisel for the bus is about a fifth the cost that we pay in England which is pretty mad.… just the GB Juniors and a couple of chilled locals in absolutely shreddable surf.

It was an epic day with wave count 10 times that we would have made at Venao with so many international surfers now hussling for every wave there, and with a whole fish each for lunch under a thatched palapa … not too shabby as Panama experiences go.

Team GB arrive “somewhere” in Panama to find empty waves and a classic central America set-up.: Thatched Palapa, fresh fish, & a pimped 1970s jukebox pumping out latino hip-hop.

Lucy Campbell & Ellen Harding get to grips with hybrid technology

The surf was sick all day… and the kids were amped to be somewhere away from the crowd… we will do the same on Friday… because from Saturday onwards… things are going to warm up a bit.

Harry DeRoth gets the treatment from Barcas as the pensive crew nervously await their turn.

Miles lee hargraves, Thursday : secret spot demolition begins

Luke Dillon going mental

Ellen harding carving her way towards the weekend

Angus “I;ve only got one approach and that’s fully committed” Scotney , has been blowing up in Panama… heres another pedal to the floor turn (yes, he landed it).

Will davey has been a model of calm efficiency, quietly getting on with the job of schralping everything he takes off on.

HDR lining up another air reverse attempt. This one resulted in a full reverse bellyflop… but somehow he came out riding and so… we scored it.

P-diddy Daniel … 5 past… must be getting close to lunch time.

Following their encounter with the Jukebox, Lucy, Ellen, Peony and Tassy decided to compose a little poem.

Here it is……..

We’re living in the jungle

Ellen’s knees have turned fungle

We surf 5 times a day

The skys are never grey

This means we get fried

So red we cant hide

Our camp is on a giant hill

Driving up it’s a real thrill

The food is so great

The chef is our mate

He teaches us kung-fo

But hasn’t yet fixed the loo

Lucys ribs are red raw

Harrys blonde hair is no more

Tass introduced Uno

Lukes injured his toe

We still have two weeks to go

And GB have epic surfing to show

Thanks to all the Supporters who have thrown their weight behind the GB Junior team