Mr Surfy Cafe boss Steve Pratt from Polzeath was left with horrific wounds when a surfer bailed his board resulting in a six-inch gash that required hospital treatment yesterday.
Mr Pratt said;
“This guy just bailed. I don’t know why – he might have thought the wave was too big. But by just jumping off his board the way he did, he sent it flying straight at me. I had no chance to get out of the way – he was only feet away – and it cracked me right on the top of my head. It was unbelievably painful and when I put my hand up to feel the damage, I could see straight away that I was covered in blood.
“There’s a basic rule, or code, that every surfer learns – you must try to keep control of your board. If he’d just held on to his board he’d have been OK and so would I. Instead I ended up in A&E having to have my head glued back together. Actually it could have been worse – it might have caught me in the eye, or I could have lost some teeth. Fast-moving surfboards can pack quite a wallop. It’s almost scalped me.”
Mr Pratt says the surfer who injured him didn’t apologise or stop to see if he was badly hurt. I shouted at him and said ‘You’ve just whacked me!’ and put my hand up to show him the blood. I caught the next wave in and was expecting him to follow to at least see how I was but he didn’t.
“It’s a bit like hitting someone with a car – you have a responsibility to stop and see if the other person is OK.
Last month surf instructed Rob Small issued some fine advice for SUP’er on Carvemag which fits equally well with learners or intermediates on longer boards. If you are an experienced surfer please pass on the code to others you. A quiet word often solves the problem.
1) Be aware of your equipment!
Longboards, 10’ boards, 2m carbon paddles, and long leashes all increase the ‘kill zone’ after a wipeout or when caught inside. It can easily be 20 feet before considering any of the dragging action of waves. Add that into the equation and after a wipeout you could easily hit someone who was 30 feet shoreside when you fell off.
Be aware of who is around you at all times and position yourself safely.
If you get caught inside don’t just ditch your board! Make sure nobody is going to get hit if you bail. If there are a lot of crew out turn around, catch the foam in and get out of the way.
If you can’t make a section ride the whitewater out and always retain full control of your board.
Always use a leash.
2) Minimise the risk – Be aware of the surfing environment. Is it crowded? Are there lots of children or beginner surfers in the water? Is the lineup very open or compressed into a small area? Are the waves suitable for your level of surfing? Are there bigger sets cleaning everyone up?
Just take a minute and think about these things before you paddle out. If you’re unsure about anything either give it a miss or find an uncrowded spot or smaller wave away from the pack.
3) Be aware of your level.
Pushing the envelope is part of why we do these things but overestimation of our abilities will lead to trouble, be it a crushing blast of humility or worse, someone off to A&E with you as the responsible party. There’s plenty of opportunity for heroics when you’ve done the time and acquired the skills.
4) Be aware of right of way rules. Closest to the peak has priority. Watch what’s going on and take your turn!
Don’t impede someone’s ride by paddling over the shoulder to avoid getting hit by the whitewater and getting in the way. Take the hit, but do so being aware of those around you. (see above)
Surfers Against Sewage is launching the Safer Seas Service app today, it is a national real-time water quality app that sends free app alerts to surfers and beach users when sewer overflows discharge untreated human sewage into the sea and when water quality is reduced by diffuse pollution.
As we all know this is occurring more and more often across the UK, even when it isn’t raining but the good news is 315 beaches across England and Wales are covered.
Warning of pollution incidents in real-time via the Safer Seas Service helps means you can try and find unaffected beaches that have the best water quality exactly when they want to hit the beach. The Safer Seas Service app is free to download for iPhones, iPads and mobile Android devices from iTunes and Google Play.
The app will also shops you discharge history so you can see how often your water company is dumping waste at your local.
The Safer Seas Service app is an enhanced version of SAS’s Sewage Alert Service app. Since launching, the service has issued real-time alerts for a shocking 3,665 individual sewage spills at beaches nationwide. The updated Safer Seas Service will not only warn beach users about further untreated sewage spills, but also incorporate new daily predictions on the impacts of diffuse pollution at 164 beaches across England and Wales.
There is no other service in the world that provides such complete and up to date information on water quality. Surfers Against Sewage wants beach users to visit, use and enjoy UK beaches, but avoid contracting some of the serious illnesses associated with bathing in polluted waters. The Safer Seas Service also has some additional features to help us all protect water quality, report pollution incidents and further the public’s understanding of the health threats.
As well as the new app, the Safer Seas Service warnings are also displayed on an online map and available as free SMS messages from the SAS website for any none smart phone users.
Andy Cummins Surfers Against Sewage Campaign Director says: “Whilst other organisations report on last year’s water quality, the Safer Seas Service tells beach users what’s happening at their favourite beach in real-time, allowing them to have the safest and best fun possible on our beaches. The Safer Seas Service truly is this summer’s must have beach accessory, download it for free today at SAS.org.uk”
Health impacts from sewage and diffuse pollution: Health impacts from water borne pollution can range from eye, ear and throat infections to the more serious inflictions such as gastro enteritis, E. coli and hepatitis. For more information on the health risks please visit: http://www.sas.org.uk/the-risks-of-mixing-with-sewage/
Safer Seas Service beaches in the South West
Bude Crooklets Bigbury-on-Sea North Clevedon Beach Bude Summerleaze Blackpool Sands Minehead Carbis Bay Porth Kidney Sands Breakwater Beach (Shoalstone) Dunster Crantock Broadsands Uphill Slipway, WSM East Looe Budleigh Salterton Weston-super-Mare Fistral Challaborough Beer Gyllyngvase Dawlish Coryton Cove Sidmouth Town Harlyn Bay Dawlish Town Ladram Bay Holywell Bay Dawlish Warren Shaldon Instow Exmouth Watcombe Lusty Glaze Goodrington Thurlestone North Mawgan Porth Hollicombe Bigbury-on-Sea South Par Ilfracombe Capstone Wildersmouth Mothecombe Pentewan Ilfracombe Tunnels Beach Bovisand Perranuthnoe Lynmouth Plymouth Hoe East Polkerris Meadfoot Plymouth Hoe West Polzeath Oddicombe Seaton (Cornwall) Porth Paignton, Paignton Sands Millendreath Porthcurno Paignton, Preston Sands Readymoney Porthleven West Salcombe North Sands Crinnis Golf Links Porthminster Salcombe South Sands Portmellon Porthtowan Saunton Sands Gorran Haven Little Perhaver Portwrinkle Teignmouth Holcombe Porthluney Rock Teignmouth Town Porthcurnick Swanpool Torre Abbey Maenporth The Towans (Godrevy) Wells Porthallow The Towans (Hayle) Westward Ho! Mounts Bay Marazion Towan Woolacombe Village Mounts Bay Heliport Trevone Bay Woolacombe, Barricane Bay Mounts Bay Penzance Widemouth Sand Seaton Mounts Bay Wherry Town Godrevey Wembury Croyde Bay Sennen Dunster North West Ilfracombe Hele St Agnes (Trevaunance) Porlock Weir Combe Martin Babbacombe Blue Anchor West Berrow North of Unity Farm Bantham Burnham Brean Weston Main
Safer Seas Service beaches on the south coast
Avon Beach, Christchurch West Bay Lyme Regis Front Beach Boscome Pier, Bournemouth Weymouth Lodmoor Stokes Bay Bournemouth Pier West Street East, Brighton Hillhead Bowleaze Cove Hove Lawn East, Brighton Gurnard Branksome Chine, Poole Littlehampton Coastguards Cowes Castle Cove, Portland Harbour Bognor Regis West Ryde Charmouth West Hayling Island Beachlands St Helens Eypemouth Ventnor Bexhill Fisherman’s Walk, Bournemouth Yaverland Pevensey Bay Friar’s Cliff, Christchurch Sandown Lancing, Beach Green Hengistbury West, Bournemouth Shanklin Worthing Poole Harbour Rockley Sands West Bay Felpham Ringstead Bay West Wittering Beach Folkestone Sandsfoot Castle, Portland Harbour Colwell Bay Littlestone Seatown Kimmeridge Bay Camber Shore Road Beach, Poole Lulworth Cove Hastings Swanage Central Lyme Regis Church Cliff Beach Portland Harbour Castle Cove Portland Harbour Sandsfoot Castle
Safer Seas Service beaches on the east coast
Herne Bay East Runton Sea Palling Tankerton Felixstowe South Sheringham Botany Bay, Felixtowe North Shoebury East Joss Bay Frinton Shoeburyness Westbrook Bay Gorleston Skegness Margate Main Great Yarmouth North Southend Chalkwell Beach Minnis Bay Great Yarmouth Pier Southend Jubilee Beach Ramsgate Great Yarmouth South Southend Leigh Bell Wharf St Mildreds Bay Heacham Southend Thorpe Bay Stone Bay Hemsby Southend Three Shells West Bay Holland Southend Westcliff Bay Anderby Creek Humberston Fitties Southwold The Deans Brightlingsea Hunstanton Main Southwold The Pier Caister Point Hunstanton beach Sutton on Sea Chapel St Leonards Ingoldmells Walton Clacton Groyne 41 Jaywick Wells Clacton Martello Tower Lowestoft North West Mersea Clacton Lowestoft South Broadstairs, Viking Bay Cleethorpes Mablethorpes Town Herne Bay Cromer Moggs Eye Leysdown Dovercourt Bay Mundesley Minster Leas Safer Seas Service beaches in the north east Bridlington North Cullercoats Withernsea Bridlington South Druridge Bay North Spittal Cayton Bay Druridge Bay South Newbiggin North Filey Newbiggin North Blyth South Beach Hornsea Newbiggin South Seaton Sluice Runswick Bay Redcar – Granville Terrace Tynemouth Cullercoats Robin Hoods bay Redcar Coatham Seaham Hall Beach Scarborough North Redcar Lifeboat Station Seaham Beach Scarborough South Redcar Stray Crimdon Staithes Saltburn Seaton Carew North Whitby Staithes Seaton Carew Centre Withernsea Tynemouth King Edwards Bay Flamborough South Landing Bamburgh Tynemouth Longsands North Wilsthorpe Beadnall Tynemouth Longsands South Fraisthorpe Safer Seas
Services beaches in the north west
Blackpool Central St Bees Blackpool South Blackpool North Allonby Fleetwood Bispham Allonby South Morecambe South Cleveleys West Kirby Haverigg Morecambe North Ainsdale Seascale Walney West Shore Southport Allonby Walney Biggar Bank St Annes Silloth Walney Sandy Gap St Annes North Safer Seas Service beaches in Wales Broadhavern Llangrannog Cemaes Newgale Aberystwyth South Llanfairfechan Manorbier Aberdyfi Penmaenmawr Newport North Criccieth Llandudno West Shore Poppit West Aberdaron Rhyl
*Just been informed by the record company it is “Gasoline Alley”! Think my version is better…
Not sure what to say about this. Never been much good at defining lyrics but Chrissie Hynds new song is called “Down the wrong way”, it sounds like she is singing she is back in “orgasm alley” after being a porn star and having an offer she can’t refuse…And there are some Swedish surfers involved in a video surfing a secret spot in South Sweden who or may not have been involved in the whole incident…So, anyway I’ve asked the record company what the story is…but you know what you say them Swedes?! No me neither…
With long established rules and every one holiday out to have a good time it is pretty difficult to imagine why this would still happen in Indo on such clearly defined breaks…I dunno… Comments below. (Keep it clean, nothing below the belt)
Kiwi Surfer Tim Thimpson says of the clip “It’s all happened to us before, you’re out surfing, enjoying a good session with just you and your mates. Then you suddenly get that sinking feeling as you see 10 people pile out into the line up, all at once, heading for you like a honing missile.
“Oh well, it was bound to happen at some point, so you just smile, wait you’re turn and try enjoy the remainder of you’re session. This would work except the new comers have a different attitude, continuous snaking, consecutive drop-ins and generally bad attitudes would make you think you have entered into a WQS final.
“As luck would have it, one particular honing missile decided to head my way to fade me for the third consecutive time, let’s just say my exit off the wave was either poorly timed or perfectly executed, depending on how you look at the situation.”
Reubyn Ash “One session in the wind” is a short clip filmed, as you may guess, entirely in one session on a windy day. If you want to know how to have fun in cross shore summer slop, or learn a few new tricks study this!
On Saturday, 26th July at 2pm there will be a demonstration against SWW constant polluting of the Red River Godrevy with the support of the local community and Surfers Against Sewage.
Local resident, beach user and business woman Karin Howey says: “This is the 21st century and we do not live in a third world country so how can it be acceptable that South West Water can allow untreated sewage on to our beaches.”
“Together we will call on South West Water to STOP discharging untreated human sewage at Godrevy. I felt compelled to act, after South West Water discharged sewage three times in a two week period during June/July 2014, which directly affected my family and business. Myself and the guests staying at my chalet all had severe stomach bugs after swimming and surfing in the polluted sea.”
Meet at Gwithian Beach, next to the Red River at 1.30pm, members of the local community and Surfers Against Sewage campaigners in wetsuits will gather on the beach with placards and banners calling for South Wet Water to STOP polluting the environment.
Karin continued “I understand that sewer overflows are used as an emergency discharge and help alleviate storm water and untreated waste water when the system becomes close to bursting. We feel these sewer overflows should only ever be used after extreme rainfall events. However it is clear to see, that this is happening far too frequently with unacceptable consequences. We have recently been enjoying dry sunny weather and recent rainfall records back this up, so why have our beaches had an increased number of raw sewage discharges?
“The clear indication is that there are maintenance problems or other serious deficiencies in the waste water treatment system. We are fed up with the Environment Agency telling us their samples have passed water quality tests and our bathing water is of a high standard, when in fact there are major flaws in the testing process itself. We strongly believe the water quality samples are returning misleading results because they are taken from an area of the beach that avoids the impacts of the Red River and South West Water’s sewage discharges.
“As we rely heavily on tourism in the South West, it feels counterproductive to be highlighting the sewage in our bathing water but there needs to be change and action. South West Water, The Environment Agency and the public all need to work together to protect our coastline and the health of people using the sea, but ultimately the responsibility lies with South West Water, who charge us the highest water rates in the country!
If you can’t make it please sign and share the petition which already has over 3,600 signatures in one week and join us at Gwithian beach on July 26th at 2pm to highlight the level of concern and show your support.
