www.DurhamMountainSports.org.uk

Hi All,

Thought i'd better get something up before xmas for this, seeing as Rich has been so planned n'all!

Thinking of a day's surf (well, an hour or so!) if people are interested. Yes it's January and yes it's cold, but you can hire the full winter kit and keep toasty, plus you're too busy anyways to worry about the minus temp! (also got the van to get changed in). Think of the Choccy cake and coffee after!

Probably Tynemouth or Saltburn, as that's not too far to travel and the hire stuff is available.

All surf dependent of course, but if anyone's interested for the 19th Jan, say, I can sort out some hire and am quite happy to give a basic lesson in what to do and more importantly, what not to do!

If it's really pants weather/surf for Jan, an alternative is to go visit a climbing wall somewhere different, so how about kendal? About 1 + 1/2 hours away from Durham, so not too far. This has top rope walls; auto belays; 20m lead wall with a belay cave to practise your multi pitch on; a stalactite to lead; bouldering rooms; a nice little area to sit under the heaters and they do a smashing chocolate brownie and make you a cup of tea/coffee! Have a nose at kendalwall.co.uk. No joining fee and was about £8 to get in when I was last there.

Let us know what you think and we'll take it from there.

Have a fun yule out there and see you in the New Year,

Mike

Hi Mike,

having received a rather snazzy wetsuit from Debbie for Xmas i thought i'd better put it to the test. So, you can count me in for this trip but i'm hoping for a few lessons/tips as this will be a first for me !

Looking forward to it - cheers.

Chris.


PS What is this 'Sex-wax' stuff anyway ?

We have plenty of sex wax to spare, and you can find out all about it's magic properties on the day!

We used to have lots of surfboards too, untill the whole lot, roofrack and all, flew off the car on our way back from Scotland yesterday.
Hopefully they are fixable - and should be sorted in time for our January jaunt, or we'll be hiring too.

(The pink stripey one that Santa Clause brought for Robyn on Christmas day is still in one piece, thank goodness, or i'd have been in big trouble!)

Ouch, my thoughts are with you both at this difficult time.

Also, I've a spare 6"4 if Mikes after a board to use until yours get repaired.

Oh, and sex wax is naff. 'Palmers' or 'Famous' all the way here

Ta for the loan offer, Rich. Luckily only two boards are at the shop for repairs (and will be back by next weekend), so me n' Linz had enough for a trip down to the water today. Moral of the story: don't trust Halfords roof bars!

Hopefully we'll get some surf (oh yeah?!) on the appointed day, but i'm quite happy to make it a mobile feast (date & place) if people are interested.

I'm not going to be drawn into any in-depth 'geek' discussion about the pros and cons of wax company products..... but 'Palmers'?, come on....?

Mike

Err - are canoeists welcome? Having been chased off a climbing trip I'm a bit worried about interloping in the wrong place, but I could make the 19th and wouldn't mind supporting a club event if it's open to all.

Hiya Penny,

EVERYONE is welcome to come along and hire a surfboard and join in the Fun, Fun, Fun....

Linz also has three bodyboards and a couple of pairs of flippers for those who want to use 'em. Then you only have to hire a wetsuit and gloves etc!

See how the surf turns out!

Mike

Hi All,

Just to firm things up for this - we'll go with Tynemouth for the venue and hope the surf appears for sat.

Meet up at 10.30 at Tynemouth Surf Co shop, which is on the front at Longsands. They do hire on a first come, first served basis, with a three hour hire being £8 for the suit and gloves, boots and hood, and £8 for a board, £5 for a bodyboard.

So far there's six-ish of us up for this, so let us know if you're interested and then we'll meet up with you!

Mike

OK,

so i'm now satisfied that a wetsuit really can keep you warm in the North sea in January! Thanks Mike,Linz and Rich for a brill mornings surfing.

I'm looking forward to the next one !!!

Can i start calling everyone 'dude' now ?

Maybe i shall grow my hair long and go blonde !!!

Chris.

Yeah dude, long and blonde would be a good look for you!

Really enjoyed the fun on Saturday. Seven surfers, 'beginner' sized clean waves, a warm-ish breeze and a coffee-shop right on the beach. What more do you want?!

Nice long left hand point break, 6 foot swell with light offshore wind, board short warm water and no one else out?

and for extra points you want to be calling people 'Brah' not dude Chris, an example?

"Aloha Brah" next time you walk into the pub.

Dammit Rich, we went to the wrong continent! Maybe next time we can do a trip to Newcastle, NSW so you can have it all!