A bit late! but here's a few pics from my travels over Christmas and New Year.

I started off at the inlaws in Torquay for xmas, then went to North Devon to visit my sister and family in their new home, then spent New Year in and around Newquay. It was far from epic surf wise, but a few good sessions..

First up was Bigbury. To be honest it was pretty gusty in a Westerly, and very difficult to find something ride able, but a fun warm day on the water with a few mast high drops to be had out the back..

Note the new wide angle. I bought a Sigma 10-20 for my Canon 1d, which turned out to be a minor blunder as it gives a large vignette at the 10mm end. Apparently this is very frowned open, but I kinda like it. Cropped out this time.

Boxing day was a very windy family walk at Instow, which was probably one of the better windsurfing days, ho well, looked fun for those out at Westward Ho!

The next day was the biggest forecast of the week. Big swell, good wind and a daylight low tide, so headed to the above. It was rubbish! Maybe just a little too sheltered and another one of those secret breaks that very rarely breaks.

Oh, did I mention it rained? by christ it rained, endlessly..  a lot of Devon lanes started to collapse at the sides or just end up underwater. I had to go to Halfords for a new alternator and some guy had written off the engine of a brand new Mercedes stalling in a big puddle, oops. 

What then followed was several days of trying to score decent surf, getting up for dawnies that didn't pay off, traipesing to every sheltered secret spot, arriving at wedges just as the dick draggers left (I love bodyboarders really, but that nickname is just too funny not to use)  and driving to Cornwall to find light onshore winds when it should have been blowing 20. I'm really not a fan of WSW in Devon/Cornwall, my rule is always not to go and this week just confirmed it. I did quite a bit of dog walking..  which I like a lot anyway, but I'd rather be riding. As ever I'm wiser for it though.

Finally, on our last day (New years Day), the sun came out, the surf cleaned up and the wind swung NW. Surprisingly Marazion looked the best/largest of the local beaches, and quite a few of us enjoyed some fun wobble and ride..   

I then strung the day out for as long as possible surfing at Praa until dark, which was perfect.

A sneaky South swell at Maza

It was SUP heaven (prob 10 out and 20 surfers), but better for windsurfing.

Lev not as big

I've somehow missed out the best day of the lot! I can't remember which day it was, but we had logo high and windy Southerlie at Gwithian, with all the usual rippers out -split between Sandy Acres for smaller and cleaner, and Gwithian for side shore and chunky. Haven't seen any pics surface, and as ever didn't get the camera out, too busy loosing myself in the waves for 5hrs :)  It was classic Gwithian, loads of fun.

A few days back at work, then enjoyed another 5hrs at Rhosniegr on Saturday, turned out to be a great day for testing -starting out 10knots, full of kiters and waist high, finishing up 25, overhead and deserted bar Liam who'd been in the shop all day.

Plenty more news and some 2012 kit for sale, but I'll save that for next time.

UPDATE! Some pics of Gwithian with much thanks to Tony Dodd..

Blackie