Just back from the Atlantic games in Santander Spain, an awsome trip with some good people, although i went out there as part of the team to compete, it was also great to get involved with coaching the Devon team. From the start of the trip the surf was against us, ranging from 2 foot to flat (typical summer contest surf!) Luckily!! for us we staying at a sports complex where we had use of all the facilities .....!!?! especially the wooden gym!
So with the crappy surf conditions the team spent most of the build up to the contest swimming, running, paddling, playing tennis and the odd trip to Maccy D's. When the comp finally kicked off we were greeted with a 2 foot swell and it was go. Open surfer and N.Devon ripper Simon Daly was up first, Simon got off to a slow start but soon picked up the pace and started to pile on the pressure, with the other riders in the heat having already posted two good 
wave scores they did what most contest savy competitors would do and they sat on him (not literally) stopping Daly from catching waves which forced Daly to push harder for waves and ended with them getting him on an interference, sending him out of the contest (ell of a story ay Daly!). I was up next and managed to steal second place which took me through and took out one of the french riders (which always feels good).I went on to finish 9th, getting knocked out in the quarter finals after making a rookie mistake and paddling off the peak to an outside bank only to be nearly run down by a ferry!!
The women's open saw Billabong duo Lucy Campbell and current British junior champ Laura Crane thrown in at the deep end, with both girls just age 15 they were up against more experienced riders, and after looking at the heat sheets they had drawn the two hardest heats of the women's open division. The girls stepped up to the plate and both put on a performance that would of seen them cruise through any of the other heats that day, but both were knocked out by less than a point! i smell a stich up!! The juniors were next and first to line up in the water was Devon wild child Jack Hough, fuelled on dub step, nerves and his Maccy D's training he laid it on the line and advanced through to the quarter finals where he finished 9th. The second junior to hit the water was one of Devon's most committed and up and coming stars Beau Bromham who blitzed his way to the semi finals with his fast and fluid style, impressing a number of people on the way. Beau bowed out with a 6th place finish after mother nature decided not to play fair.
Another two of Devon's team riders Alex Gibson and Taz Knight who similar to the girls in the womens open division found them selves in the lion's den, Alex only 12 competing in the under 14 and Taz competing in the under 16 where he was up against Quicksilver riders almost three years his senior, both put on a good show but were edged out by the older and more experienced riders. Alex Gibson who will be one to watch in the future finished a respectful 3rd in his semi final heat finishing 5th overall, Taz knight who is more suited to a punchy, heavier wave, rather than the 2 foot dribble that was on offer finished 8th overall.
Competing in the junior longboard was another up and coming star of the show Animal team rider Zak Lawton, after a second place finsh in this division last year he was hungry for the win and proved so by taking 1st in round one, but then life went and played a dirty hand and after a warm up swim Zak found himself with a dislocated leg, which saw him out of the contest, finishing 7th overall despite having to pull out. Devon Army rider Greg Norman who was one of two competing in the men's open longboard was next in the firing line, Greg put on a slick performance proving its not just golf balls he handles with style! wave sliding his way in to the quarter finals where another 9th place finish was clocked in. With top ten finishes getting handed out like birthday cake, it was left to the big man Greg 'here's to you Mrs' Robinson to go after the silverware, guns blazing Robinson through down the gauntlet , powerful turns and time on the nose saw the big man storm his way to the final to a chorus of cheers from the rest of the team "...To make the podium was great, the team were cheering me on and waving flags, I'm fizzing!" said Tiki team rider Greg Robinson who finished 3rd.
A massive thanks to everyone who had a hand in putting this trip together, especially to big wave charger Andrew Cotton and sixties Retro rider Rob Whitney who had to put up with
"..what times the bus coming?" "..why can't we go surf that beach!?!" " ..i aint eating this s***!!"
and my personal favourite
"....if I get a letter from my parents saying its okay can i come out drinking with you???"
also a big up massive to our team photographer Rob Tibbles who did the team proud, not only for having his finger constantly poised on the trigger, but for also taking one of the biggest wipe outs I have ever seen!! ...you don't need much swell when you've got twelve Spanish bullfighters and a pavement!
i like it