Waves back home
August 26, 2007 on 9:34 am | In Snowboarding |
As my time in New Zealand grows towards an end for this Southern Hemisphere winter, I am starting to really look forward to getting back in the water back home for a surf. I got a few emails this last week from my surf crew back in Scotland telling me of their epic surf trips over the last few weeks. They have been surfing all over the north coast of Scotland and have had particularly good waves for this time of year. usually the waves in the summer are not very large and pretty few and far between but this summer the swell has been pretty consistant and big enough to be more than a little bit scared.
There are many surf brakes on the North coast of Scotland to suit all levels of surf ability. To start there is the infamous ‘Thurso East’, home of the World Series O Neill Surf Event, and one of the few reef brakes in Scotland that is easily accessible. Along the coast to the east is Sinclair Bay and to the west are numerous beach breaks just a short walk from the road. Most of these are very quiet and it is rare day that there are more than a few other surfers in the water. Add this to the fact that the beaches are stunning and the water crystal clear and it is easily one of the most peaceful and beautiful places I have been to surf. Of course the water is a little on the cold side but nothing a 5mm wetsuit and boots will not coipe with.
I have been thinking a lot about a surf trip we did last autumn to a beach on the North West Coast called Sandwood Bay. Sandwood is generally considered one of the most beautiful beaches in the UK and is definitely remote and peaceful. it is not possible to drive to Sandwood but instead you must take a walking track for around 5 miles accross heather moorland and peat bog. This definitely adds to the peacefulness and certainly makes the whole trip much more of an adventure. We walked in to Sandwood carrying all our surf gear, wetsuits, boards and all so we were relieved when we got there and found some good waves! We found some good fish too and even managed to catch our own lunch. Anyway, I hope to get back there when I get home and am looking forward to those rolling waves and beautiful peaceful beaches.
In the mean time, here in New Zealand, we are in preperation for the first World Cup of the 07/08 season in Cardrona next week. A lot of World Cup half pipe riders have been rolling into town in the last few days and are getting themselves ready for the competition. The British contingency will be myself, fellow Scot, Ben Kilner and Dom Harington. We are all looking forward tot he event and are hoping to get some good results in what looks like a very stron field.
Lesley McKenna
http://www.chunkyknit.com
Professional snowboarder, film maker and ambassador for Visitscotland. All sorts of outdoor sports from skiing to mountain biking and now mixes her time on the Snowboard World Cup Tour with time in Scotland doing these sports.
