WHAT GOES ON IN THE MIND OF A SURF PRO?

As many people know surfing is a tough sport to learn but with tips from a top professional it’s easy to get off to a flying start. The Freespirit English Surfing Federation (ESF) Surf School made that possible on Saturday morning when former English champion Mark ‘Egor’ Harris took to the water along with seven surfers eager to learn everything he knew.

Pre-surf warm up

Aidan watches over the first successful prone ride

Mark Harris coaches from the shallows
& The first wipe out of the morning!

The girls take five after learning how to prone ride
during the first part of their lesson

Mark explains that it's all about
getting your stance right!

The girls hit the water to put Mark's
theory in to practise

Up and riding!

The day kicked off early with a beach lesson where the surfers warmed up and were taught about safety in the water (main header photo). That was followed by a two hour lesson in the water. Before long the sun came out from behind the clouds and everyone was enjoying the experience. After a break for lunch (and a chance to catch their breath back!) the surfers plunged back into the water and perfected what they had been taught in the morning with the help of the instructors.

By the end of the day everyone was catching waves and riding them in. The day ended with a well deserved burger, beer and chill at the Cribbar Green Rooms where the surf school is based. The decking over looking Fistral beach was the perfect setting to reflect on the day and everything they had all learned.

One of the participants Susan King, 20, said “Today has been so helpful, I’ve tried learning to surf before now but it was today that it all clicked into place. I’m going to go surfing lots more throughout the summer now I know that I can do it. Egor made it seem very easy and it was really inspirational to learn with a pro”.

Egor commented, “It’s been a fun day, everyone has been so enthusiastic no matter what their surfing standard, everyone has improved heaps and most importantly everyone enjoyed it. Also I’ve enjoyed giving something back to the Freespirit ESF Surf School because the ESF has given me so much support in my career.”

The exciting pro surf days were designed by the Freespirit ESF Surf School to get more people involved in the sport. The ESF is particularly special because all profits from the surf school, generated from the lessons sales, are ploughed straight back into supporting promising English surfers and providing the framework of support that they need to develop as the next generation of top athletes.

Later this summer will be more pro surfer clinics including days that are specific to girls surfing and bodyboarding. The next pro clinic is on the 19th August with 28 year old Llewellyn Whittaker who is now sitting at 6th place on the BPSA tour. Llewellyn is extremely likeable and enthusiastic and committed to encouraging British surf from the grass roots levels up. He loves introducing people to surfing making him an ideal choice for the ESF pro-clinics.

On the 28th August there is set to be a girls only clinic with Dominque Kent. Dominique is the British Longboarding Union female champion - her style is loose, fluid and elegant, ensuring here continual placing at the top of the longboarding contest list. Her lively gregarious, encouraging style makes her the perfect pro-coach to introduce girls at the Freespirit clinic to the waves and inspire them all to enjoy what's great about the awesome surf lifestyle.

As well as the exciting surf clinics there will be a bodyboarding clinic with Rob Barber on the 16th September. Newquay born and bred, Rob Barber is one of the key faces on the UK bodyboarding scene. Rob has represented Britain and England in many competitions all over the world and has won over 25 events including British Cup Champion, British Bodyboard Club Championship Winner, Threesixty Series Winner and Virgin Cola surf tour winner. Rob is also the lead coach at the ESF surf school and editor of Threesixty magazine but it is his passion for bodyboarding that makes him the undoubted choice as the pro-clinic guide for the Freespirit bodyboarding clinic this August.

Rob says, “We’re really glad that the Freespirit’s backing of the ESF surf school has enabled us to run these clinics. We think that it is going to have such a positive impact on the UK surfing scene; we’re expecting that people will come from all over the country to attend the surf clinics and Freespirit has been promoting them in their 42 UK stores which is great. The Freespirit ESF Surf School is all about getting as many people as possible surfing and we expect that the pros will pass on their knowledge and enthusiasm.”

At the end of the day as well as the chill out BBQ with the instructors and pro’s all participants received 10% discount and a loyalty card to be used in any of Freespirit’s 42 UK shops.