Kathleen Spears makes cover of West Country Life

Kathleen Spears received recognition recently for her surfing achievements by scoring the cover of West Country Life Magazine. Nice one Kath

Newquay film trip

Over the past few days we've left the North Sea coast HQ to visit Newquay to meet up with Grishka Roberts, Lewis Clinton and Kathleen Spears to film a short Northcore promo video. The weather wasn't exactly ideal, the waves were marginal but these surfers and their passion for our sport more than compensated for conditions. All of these guys are amazing surfers and stand out as role models for British surfing. To hear and see what Grishka, Lewis and Kath had to say, watch this space for our new video.

Lewis Clinton's latest training trip

After recently winning the English U18's title and being the highest finisher in the British team at the World Junior Surfing Games in France, Northcore team rider, Lewis Clinton, decided to head back down to SW France on a training trip to score a few more Atlantic waves. The following is an taster of his trip in his own words:

"Yesterday I got back from another sick trip down to Hossegors incredible French beach breaks. The first couple of days things were abit slow on the swell front but there was still some fun waves to be had if you were prepared to search for them.

By the end of the week the surf had picked up along with the weather and we were getting some great waves and sunburn, we stayed just outside of Capbreton in a place called Lebenn'e. Even though i have been down to this part of France countless times i had never stayed here before so it was exciting.

After just over a week in Hossegor we decided to move down to Canterbria in northern Spain, when we arrived at the camp site near Santander (this is where we were catching the ferry back to Plymouth in a couple of days time) it was sat right on the beach but there was one problem, no waves.

After a couple of days there were still no waves until my friend decided to walk over the headland to look at a little cove round the corner, when he got there he was shocked to find a perfect 3 foot hollow wedge. I think GUTTED has to be the word i'm going to use when i thought of the hours i sat bored out of my skull thinking there were no waves. It was seriously localised and when we paddled out lets say we didn't get a warm welcoming but they soon got used to us being there."

2008 Surfboard range is now in stock

The 2008 Northcore custom surfboard range has hit the shelves with some new shapes and designs. The boards included are a 6'0" retro quad fish, a must for any quiver, a 6'4" modern fish, a great allrounder, a 6'4" "Lowrider"(super versatile), mini-mals for small waves, beginners and loads of fun and finally the 9'2" longboards which will catch even the smallest summer wave and glide forever. For more info click here:

Introducing Aaron Pierce-Surf Photographer

We were recently introduced to Aaron Pierce, a Kiwi in self imposed exile, living on Ireland's West Coast, whilst looking for some images of Aileens. Aaron has been producing some amazing pictures from the area, some of which we're stoked to feature on the Northcore Website.

“I get a huge kick out of photography, especially when the surf is big. I have a huge passion for Aileens in Ireland." says Aaron

As for his future plans, “I plan to take a few of the boys out to a couple of big wave spots I've found and try them out. I also want to photograph the biggest wave in the world ever to be surfed, hopefully this will happen next winter now that we know what to expect, things are going to get freaky next winter so watch this space....”

From more on Aaron's work click onto our photographers page or visit his website www.liquid-storm.com

ISA world junior surfing championships have started

The 2008 Quiksilver ISA World Junior Surfing Championship in Hossegor and Seignosse began on Sat 24th May.

Despite some flight disruptions, the delegations from the 28 competing countries have arrived safely in France. For some nations, the journey was long and tiring - up to 40 hours for the Australians - and plenty of teams are still waiting for their boards, which went missing en route.

Altogether, some 290 surfers under the age of 18 – a record - have come together on the coast of south-west France, to see battle commence in this major event on the international surfing scene.

All the continents will be represented in France this year, with the great surfing nations, including Australia, Brazil, the United States, South Africa and Hawaii., Rubbing shoulders with them are a number of emerging surfing countries, such as Israel, Barbados, Canada and Germany, which is sending a full team for the first time, and even Senegal, making its debut in the Quiksilver ISA World Junior Surfing Championship.

This United Nations of junior surfing will be one of the highlights of surfing year. I love to attend the Quiksilver ISA World Junior Surfing Championships. It’s our surfing way of showing the world that peaceful coexistence is a very reachable goal” said exhausted but excited International Surfing Association President, Fernando Aguerre.

Two of the Northcore sponsored Junior riders, Lewis Clinton and Kathleen Spears, are competing in the comp. We'll be bringing you updates on the event here (which is postponed today) or to follow the UK teams progress log onto http://www.isaworldchamp.com/

British Junior Surf Team for ISA World Junior Champs announced

This weekend saw a host of dedicated 14-18 year olds congregate at Fistral Beach, Newquay, Cornwall, to participate in an intensive training session in preparation for one of the most prestigious surf contests of their lives.

Twelve UK youngsters including Northcore team riders Lewis Clinton and Kathleen Spears have been honoured to be selected by the British Surfing Association for the British Junior Surfing Team for the 2008 Quiksilver ISA World Junior Surfing Championships which take place in the South West of France from the 24th May–1st June.

The event will see junior athletes under the age of 18 coming from every continent on the planet and the British team will join more than 30 other countries including the surf ‘power brokers’ such as Australia, USA, South Africa, and Hawaii along side emerging nations including Israel, Morocco, Costa Rica.

Unlike standard professional events, the surfers will compete in national team format. This format is unique in world surfing and the surfers will be competing solely for the honour of receiving a gold, silver, bronze or copper medal and representing their nation.

Head coach Barrie Hall said, “To be selected for the team for the 2008 Quiksilver ISA World Junior Surfing Championships is one of the highlights of these young surfers’ careers thus far and illustrates their talent and dedication to the sport.

This event is the equivalent of the surfing Olympics and our young British athletes will be pushed to their very max, to drive themselves to the absolute top of their game to represent their nation on this prestigious global platform.

Northcore want to wish Lewis and Kathleen all the very best for personal and team success at the event.

Pic: Lucia Griggi