Surfing and Paddleboard Guru” – I am a Longboard Surfer, Paddleboarder, Pioneer and Surfing Lifestyle Entrepreneur. I have surfed since 1975, and in 1994 I had my first surfing business and set my sights on the lifestyle industry and was very fortunate that my family trips overseas inspired me to pursue the ocean world.
I founded one of the world’s most dynamic Surf travel companies and pioneered the expansion of worldwide surf travel to what it is today. It offered over 49 destinations for surfing the globe including surf guides, surf schools, surf charter boats, surf exploration, surf tours and discovering many new surf spots for the first time. It has been a real pleasure helping new surf camps start in remote regions and watching them grow and expand as well as helping so many new surfers to enjoy the art of surfing. I also ran a surfing distribution and representational company called Ocean Fever Water Sports Ltd in the mid-1990’s which was the exclusive distributor for the UK and Europe for Bully’s Surf Equipment, Jamaican Style Swimwear, Solarez, Envy Longboard Skateboards, Pickle Surf Wax and Ocean Minded.
I first had a go at Paddleboarding dating back to 1980’s on one of my longboards with a paddle but truly took to the sport in 1998 on a specialist large converted surfboard that I designed and now I am enthralled by the growth of the sport into SUP as it is today.
I was the official BBC Television, BBC Radio Kent, TLR and CTFM Radio surf forecaster and surfing correspondent for 18 years broadcasting live every Saturday and Sunday at 08:00 am. Having spent years studying the oceans, I have been published within international surfing and adventure publications including specialist Surfing magazines (Surf Magazine (UK), Surf Scene (UK), Xelements (UK), Wavelength (UK), Surfing (US), and Surfer (US) and Surf Europe (EU)) not only in my name but in my many alias names too.
Ever the Longboard Surfer and Paddleboarder I have been forever questioning and looking for the perfect stoke on the water – like a true waterman. I am also an active storm chaser and love the elements of nature and truly enjoy marine wildlife.
I am extremely fortunate to have a house directly opposite the beach in Kent, United Kingdom and this enables me to enjoy the ever-changing world of the marine environment but also lets me grab a board and get out whenever I have the urge. Am I fortunate? yep, I suppose I am in that respect… but with many beachfront areas around the globe being overrun by city dweller second and holiday homes, I try to keep a local and beach feel to my neighbourhood where otherwise it would be lost.
When asked about my surfing standard and style my answer is very simple “I just surf, I’m not great but love it and always have, I prefer small waves now having had a broken back which restricts the size of the waves I can enjoy now but I love to glide the wave like a pelican and adore stylish longboard surfing. Waves have traveled hundreds and often thousands of miles and they need to be treated with grace and an artful style of appreciation“!
I have organised and run four general surfing competition events in the south-east of England, called the South East Surf Championships that were all held at Camber Sands, East Sussex with between 50 to 120 competitors. I have also organised one longboard surfing event in Cornwall.
One of the greatest enjoyments of my life has been finding new surf spots previously unridden and naming them like in the old adventure days… that is a special feeling.