UK Stylemaster "Master"

Rich Emerson styling at the Hip Wigglers. Riding his Slide 65 pig and representing the Hip Replacements division!!!

Master Stylemaster

Rich Emerson riding his Slide 65 pig at the Hip Wigglers. Rich won this years UK Stylemasters in the Masters division and always turns on the style when your surfing together.

LOg Time

Rich Emerson and his new Pig an myself and the Sunday Driver fresh from Slide 65. Rob and Seabase kindly donated their time and materials to develop two beauties for myself and Rich for Surf Action. We'll be using these to promote the work we do and the benefits to health of surfing and being in the ocean. Stoked already as they are amazing boards and are both super good. Thanks guys.

Flying the flag

As part of our efforts to promote Surf Action and ultimately help and support our combat veterans, myself and Rich took delivery of our new logs and are so stoked. The two boards, shaped by Rob Wright and glassed and finished at Seabase in Newquay will certainly create some conversation about our charity and if they simply achieve this then its a bonus. The following is a press release written to explain more:

Surf Action proudly announces a collaboration of local businesses.

Surf Action the St Buryan based military charity is very proud to announce a collaboration of Cornish businesses that will have wider benefits in today’s tough economic climate. Surfboard shaper Rob Wright of Slide 65 Surfboards kindly agreed to donate his time and skills to create two unique longboards and Seabase general manager Pani Bundy then generously offered the materials and finishing skills of his team based in Newquay.
Surf Action Director Russ Pierre says “These boards have been designed to be a focal point for promotion of each business; not only will they help create awareness of Slide 65 and Seabase but also a talking point for Surf Action and the work we do supporting Combat Veterans, and the benefits of surfing to those with mental health problems or physical injuries”.
Rob Wright commented "I have embraced hand-shaping these boards for Rich and Russ to show my support, for their dedication, helping veterans find a better life through surfing."
Jennifer Macdonald says “Seabase UK is very proud to announce our support in 2012 for the Cornwall based charity 'Surf Action'. Both Surf Action and Seabase will have the strong connection of being founded and managed in Cornwall and with surfing at the very heart of both. Seabase finished the surfboards for Surf Action at its factory in Newquay and we hope that our support will assist this well worthy cause and attract even greater attention and awareness from the public."
Seabase have generously offered a large discount on all their Custom boards and accessories to all serving military personnel and veterans as part of a loyalty scheme being developed by Surf Action. Other companies have also offered discounts and Surf Action is working hard to attract more to offer their support. Russ says “we have veterans who use art, sculpture and photography as therapy, one rebuilds old cars and others enjoy Tai Chi, we’re looking for companies to sign up to our loyalty scheme or sponsor veterans to aid in re-training and personal development.”
Having the RAF Waveriders club based at RAF St Mawgan and the Royal Navy Royal Marines Boardriders based at Culdrose, Surf Action shall be promoting this through their clubs and clubhouses. Rich Emerson, founder of Surf Action and combat veteran himself adds, “we have just been asked to be longboard coaches for the Army Surf Team and what a better way to begin the coaching than with two great boards flying the flag, we can display these boards at events and promote the workmanship and the benefits of surfing and our charity”.
For more details of the loyalty scheme and companies offering discounts and if veterans or serving personnel would like to register simply go to www.surfaction.co.uk and register your name online to receive a loyalty card. Alternatively email russ@surfaction.co.uk with your details or call 01736 811920. For details about the boards go to www.Slide65.com and www.seabase.eu
Editors Notes: Surf Action was started in 2009 and uses Surfing and the Beach Environment to support Combat Veterans with mental and physical injuries. Partly funded by funded by the European Social Fund and run by Inclusion Cornwall they are an award winning project and registered charity (no.1140191). Sennen surfers Rich Emerson and Russ Pierre run Surf Action that hold beach clinics for veterans and their families each Wednesday and Friday at Gwithian Towans, Nr Hayle.

Slide 65 Surfboards and Surf Action

Shaper and Purveyor of quality surfboards Rob Wright. Off on his own in the far corner of a south coast logging spot. Look out for some super fine logs that Rob is shaping for myself and Rich at Surf Action. Shaped by Rob with some fine glass work done by Nick at Seabase in Newquay, these two boards will be fine examples local companies working together to promote each other. You can see more about this on the Surf Action website here. I'll keep you posted on the progress but needless to say we're both super excited with Rob getting in the shaping bay next week.

Speed Demon

Rich Emerson speeding along at the Site.

Hand JIve

When you watch people surf you see the little intricacies, when your looking through a lense, these finer points stand out even further and are part of their inherent style that is recognised a mile away. Rich Emerson has the finger.

Master Hip Wiggler

Rich Emerson getting loose in the juice.

Logs Rule 2.

The weekend jolly to Saunton was made better by the fact that Rich Emerson joined us. Rich is the reigning UK Stylemaster in the Masters Division. The only comp he does each year and the one that allows him to ride early to mid 60's logs the way they should be ridden. This is Rich letting loose in the evening juice.

Lovin the lefts

Rich Emerson taking the drop riding his Steve Channon speed shape on a great left hander currently blowing hot in the west country.

In the water at last.

Late afternoon session with the new water housing. Not used one before and had some much fun. I have a steep learning curve ahead but great to be so close to my mates when their doing their stuff. This is Rich Emerson, post Surf Action Veteran Surf Camp and putting in a classic reverse drop knee, sinking the rail and hooting in the process.

La Jolla Stretch

Rich Emerson taking a pre surf stretch out at La Jolla Shores on a dull California morning. Oh well there are worst places to have a dull morning.

UK Stylemaster 2010

Just heard the great news that Rich Emerson my partner in Surf Action has just retained his UK Stylemaster title in the Masters division with Rob Wright who shapes the lovely Slide 65 surfboards coming in second. Congrats to you both. I was due to enter myself but a huge gash in my head last weekend and seven stitches kept me away, so they were lucky really!!!!!

Surf Action

I'm so stoked to be working alongside Rich Emerson now as part of Surf Action. Rich set the organisation up last year to help war veterans suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and last year held an event named Operation Amped where former soldiers came an enjoyed a weekend ofsurfing, yoga and good times. Our job this summer is to do more of the same, help people and their families to cope with their daily problems by showing them an escape, the ocean. Our website will be launched shortly and our events and news will also be posted on our blog combat surfer as well as this blog. I'm convinced this will be a great organisation, and when a former soldier tells you that he has not laughed so much in six years, you know your onto something very cool but most of all humbling.
Our first event in two weeks will be held at Polzeath Beach near Padstow where we have a number of amputees coming down to give surfing a go and this will be a pretty special weekend. Anyone wanting information can contact me on russ96uk@yahoo.com
You can also read the story I wrote about Rich by following the link here
www.driftsurfing.eu/index.php?cat=199&desc=Interview&subcat=1

Walk out

Its a wierd moment in surfing when your heading down to the waters edge. The feelings and thoughts can vary so much. Excitement, doubt and fear are three feelings that I know I have felt.

A stitch in time

My good friend Rich Emerson is out of the water at the moment after literally taking his little pinky off whilst cutting kindling wood for the fire. After getting himself and his finger to the hostpital for surgery he's now bandaged and strapped up to the elbow to bring tendons back together. I'm sure he will be whooping from the beach for a bit and knowing Rich it won't be long before he's back styling amongst us. All the best big fella.

Block move

I'd like to thank my good friend Rich Emerson, pictured above, for his classic blocking manouvre on one greedy surfer today. Busy times at Sennen required busy tactics and with a little help from a friend the brutal but classically funny tactic allowed yours truly to catch a beauty and Rich, who had by this time had a number of set waves in his bag is a gentleman and a scholar.

Nice line

A long distance shot taken from well above the wave. This is Rich Emerson dropping in over the Christmas holidays.

Combat Surfer online

My article on Rich is now on Drift Europe and will be on Drift USA tomorrow. Please follow the link http://www.driftsurfing.eu/index.php?cat=199&desc=Interview&subcat=1

This artwork of Rich by my wife Jill, kind of sums it up.If you see Rich give a big Hug, he loves hugs!

Combat Surfer

Sorry for the long absence, family visiting, half term, no internet access etc, etc. Please keep your eyes on Drfit Online Magazine this week, my story and article on Rich Emerson will be up this week, just in time to coincide with Remembrance Sunday. I'm stoked to have my second contibution on this great site. I also have some work in the new Switchfoot book that I'm super stoked with and can't wait to get my copy. The first book from Andrew Crockett was amazing, this one should be classic.