A few of Andrew Cotton’s waves from last season. A warm up to what you can expect from him this winter. Watch this space! Huge thanks to Richard Asquith and Henry Price for the amazing sound track. You can see what they are up to at friend-of-mine.co.uk/

We shot this National Trust trailer for a competition entry.
It was shot on and around National trust properties in North Devon, and the surfers are Neil Randall and Simon Skelton.
The original sound track was created for this trailer by Gordon Dryburgh thanks Gordon!

We were really pleased to be able to record this Community Arts mural at the Braunton Youth Club for the museumofbritishsurfing.org.uk who funded it through the ‘Count Me In‘ scheme. The Mural was designed and project led by artist Conor Wilson conorwilson.co.uk The ideas for the design were generated in meetings with the young people who use the youth club. It was a fantastic achievement and the first of many collaborations between Braunton youth club and the Museum of British Surfing.

A Huge thanks to Steve Chivers and Steve Doon who surfed the Kaafu’s. We made this promo for oceanmouldings.co.uk Their new design FatYak KAAFU offers the versatility that Sit-on-Top kayakers want. Its unique stable lines ensures that children, fishermen, sport and recreational kayakers will all have an enjoyable time, check out how well it surfs! And yes that’s Mikey fishing for the first time in 25 years!

A short film we recently produced with the team at Gulfstream Surfboards

I thought he was meant to be on a boat the whole trip but apparently not, otherwise we wouldn’t have the footage of the goat! Enjoy Cotty’s latest from Indo.

Thanks to the guys busking in the park for the amazing soundtrack!

I had planned to start painting landscapes again when I retired. Until that is, I got an invitation from Mr PP to join a group of like minded surfers who go away for weekends and paint out of doors. How could I resist! My first task for the group was to record the weekend for posterity by way of this video journal. Visit our blog and follow the group: thedevon11.blogspot.com The Devon 11 are:
• Steven Pleydell-Pearce • Paul Kenton • Conor Wilson • Richard Gregory • Shaun Latham • Thos Sharpe • Robert J.Braunton • Jeff Lawton • David Meads • Simon Skelton • Mat Stillo

After his second operation for ACL ligament reconstruction in 5 years, the surgeon told Cotty not to surf for 9 months. When hurricane Igor hit Ireland six months later, he couldn’t resist. The waves were well within paddle range but Cotty decided to take it easy and tow a couple to see how it felt. These are his first few waves with his new knee. We are really excited to be working with Cotty. Watch this space for more waves as Cotty’s Knee gets back to full strength!

Congratulations Nick! Woolcombe’s own waterman is the first person to swim solo from Lundy to Woolacombe and in just six and a half hours! Supported all the way by Steve Newton on a paddle board and Geoff Huelin of Mortehoe Shellfish in his fishing boat.
Thanks to Richard Asquith and Henry Price for the music: www.friend-of-mine.co.uk  Thanks to Dave Jenkins, and the Landmark Trust: www.landmarktrust.org.uk for the stills and to Mat Stillo: www.goto11.co.uk

The local National Trust team put together this lovely afternoon with a speech from Steve Mulberry and Ray Easterbrook, an amazing story teller who immersed us in the history of the point and live music from Jim Jones, oh and not forgetting the sound track from David Kenards sheep.

We worked from 5 in the morning to 10 at night, it was an intense day! thanks so much to all the surfers who took time out and days off of work to be there and to Mat, Jack, Rob, Stu, Gordon, Joel and Steve our camera men and production team who worked so hard on the day. Thanks also to Parkins estates and Woolacombe Parish Council for their support.”

Best described as a ‘scenic surf movie’ the film is a portrait of Woolacombe bay on that day, the surfing, beach life and surrounding scenery.

This promo soundtrack and the final score is the work of Peter Bruntnell who lives up the road. “One of England’s best kept musical secrets”. says Rolling Stone! How excited are we to be working with him and his friends! The music will be recorded in one day and we will be there to film it.

Post production is under way and the DVD will be available spring 2010

For a full credits and production stills visit: the ONEDAY micro site

Tiki in association with GSI brought over three of the worlds best surf board designers to North Devon UK. Where they met the locals and had a surf at Putsborough! Watch out for the full evening Q & A session filmed at Croyde Village Hall. It will be on youtube and itunes as a video pod cast. Thanks again to Richard Asquith and Henry Price for the track called Covert Beat. You can see what they are up to at www.friend-of-mine.co.uk

Its that time allready, another splendid weekend for the girls and what fun they had. Pro surfer Keala Kennely was there to pass on her wisdom and play a set. Sound track thanks to local band Zamba who know how to party!

And talking of the joy of flowing movement, just had to share this footage from the north end of Lundy. Thanks to Steve for organizing his own boys own best ever Stag weekend adventure and to Rudi the inspired skipper of Frolica. Some of the boys were quick enough to don wet suits and jump over the side, to be greeted by more dolphins than we could count! This memory will stay with all of us for ever. You can see more pics on Steves blog and James’s video. Thanks to Richard Asquith and Henry Price for the track Called ‘Horizon Possible’.

Skateboarding has to be one of the most undervalued activities in the world and I can feel the hairs going up on the back of my neck just remembering the speed those guys were whipping round that beautiful beautiful bowl. Crikey almighty, what an amazing event the formal opening opening of Barnstaple’s Rock skate park was. Hats off to all involved in its conception design and build. I was well out of my comfort zone with the camera but you will see a more crafted video of Barnstaple bowl some time soon!

Andrew Cotton is working with us to capture the inner world of low tide Croyde. And what a start we have made! This isn’t a progo-thingy this is an Sony HDVA1E with a century optics 180deg super fish eye in an ewa marine dive bag adapted with Velcro, aluminum, closed cell foam and an Ikelite domed port, its set on SDV as the HD compression cant handle the detailed movement of white water. Andrew has the leash end in his mouth as the impact pulled the end off his board. Watch this space as we are going to have some fun and games in the next few months. Thanks to Clive Reeves for yet another track from the Bowl Rider.

This video journal heralds the final phase of development for wavedreamer. We are ready to shout about it now! Hope you enjoy the changes. Thanks so much to Mat from goto11 who has gone to 12 and put his OCD to such good use! The children of the sun are out in force (thanks Rachel and Nathan) so are the adders (early this year) and the fields are full of Mr Kenard’s Lambs. Neil Clifton is competing in local club comps and the waves keep coming. Watch out for the next journal entry which could see on-board barrels at Croyde courtesy of Andrew Cotton who has been working with me to fit our HD 180o fish eye gear to one of his short boards…this could be good!

The track is another we recorded for the journal, you can hear more of Doug’s music on his website and buy his albums!.

Text for the Billabong Girls Days 2008 to go here

To keep the journal going while we are busy with the next development stage of wavedreamer, I’m adding some of the older promos we worked on. Lunch at Porthleven Dinner in Devon is a concept promo for an eccentric idea yet to go into production, we are still looking for a suitable caravan, thermos flask and china tea set. Thanks to the Porthleven surfers (get in touch!) and to Captain Skelton, the first Test Pilot on the camera board. This clip is also one of the many bonus movies on our NOTCALIFORNIA DVD. Thanks to Clive for another track from the Bowl Rider’s jam sessions at Decoy

Another visit into the wavedreamer archives before we re-launch the site next week. Thanks to Dig and the Bay Surf Shop Woolacombe for the flight. Dig keeps his Pilots licence fresh with jaunts over North Devon. This was my first Helicopter ride and the shaky nature of the footage has more to do with my excitement than engine vibration! Thanks to Clive Reeves for yet another track from the Bowl Rider sessions at Decoy

Talking of big wave riders I must mention Devon’s own Andrew Cotton (seen in this clip from my promo work of three years ago) who, as I write this, is riding big waves in Hawaii. I was inspired to mention Cotty by Steve England’s ‘Take off’ article in the current Carve magazine.

Cotty’s journey into the world of big wave riding was documented by Mr B in his film DRIVEN. You can purchase this from our emporium. According to someone who knows, the reason why Cotty can ride big waves is because he never ever panics. I can’t wait to talk to him about Hawaii!

The music on this clip is from the ONEDAY sound track and was written specialy for Cotty by Clive Reeve

It only takes a bit of sun, no wind, clear water and a chest high wave to transport me to summers past. This weeks offering is from the wavedreamer archives, all the things I ache for at this time of year. Thanks to Skelly, Sandra, Steve Altram and of course Steve PP who is a master of beach and Landscape painting parties!

Thanks again to Doug for the lovely summery ‘yet to be titled’ track.

Nearly two years ago Woolacombe was treated to a visit from the waterman himself. Courtesy of Oxbow He came to Dave’s kayak shop and stayed at the Town Farm House Mortehoe. Laird made good use of a messy day at Woolcambe and allowed us to film. This was a cold dark day in May, everyone had wet suits on, Laird had a rolled down shortie! A big wave super hero, Laird’s gritty self belief and determination has inspired many people. How he met his Dad is my favorite Laird story, Bill Hamilton tells this on the ‘Laird’ DVD, prepared to be moved. Thanks for the visit Laird!

Thanks once again thanks to Richard Asquith and Henry Price for the track

A simple offering of light, color and waves this week. This clip is part of a project we are releasing this year called: SURFING WAVES an inspirational DVD for visualization and meditation. Thanks to Ellie, www.elliegregory.co.uk for the track called ‘momentary’

If you’re a regular visitor you will have noticed we’ve been busy with the next stage of wavedreamer’s development. Let us know what you think by contributing to the journal. If you haven’t already registered you can do that here.

The new colour ways were inspired by an evenings filming in Cornwall with spear fisherman Rich Emerson we were working off a rib and as the sun went down this was the colour of deep water.

Huge thanks to Mat for all his hard work on this stage of wavedreamers development.

Last Friday wasn’t what was predicted but a dramatic morning all the same. Nick Thorn is the surfer and Paul O’Grady the scarecrow. Catching up with old mates in the coffee shop was good. Today I had a fantastic recording session with my wonderful friend Doug and this track is one of many we recorded for use on the Journal. You can hear more of Doug’s music on his website and buy his albums!.

With leaden sky’s the light is flat today, thankfully the sea isn’t! Thanks to Andrew From Pickwell Barton who kindly allowed me to film his family and friends bringing in and processing the last of the brussel sprouts for Christmas. The farm has been in the Cook family for nearly 100 years and overlooks Putsborough and Woolacombe Sands, you can find out about staying on the farm here.

The featured style master was local lad Neil Clifton (the surf doctor). If you need to improve your surfing check out his website.

Thanks to Kevin MacLeod for his beautiful arrangement of Silent Night.

Have a wonderful holiday everyone

Having indulged my work ethic I’m going surfing tomorrow, Yeehaa!!!

A1Surf is holding its first surf movie and party night on Wednesday 3 December at Walkabout in Brighton in association with WAVEDREAMER to launch the NOTCALIFORNIA DVD which you will be able to buy on the night!

It’s fair to say its been some time coming, so thanks to everyone who has kept the faith and encouraged me along the way. Surfing in Brighton is unique and well worth celebrating. I’m looking forward to meeting all the new surfers and the old crew! You can find more details here.

It was 3 years ago that Jon Finch opened Loose-Fit surf shop with help from a group of surfers, they also went to Ireland as guests of Lahinch surf club and I was invited to film them. It has been a tease waiting for time to work on the project, but we now have a title and a schedule! We will continue to share clips with you as we work over the winter. This first short promo is from the signature section of POLLINATION and features Alex Knost in Devon, a huge thanks to Ellie Gregory for the music. Future clips will feature Tyler Hatzikian, Devon Howard, Dane Peterson, Belinda Baggs, Angela King and friends.

I just had to find some footage that had something to do with light and clarity, which are the only words I can find to express the impact of Barack Obama’s victory speech. Enough said, watch it here if you haven’t already. The clip, is from Morte Point on a very clear day in August last year, the sound track is from the ONEDAY project.

What a weekend that was! I have to hold my hands up and admit to losing my focus. Broken van, cloudy sunrise, too much wind, missed phone calls, I could blame many things but the truth is I was distracted by my need to surf and surf I did! Which means this weeks video is of a similar swell from the wavedreamer archives. The footage is of Nick Thorn at home. Apologies to Ben and Neil, next time heh! Thanks to Clive for letting me use this track that I recorded during one of Bowl Rider’s Studio sessions at Decoy, it sums up my weekend.

Once the sun came out in September the bees seamed to be making up for lost time. This post is a slide show of stills from my wild flower filming in Braunton Burrows, a Biosphere Reserve, designated by UNESCO. It’s a magical place, the two people who have helped me explore and understand it, are Mary and John Breeds. Mary has written a book about the wild flowers that you can pick up in Braunton Countryside Centre. You will be able to see the footage of the flowers and dunes in one of my surf movie projects, I will let you know when its released. The music is from the ONEDAY project sound track and was written by Clive Reeve.

I popped down the coast to catch up with my friends Russ and Jill. We spent a couple of glorious mornings on the beach, you can see Russ’s great still photos at www.russpierrephotography.blogspot.com/.Thanks to James Parry, Sam Bleakly, Elliot Dudley, his partner and the men in the harbour for letting me film them.

I was also there to see Andy Cummins from SAS surfing a very special board (the quad half way through the clip). The blank comes from Home Blown and is made from about 34% plant based materials and the resin is from 98% plant based materials – producing a board that has more than 50% sustainable materials. They are priced about the same as their petrochemical cousins and under strength tests are proving to be stronger and lighter than polyurethane blanks. Andy was also testing out the camera board for a project we are working on for a bigger darker day.

Thanks so much to Richard Asquith and Henry Price for the beautiful track called Haven. You can see what they are up to at www.friend-of-mine.co.uk

It was a long time coming but at last, sunshine and a clean swell! Missed the moon setting but up early enough for the sunrise. Spent the time working through ideas for the ONEDAY schedule. The rough cut is from that morning, with an evening section from a previous day (it clouded over by lunch) Thanks to Sandra, Steve, Graham, Mark’s son and Chris and the other lads out. The music is the beginning of dawn section of the ONEDAY soundtrack.

The clouds parted last Sunday! And I was at Chapel Porth, Cornwall, for the 6^th World Belly Board Championships. It was even more splendid than the last time I came in 2005. Its amazing how much difference the sun makes. This clip is just a taster of things to come, I will edit a much longer piece in the next couple of months that will include interviews and some history of the bellyboard and the event. The music is an old Cornish tune called the Boscastle breakdown and was kindly played by Mr skelton on his English Concertina. He won the World Championship in 2004.