Still Stoked Longboard Skates For Surfers

changing times

It seems an age since last summer and Still Stoked Hells Mouth, but then a lot has happened. Ocean was born on the 26th May as our celebration of that wonderful place on the Lleyn peninsula. Autumn, winter and spring all sort of rolled into one. Matt buffalo Hammersley, myself and Phil sneaked in a fun surf at Rest Bay and off the point of Coney pier, in slight desperation after a lean winter. katie and I spent what time we could on garden, river and woodland work. Somehow it all just drifted around and here we are on the day of the Brighton paddle trying to re-evaluate the changing times of our lifes together and what it all means for Still Stoked.
Fuel costs have got ridiculous and the old days of Still Stoked travel are getting real hazy. Its like all the promises of a new time of enlightened easy going life on the road, seeking waves and smooth tarmac were nothing more than an ephemeral dream. So where to next, katie and I ask ourselves. The answer my friend is blowing in the wind. We can get morbid or we can get real and get on with some positive changes. We will be embarking on our summer trip to Hells Mouth this month with a clutch of boards, surf jewelry and a load of sarongs. After that we're going to move forward into a new era of appreciation for the magic of north west Wales.
Old Red the iconic transit surf van is due a new life and right now we're hoping to sneak out a long stored perfect tax exempt mark 1, on which to rehome the van which has lived on the cliff at "shops" for the past seven years. I just cannot believe that much time has passed. We're going to put a static back on site so all those guys can still come round for boards and stuff and rather than think about Porth Neigwl and the vagaries of the weather, we shall be there lots more, at all times of the year. Maybe we'll get that film done and show that wave to the world, when its really rolling in off the outside point. Back in the Forest we will get the garden dug, the orchard cleaned and the temple of Sabrina open for pilgrims once more. Of all the things we've been working at in the pursuit of lifestyle, Sabren's grove has been an awesome winner. My father would simply never recognise it as the same piece of land where he tended apple trees 40 years ago.
New life brings new hope and new dreams, to be shared with the family of free spirits. Here's to Ocean our son and here's to Olive my grand daughter, born at the winter solstice 2007 and growing up with her parents Tom an Nadia in Cornwall, where Tom really has been making up for our wave starvation. There are still spots in this crowded isle where big Atlantic surf can be enjoyed away from the madding crowd.
Stay stoked you all, live long and watch out for us, because we are still here and Still Stoked has a lot yet to do.

Posted on Saturday, Jul 05, 2008