Art and surfing have been inextricably linked for hundreds of years, and now a new exhibition looks at how both these elements combined to glide into British consciousness over the past few centuries.

From early sketches of surfers during the voyages of Captain James Cook in the 18th century and iconic hand sculpted wooden surfboards, to the flower power of the 1960s and garish fluorescent colours of the 1980s – paintings, posters, photography and film – ‘an art history of British surfing’ is a visual feast.

The act of riding a wave itself, is perhaps the purest form a surfing art; the surfer propelled by a pulse of energy from mother nature, painting lines on the ever changing canvas of the wave.

Among the artefacts on display will be original British surfboards dating back almost a century featuring art and sculptural form. It will be complemented by an eclectic mix of memorabilia showing amazing artwork from the creative minds of surfers and those drawn to this ancient pastime.

Dates

Havant Museum in Hampshire - January 19th to March 1st 2008

Red House Museum in Christchurch - May 3rd to June 14th 2008

The National Fishing Heritage Centre in Grimsby - June 28th to September 7th 2008

The Surfing Museum is a not for profit organisation and is opening Britain’s first full time surfing museum by 2010. It is currently the only surfing museum project in Europe.

The museum director and exhibition organiser is Peter Robinson, a 46-year-old award winning ITV journalist and web manager for ITV’s broadband TV service www.itvlocal.com Peter is a dedicated British surfer.

For more information log on to www.thesurfingmuseum.co.uk or call Pete on 07801 522892.

SURFERS’ NGO WELCOMES WAVE HUB PLANNING APPROVAL.

Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) has welcomed the news that Wave hub has received its planning approval from the Government and look forward at the prospect of clean and safe energy being generated from Cornwall’s waves in 2009.

SAS believe offshore renewable technologies have the potential to deliver an abundance of clean and safe energy in the UK, offsetting our reliance on some of the energy technologies in use today that are hugely damaging and polluting to the water environment.

Projects like Wave Hub will help the UK meet it’s renewable energy targets and should be seen as an effective technology in combating climate change, which could be hugely damaging for recreational water users, including surfers in the future, due to predicted poorer water quality and rising sea levels.

SAS will continue to examine the placement of all offshore renewable energy technologies on a case-by-case basis. And like Wave Hub, SAS will insist on the need for ongoing monitoring once a project is operational.

Andy Cummins, SAS Campaigns Officer says:

“Wave hub’s government approval is good news for Cornwall and for the future of renewable energy generation in the UK. We look forward to using the same energy we’ve used to ride waves to light up our homes as well.”

We were quite excited to get this invitation. It came through from a University we have been working closely with on fabric innovation and the areas of Biomimetics and Sustainable Design. So next Thursday (20th) sees Finisterre Design Director Thomas Podkolinski at the Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution talking at the European BIONIS (Biomimetics Network for Industrial Sustainability)
Symposium on Successful Biomimetics. He’ll be up there with some heavy hitting
scientists talking about our sustainable design philosophies and our new product. It is great to think that all the work over the last five years is now being recognised - both in our product and brand philosophies.

We’ll let you know how he gets on.

This took place a few weeks ago and was a hotly contested locally held event that Finisterre is proud to support.

People came from far and wide (with their sticks) to compete in the event. Judging was tricky amongst the fierce competition, with points being awarded for length of ride, manoeuvres on the face and time in the barrel. Awards were also given for the best varnish, spray job and outfit.

Representing Finisterre was our marketing guy – Ernie. The judges ignored his call for an interference by two 75yr olds who dropped in on him and really cut him up – never seen anything like it. Ernie didn’t even make the podium – this is him below (centre) at the start of his heat. The guy is already in training and a strict diet ahead of next years event. See you there.