The longest marked footpath in the world, over 2000 miles, traverses through 14 states along the East Coast of the US and it takes six months to complete. We’ve been going back and forth with Stuart Skinner, he’s a naturalist, he loves Finisterre gear and we’re going to help him along the way, as well as help raise a bit of awareness on mental health issues.
So Stuart will be off very soon, we’re going to hear from him from time to time and let all of you know how he gets on over the next six months. We never thought for a second, that our merino beanies and new base layers would be on a 5 million foot step journey - stoked to be involved Stuart!
This leads onto to Charlie Chambers and Finisterre in the most unlikely of places. Charlie is a product tester, he gets up to video and still images, climbs the occasional mountain in his favored Sastruga and when he has the time - wears cowboy hats and Etobicokes in front of 18 wheelers - super rad Charlie.?
and then there’s a new product tester in the tester family - Mr Noble. He’s well respected, fronts the Scottish Surfing Federation and he’s sporting Finisterre logos on board and suit. He spent last week competing in the Scottish Open, managed a second in the open event, forth in the seniors and began his correspondence with a ‘wee update…’
We’re finding it hard to keep up. Carlos made the final of another big wave event on Sunday at Todos Santos, Baja.
In 1998, Burle emerged on to the big wave scene with spectacular results by winning the first event ever held at the reef in gigantic 50ft surf. Having been charging and homing his skills for years prior, off the radar, this event made a name for the Brazilian, as he beat the classic North Shore contingent to the top spot. Twelve years later and there is no doubt he still is one of the best in the world at what he does - someone we’re proud to have on board.
Its been one of his best winters yet: Spectacular displays of big wave surfing on the North Shore saw him rank well in the Eddie Aikau at Waimea, before he was nominated for an XXL big wave award after grabbing an astonishingly big cover up at Jaws. Barely a week or two later and he’s in the line-up for the Final of the renowned Mavericks contest, in what has been dubbed some of the heaviest paddle in surfing seen for a long time. This past weekend he reached the final of the Todos Santos contest - eventually placing fourth.
His hardwork over the past twelve months means he’s flying back home today to see his family and newborn son with a second place overall ranking on the Big Wave World Circuit. We’re stoked to hear the news, and as the Todos Santos event is not long over, we will keep you posted very soon with some of the best highlights from his exploits this winter.
Hugo, Director of SAS - just across the way, stopped by to let us know that they are launching their brand new campaign film, ‘Protect Our Waves’ in St.Agnes on Friday.
We’ve been supporting them all the way and recently managed to see a sneaky preview, the film looks rad. It’s been in the mix for a year now and well worth a watch. With some original imagery and solid surfing, it takes a different spin from the usual route, highlighting some of the serious issues that our waves around the U.K are facing. Catch it St.Agnes on Friday 26th February at 7pm. There will also be screenings in Bristol, Wales, London, Brighton, Tynemouth and other areas in the coming few weeks.
26th Feb, Miners and Mechanics Institute, St Agnes Cornwall, from 7pm
28th Feb, Solva Memorial Hall, Solva, Pembrokeshire, Wales, from 7pm
3rd March, The Roxy Bar and Screen, Borough High St, London, from 7pm
7th March, Tynemouth Life Brigade Watch House, Tynemouth, from 7pm
A couple weeks back, we went to check out our flock of Bowmont. Lesley was there to receive us, with loads of news on the flock, the rams and wool.
HMS Finisterre is one of the prettiest looking rams in the flock - bar none. He’s got a lovely coat, stands proud and holds his ground amongst the other rams and on occasion, you can find him chatting up some of the prettier yews. We’re always stoked to see him and Lesley reckons he’s on course to be a looker.
Raymond, our man with the golden touch, manages to remove fleeces with grace and precision, leaving the flock nick free. He’s a gentle man, super kind and chuffed with his tea break. Raymond - you’re a dude, wicked seeing you!
Lesley had also mentioned the Spinning World Championships, which is held in Bothwell Tasmania every 2 years - next to be held in 2011 as part of the Bothwell International Highland Spin-In 2011. The Competition is to make the longest 2 ply thread from 10grams of wool. The winner in 2009 managed 1,012.377 meters. It just so happens that the worlds top spinners have chosen our Bowmont to use in the spinning championships - so fingers are crossed.
One last mention, cheers Lesley, as always. We love seeing you, love the stories and we were over the moon with the pork pies from the local butcher - amazing!
After a long waiting period, the Mavericks contest is running today. 24 of the worlds top big wave surfers have been invited to compete, including Carlos Burle and Greg Long.
There’s been some stand out sessions this winter at Mavericks, but none of the swells were voted clean enough to run by the group. The last week however has seen a deep low develop in the north Pacific, which really looks set to deliver this weekend. Expect to see 20-40 foot faces breaking off Pillar Point - it’s being called as one of the biggest Mavericks swells for years.
Carlos has been a Mavericks regular since the beginning and judging on his latest sessions at Jaws, expect him to be pulling into some crazy waves - we’ll keep you updated.
Gavin Anderson is one of our customers, he recently bought our best selling lightweight insulation jacket, the Etobicoke. Gavin has a daughter named Ruby and Ruby digs her dad. Ruby digs her dad so much, that on her spare time, she draws pictures of him doing loads of rad stuff.
Below is a picture she drew of dad, we all think Ruby is very cool.
Warren is one of Finisterre’s unsung hero’s. He’s advised us from time to time with product, puts together solid write-ups on treehugger , fills us in with his current happenings and lives a rad lifestyle - taking and giving at a good pace.
He’s currently living in NSW Australia, where he’s gone from concrete to in the bush. Over the past year, he’s been doing some pretty inspiring things, it lit us up, should light you up - super stoked Warren!
1. In the past year we’ve installed solar hot water and also 2kW (12 panels) of solar photovoltaics on the roof. Our vegie garden is currently producing zucchinis (courgettes), pumpkins, carrots, beetroot, corn, potatoes, tomatoes, rocket, plums, apples, peaches, etc. More here: http://web.mac.com/inov8/INOV8/WalktheTalk.html
2. I’ve been slowly, very slowly working on a hobby project charting the evolution of outdoor gear innovations. See website here: http://homepage.mac.com/inov8/Compass/
3. Mostly new parenting adventures. But I do take little Ryan (now six months old) out for a bushwalk every morning, pass the mobs of grazing kangaroos. We go rain, hail or shine.
Little Ryan
Little Joey
4. Oh and i should mention, if I haven’t already, that our little village (back in September) became Australia’s (and maybe the world’s) First Bottled Water Free Town. I was a volunteer on the working group and designed/wrote the website for the campaign: http://www.bundyontap.com.au/
Cheers for all the support over the years Warren - big hugs!
Hugo Tagholm, director at SAS, mate, just across the road, about to get married and in spare time - Elvis impersonator - he just scored some filthy left handers somewhere in Devon…
On Christmas day 2009, Carlos became father to Reno Kai Moura Burle. That was a little over a month ago, in the meantime, he’s still training on the North Shore and grabbing the occasional bomb off Pe’ahi.
According to the WHO (World Health Organization), once you become a parent you lower your life risks, in other words - you gear down.
Well according to Carlos Burle, you gear up. He’s not stopping, he continues to push the big wave world every year. Just a little over a month after his sons birth, he’s just scored one of the biggest barrels of his life. Some industry pundits are saying this is one of the biggest slots the North Shore has ever seen and with it follows once again - a XXL Big Wave Award Nomination.
A few years back, Carlos sent us through a picture of him charging the same spot, wearing one of our waterproof shells - he said he was just messing around (image below) - it felt like we were there. A few years on and he’s getting barreled at the same spot, Finisterre board logos proudly across the nose - once again, feels like we were there.
Carlos Burle - 2007, wearing a Finisterre MKI Storm Track.
200ft below the cliff, through some near impenetrable sugar cane and pineapple fields, is Jaws or Pe’ahi. Lying on the edge of an old plantation town, the access is difficult: the single dirt track has littered with burnt out cars to keep the crowds down. In short you need an ATV just to get down there, and that’s before you get into the water.
The local surfers have the place wired, a twenty minute paddle out - the Jet Ski is a good idea. Jaws, the true home of tow-in comes alive each winter between December and January with swells originating thousands of miles away. The huge fetch and strong storms that develop off Alaska’s Aleutian Islands hits the near perfect reef delivering some seriously sizey rights and lefts.
Meanwhile the clock never stops for Carlos - after a good run in the Eddie Aikau, and a couple of stand out sessions at Mavericks, he’s been taking on the biggest swells that have been called this winter, whilst still finding time to be at home with his baby boy.
Here’s some shots that were snapped at the last big jaws session by our girl Tracy in the water, catching Carlos grabbing an insane barrel on one of the biggest sessions this winter at Jaws. Check it out, there’s some whisperings that this is a strong contender for the XXL big barrel awards.
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