Check out his results from last year:
English Nationals – 3rd
Bude Surf Classic – 1st
Quiksilver Tag Team – 3rd
Quiksilver Best Air – 1st
VQS – 3rd
British Nationals – 4th
British Universities – 2nd
English Team Rider

Name: Andrew Griffin
A.K.A: Jeeka or Grifter
D.O.B.: 18/05/1985
From: Newquay (England)
Years surfing: 15
Sponsors: Rhino, Bilbo, Future fins, Kernow Boardriders and Kustom
Favourite manoeuvre: Air reverse
Board size: 6’1″ x 19″ x 2 1/4″
Weight: 78KG
Height: 6’0″
Local Break: Holywell Bay
Favourite Break: Superbank and Various waves in Bali

My name’s Andrew Griffin from Cubert with my local break being Holywell Bay(TR8).  I’ve been surfing for around 15 years, and competing for about 12 of those years.  Last year I had a bit of an up and down season, not doing too well on the UK Pro tour, but making the final of every other event I entered.  When I’m not surfing I’m normally working as a web designer or spending time with the girlfriend.

This year I haven’t entered too many events, but I’ve just had a couple of new boards off Tunnel Vision and they are going really well, so I’m looking to get into a few more comps and get a few results.  At the end of the summer I’m hoping to compete in the World Games representing the British team in peru.

I’ve gotta give them a big thumbs up! and like all Black Stix they’re super light; got good flex and hold and generate some great speed!

“My new JM Surftech 9’8″ works in just about anything! Whether its 2 ft Burleigh Heads, 8 ft Sunset Pt, or some heaving slab somewhere, it’s designed to handle a variety of conditions. Plus Surftech’s Tuflite material makes my board nearly bullet proof! I love it.” – Jamie Mitchell

Nose : 18 3/4″
Mid : 28″
Tail : 16 1/2″
Thickness : 4 1/4″
Volume : 141

Be Sure to check them out at your local dealer before they’re all gone!

This is my first blog for Future Fins. So I will go through my experience with the fins first so far.

I had the chance to start riding for Future Fins this winter and I am really glad I have made the change. I’m by no means a pro when it comes to understanding these fins yet but I did notice straight away the difference from FCS Fins. The Futures have way more drive and feel a lot more solid off the bottom which is the main thing you want to feel when I am surfing heavy waves.

I have got to use the fins in all types of waves, from fun waves for turns to heavy slabs and big Tow sessions. Future Fins seem like they have much more drive through turns and feel more solid, which for me that is a big thing I like to feel when surfing. I have not experimented enough to know which fins are the best ones for each situation but I look forward to it. My favourite fin so far has to be the FEA Black Stix.

I manly have been using the the Black Stix fin, it is an amazing fin on small waves I can really feel the drive. But they also go really well on all the heavy waves I have been surfing. It is a real all rounder which is perfect; I don’t really use any other fin at the moment unless it gets real big.

I have used the Tow Fins on a few big tow days and felt great, real solid and smooth. I have also put them in my big paddle boards and they work fine.

I am in Australia now for the summer, I will try and keep you updated on what’s going on down under and how the fins are going. Until then hope everyone has a great summer.

Fergal

Chris

There will be no races or competitions just a huge weekend of Stand Up Paddleboarding fun events, demo equipment and much much more. Saturday afternoon/evening brings with it a wicked hog roast, BBQ and beers accompanied by live music. Its gonna be one awesome weekend people!

A chilled out festival of Stand Up Paddleboarding, Music & Aloha, in association with BSUPA & Sunset Surf. We have some awesome music lined up on the Saturday afternoon/evening in a great setting, at a stunning Cornish beach. Amazing sunsets, hence the cafe name, clear blue ocean & hopefully some sweet waves. There are demo boards by Surftech, plus others, coaching tips on & off water, great food during the day at the cafe, a hog roast on Saturday night at Sunset Surf, chilled vibe & lots of SUP action. There is no charge for any of the water activity, it’s just a “gathering” of likeminded SUPers who also like a few tunes. If you are new to SUP you are most welcome.

We are super lucky to have both Steve & Mandy West, who are both great coaches in the art of paddling a SUP, delivering on land paddle clinics for men & women. If you are a lady looking to improve your paddling technique or want to ask questions about the sport without us blokes around, this is a perfect opportunity. Mandy’s coaching clinic will have something for all levels of female paddlers. Us blokes get time with Steve West who is a legend in the paddling world and the two of them are offering these clinics to all SUPstock gatherers at no cost, 30 or so minutes of your time exceptionally well spent. This is coaching for all levels of paddler & you will learn something new, then you take it out on the water and smile a lot as it clicks into place. Check them out at www.islanderpaddler.com.

BSUPA will be there as will some BSUPA coaches to offer on water surf tips, if you are not a member of BSUPA, its worth considering for the 3rd party insurance. Although membership is not a requirement to attend SUPstock they are the governing body of our sport & are working hard on our behalf so all they would ask is you give it some consideration.

There will be a white board with a guideline of the program for the weekend based at the cafe, but it will be a very chilled weekend, no heats or competitions, just a perfect weekend of learning, music & meeting new SUP friends. If you want food on the Saturday night at Sunset Surf you will need to buy a ticket before 11am on the Saturday so that they have an idea of the numbers. Cost is not confirmed as yet but these guys usually do a bang up spread which is real value for money. Plus the beer there tastes so good , especially after a surf/paddle.

To get to Sunset Surf & Gwithian, drive to Hayle on the A30, head into Hayle , turn right after Lidl (if coming from up country/A30) up the hill, as the hill flattens out turn left , down the single lane road and the car park is on your left & the cafe on the right.

Don’t forget to add the event to your facebook!

Keep checking back as Fergal has some of his thoughts for us so far, and for updates on his travels!

Future Fins team riders have had some great results again this past week, with Alan Stokes being crowned Champion of Champions in Sri Lanka! Reubin Pearce also had a great result finishing in second place.

Alan Stokes

This years Champion Alan Stokes, commented, “I am ecstatic to have won this event, after coming 2nd last year and in previous years, it feels likes it has been a long time coming. It has been really nice to have an event with great waves and a really cool atmosphere. Reubin and I came here three weeks before the event and we both finished in 1st and 2nd so it feels like the training has paid off.”

We will have a full fleet of demo board ranging from the ever increasing Surftech paddle sports range.

Surftech SUP team riders Elliot Dudley and Chris ‘Guts’ Griffiths will both be there hot on the heels from paddling to France and winning the Gul Night Surf. Both will be able too offer advice on which boards could be suited for you and how to improve your paddle technique.

See you there!

Bikes, Skateboarding, Parkour, Climbing and more at Europe’s largest free charity beach & watersports festival

This year’s Paddle Round The Pier Beach Festival plays host to some amazing events on the land including  the Animal Relentless Bike Tour, the Brighton Cougars Streetball contest and the Brighton South East  Lifesaving Festival.

And if you fancy having a go at something yourself as well as watching, then the organisers, in association with Brighton & Hove city council are offering free climbing lessons on their fantastic new climbing wall.

Other land based events include Parkour demos from Urban Athletics, White Crane Martial Arts displays, Street Surfing, a new skateboard halfpipe, LandPaddling, Rollerskiing, Mountainboarding, Bungee-Trampolines, Ukulele Jamboree and the Ocean Sports Board Riders Turn or Burn Slalom Skateboard Contest. There is also a sponsored skateboard-run on the Saturday morning from Hove Lagoon to the Paddle Village with a family surfing holiday as the top prize thanks to sponsor Ocean Flooring.

Over 40,000 people are expected to attend this year’s event, which takes place on Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 July at Hove Lawns in Brighton and is completely free of charge to visit.

And organisers are hoping to raise over £30,000 for this year’s chosen charities from donations made by visitors. The charities are the Royal National Lifeboat Institute, SurfAid International and Whoopsadaisy.

The ‘big top’ from last year returns, hosting some of the best local and UK bands including The Railing Stains, Boy Com, Jo Harman Project, Los Albertos, Red Jackson and Transformer.

There’s also the children’s arena with loads going on for kids including the Monkey Bizness stage with live entertainment, circus skills arena, inflatable adventure park and a giant slide!

Taking care of all ages – the Metro Deco tea-dance marquee hosts partnered dancing throughout both days for all skills.

As well as all of the activities on land, there is also plenty happening on the water too, including the Errant Surf Holidays Pier2Pier Paddle Races, the Funky Puffin Euro Enduro SUP race and the legendary ‘Paddle Round The Pier’.

For more information please visit www.paddleroundthepier.com

You can also get updates on www.facebook.com/paddleroundthepier and www.twitter.com/prtp.

Just to let you know that I went down to compete in the SUP category of the Gul Night Surf last weekend it was held at Fistral beach on the Friday and Saturday nights. There was an excellent turnout for the event with all of the best British stand up guys entered including Adam Zervais, Tim Mellors and Elliot Dudley.

The surf ranged from 2 to 4ft and super contestable. Most of the heats were done under floodlights which was really cool for the spectators but a real challenge for the competitors. Both Elliot and myself made the finals on our 9’6″ Gerry Lopez where we took the top two spots (me first and Elliot second!).  A really good result that proves the Lopez is a cracking board!

Cheers
Chris