Rip Curl F Bomb Glove Review

Yes, we know that Spring finally appears to have sprung on the South Coast of the UK but we still thought it was useful adding a quick review of the Rip Curl 3mm F Bomb 5 Finger gloves.

We have been wearing these gloves for most of this Winter and can honestly say that the Rip Curl 3mm F Bomb gloves are the warmest gloves on the market. Easy to get on and so supple when you are wearing them, these wetsuit gloves have some great technology to keep your hands warm even in the coldest of surf.

A fireskin fiber interior wicks water away from the skin and helps maintain warmth as it builds up inside. The smooth exterior lining, internal gasket seal and liquid seam welding provides added durability and seam strength. And although we have spent quite a bit of time in the water already this year these gloves have shown no sign of wear and tear.

On the palm you have got a durable grid mesh that helps you grip the rail and actually helps getting them off when you come out of the water.

Available in Small, Medium, Large and X-Large.

The Sorted Surf Shop Test Team  give these wetusit gloves a 5 Star rating *****

Note: As a general rule, When Choosing your wetsuit gloves size, go for a glove that is the same size as your wetsuit. So for example, if you are a Large in a wetsuit, choose a Large for your wetsuit gloves.

Buy Rip Curl 3mm F Bomb 5 Finger Gloves online with free delivery!

The legendary waterman that is Dave Kalama has signed up with the Naish Stand Up Paddle Board team for 2009. A major signing for the Naish camp, Kalama will work alongside the design team of Harold Iggy, Rick and Robby Naish to push SUP development even further.

If you haven’t heard of Dave Kalama – try a quick search on Google and you will see just how awesome this guy really is when he gets out on the water. Reknowned for surfing and windsurfing some of the biggest waves on Maui including “Jaws“, in recent years he has partnered with fellow master waterman Laird Hamilton to take the sport of paddle boarding to new heights.

With a key player such as Dave Kalama on board it looks like it will be a busy development year for Naish. Which can only mean even more toys to play with !

 Need to get your fix of SUP – check out the new Naish SUP Video at Naish.tv

New range of Stand up Paddleboards coming soon at Sorted Surf Shop.

The PWA Windsurfing World Tour has just finished its tour stop in the Cabo Verde Islands- and here are a few of the amazing images.

John Carter is the pro-photographer – so “big respect” to him for capturing these shots.

All shots Copyright John Carter.

Josh Angulo went on to defend his title, defeating Kauli Seadi twice and ensuring the Cabo Verde crown stayed right at home. Kauli Seadi produced some inspirational sailing to finish in second, Kevin Pritchard took third, and Marcilio Browne climbed the ranks of the double elimination to finish in fourth.

Check out http://www.pwaworldtour.com for more info, pictures and event videos.

In recent weeks there has been a lot of talk about the Ministry of Defence (MOD) reviewing access to one of the South Coast best windsurfing and surfing breaks.

The Byelaw that limits access to windsurf and surf at Kimmeridge Bay in Dorset is up for review in a couple of months. So if you are a regular to Kimmeridge or still want to do your bit – then join the ABBA (Access to Broad Bench Association) campaign to regain access to Broad Bench.

Access Broad Bench Kimmeridge

ABBA is asking that the Ministry of Defence take our case, listed below, seriously:

• Kimmeridge Bay regularly produces some of the best surf in the UK
• Surfing and windsurfing are extremely popular in this area
• The area in question on the western side of Kimmeridge Bay is a very small proportion of the Sea Danger Area and lies at the edge of it
• The times and dates during which access is allowed are insufficient and not relevant to seasonal patterns of swell
• ABBA does not want or expect the firing to be reduced and fully understands the requirement for live firing exercises. But we do think that firing could be slightly modified to allow us access to this internationally significant wave at all times.

As regular surfers down at Kimmeridge Bay we are all behind this cause. If you can help out too by signing the petition – fantastic.

If you have any great stories or pictures about surfing Kimmeridge (keep it clean though!) let us know in the comments box below.

We are keeping our fingers crossed for the MOD review meeting.

For more information on how you can help visit the ABBA website at www.broadbench.co.uk

SAS Campaign Win for Cleaner Waters in Guernsey

If you live or surf on Guernsey then here’s some great news about the water quality.

Clean water campaigners Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) are celebrating a major campaign victory as the States of Guernsey finally committed to full sewage treatment. This is great news for Guernsey’s recreational water users, bathers, water related businesses and the reputation of Guernsey. SAS have been campaigning on Guernsey for full sewage treatment since September 2004. During that period SAS has delivered nearly 20 actions calling for full sewage treatment while an estimated 6,574,500,000 gallons of wastewater and raw sewage has been dumped untreated into the sea off Guernsey.

Victory was almost in reach when the States of Guernsey’s Public Service Department proposed a wastewater charge. SAS supported this charge but called for commitment to full sewage treatment, a realistic timescale to deliver the sewage treatment and assurances that the wastewater charge would help fund full sewage treatment. All SAS’s stipulations were incorporated by deputy David De Lisle in his amendment. Yesterday, the De Lisle amendment was strongly supported and the final hurdle was cleared. A future with full sewage treatment will give recreational water users on Guernsey dramatically improved protection. It will support water related businesses and help enhance the image of Guernsey with an improved coastal environment for all to enjoy.

This campaign victory came on the back of 4 and a half years campaigning and 18 actions calling for full sewage treatment for Guernsey. Actions included packed public meetings with standing room only and superbly supported SAS petitions in 2004. Dr Loo landed on Guernsey to warn of a reduction in water quality in November 2005 and a 60 hour vigil on the steps of the State’s HQ in January 2006. 2007 saw port protests and surfing zombies lobbying the States and in 2008 SAS made full sewage treatment an election issue and towed the SAS 15ft inflatable turd with the slogan “VOTE FULL SEWAGE TREATMENT” around the island.

As great a success as this is, SAS will not stop here. The States of Guernsey have once before committed to full sewage treatment, over 12 years ago, only for it to drop off the agenda. But the introduction of a first time wastewater charge for islanders with a proportion of this charge being spent specifically on full sewage treatment plans will make Government u-turns much more difficult in the future.

ANDY CUMMINS, SAS Campaign Manager says: “A commitment to introduce full sewage treatment in Guernsey is a superb campaign victory for SAS and great news for the health of all water users on Guernsey. A future with full sewage treatment will ensure the 4 million gallons of wastewater and sewage currently dumped untreated into the seas off Guernsey will be soon be clean and safe. Well done to the States for finally making the right move, we’ll be watching closely to make sure full sewage treatment goes through this time.”

Support the Surfers Against Sewage campaign by signing up at http://www.sas.org.uk

If you surf a beach that isn’t clean on Guernsey or anywhere else in the UK leave us your comments.

Well, it looks like the guys across the pond in the States are thoroughly jealous of the winter storms we have been getting across Europe over the last few weeks.

According to Real Surf.com “A number of top International surfers have heeded the call and gone “Across the Pond” to fill their need for winter power. ”

The unusual weather patterns in the North Pacific have left the Californian West Coast big wave surfers largely starved for waves for the last two months. And, the normally battered Hawaiian coastlines has suffered through a similar drought of extreme high surf warnings this winter season. 

However, there has been some epic conditions down in Southern France and Spain.

Benjamin Sanchis (Hossegor, France) at Belharra

Check out the latest photos from the 2009 Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Awards. One of the most spectacular images to emerge from the barrage of high surf is a shot of Benjamin Sanchis (Hossegor, France) at Belharra, an outer reef located in the Basque Country near the French/Spanish border. 

The photograph by Stephane Salerno is reminiscent of several other massive rides at the break which earned XXL Biggest Wave nominations in 2003 and 2008.

Isla Pancha, in the Cantabria region of Spain, has also produced some excellent entries for Basque surfers Asier Muniain, Ibon Amatriain and Aritza Saratxaga along with Cantabrian Oscar Gomez. 

There is a total of over $130,000 in prize money up for grabs in The Billabong XXL Ride of the Year Award and Billabong XXL Biggest Wave Award. If the storms continue to rage we could see even bigger rides happening before the event closes on March 20th 2009.

The Billabong XXL competition is open to all qualified, invited surfers at any surf break around the world over the course of a full year and is based on the photographic evidence.

Although there is still plenty of time for more shocking swell events to occur before the event period concludes with the Vernal (Spring) Equinox on March 20, 2009, the world’s big wave elite are already making plans to attend the gala Billabong XXL Awards ceremony this April 17 at the Grove Theater in Anaheim, California.  While the 2000 seats at the Grove are invitation only, the entire evening’s activities from Red Carpet arrivals to the final award will be

If you haven’t got tickets to the Gala Awards Ceremony on April 17th at the Grove Theater in Anaheim, California, don’t fret. The evening will be broadcast live via webcast at www.BillabongXXL.com and televised as a one-hour special on ESPN2 on the evening of May 28.

Check out: http://www.billabongxxl.com

We’re off to book our flights to Biarritz now !

Reef Europe have just launched their brand new website for 2009. Check out the latest collection of Reef clothing, sandals, shoes and accessories for Spring Summer ’09. 

The new website is split into two sections – one for guys and one for girls.

So if you want to know what boardshorts Tim Boal or Rob Machado will be wearing when they pulls on the lycra this March for his first event as a member of the elite ASP Dream Tour in ’09, then look no further. Checkout Rayghun, Empy Walls, Reefix and Magnificent 7 boardshorts. You might not surf as well as Tim, but at least you can wear the same trunks as TB when YOU pull in this Summer!

Miss Reef September - Karissa

For the girls, they have a fresh, colourful Reef collection including knits, dresses, tops, skirts, T’s, boardshorts and a fantastic range of bikini’s. If you want to look hot on the beach this summer try Orchard, Julip or the Mambo bikini. Once the sun has set and it’s time to slip into your  party dress, try Reef Blanc or Trance-Lite.

Whatever your looking for, they ’ve got you covered @ Reef.

Don’t forget Wetsuit Centre stocks a full range of Reef Sandals and footwear at very competitive prices.