corksurf.com

Save Crab Island

The wave at Crab Island is under threat by a development at the pier at Doolin.

It really is one of Ireland best waves and we need to do anything we can to save it.

Please take the minute or so to sign this petition to get the development altered

Cork Bodyboarder Makes Irish Team

Taken from Facebook:

Rachel Cahalane is Surfing for Ireland!

Cork Body Boarder Rachel Cahalane (16) of the Gtown Surf School Junior Club has qualified for the Irish Junior Surf Team and will be representing Ireland at the European Surf Championships in Portugal this May as a member of the Irish Surf Team. Please support her trip & competition expenses by coming along to a sponsored surf paddle for her on Bank Holiday May 3rd at 11am at Sandycove Harbour just outisde Kinsale in Co. Cork. We are inviting Surfers of all abilities to come along, make a donation and come for a paddle in the sheltered waters of Sandycove, meet Rachel and lets give her a warm send off to Portugal.

This is a tremendous achievement for Rachel to make the Junior Irish Team. Its been a long time since Cork was represented. Rachel is an excellent young surfer with lots of potential and this opportunity will not only help her surfing career but also inspire other Juniors to greater heights.

You can also help by purchasing a ticket for this fantastic Raffle. The raffle will be held at a sponsored paddle for Rachel on Monday May 3rd at Sandycove Kinsale at 11am.

1st Prize of a Rip Curl Wetsuit, Body Board, bag & Fins plus 3 Body Boarding Lessons with Gtown Surf School. Value 350 Euro!
2nd Prize Offshore Surf & Gtown Surf School Goodie Bag.
3rd Prize Gtown Surf School limited edition Tshirt & Gift Voucher.

This is fantastic news! Well done Rachel!

Beach Clean Up

This weekend Surfrider will be hosting a beach clean up at the Inchydoney beach in Clonakilty, West Cork. Last year saw the first ever Surfrider event and it was great to see so many local surfers take time out of their lives to support a worthwhile cause.

The Clean up will begin at 12.00 at the West Cork Surf school, all those interested in being involved please wear appropriate clothing. All members of Cork Surf Club are invited to join the event, weather permitting there will be a paddle out and a circle formed at sea.

Looking forward to seeing you all participate in having a positive impact on your local surf community, will be stoked to see you there.
Chairman: Gerard Clark
Public Relations Officer: Paul Whiting

http://www.initiativesoceanes.org/index.php?lang=2

Portugese Man-O-War Alert

Fears over deadly Man-O-War influx

Apparently this was mentioned on Irish radio today also. I've heard reports of people seeing these things in Irish waters, and I saw one myself in France which isn't too far away really.

Here's some info taken from Wikipedia

Research suggests that in the normal course the best treatment for a Portuguese Man O' War sting is:
(a) to avoid any further contact with the Portuguese Man O' War and to carefully remove any remnants of the creature from the skin (taking care not to touch them directly with fingers or any other part of the skin to avoid secondary stinging) then
(b) to apply salt water to the affected area (not fresh water, which tends to make the affected area worse)
If eyes have been affected they should be irrigated with copious amounts of room temperature tap water for at least 15 minutes and if vision blurs, or the eyes continue to tear, hurt, swell, or are light sensitive after irrigating, or there is any concern, a doctor should be seen as soon as possible;
(c) to follow up with the application of hot water (45 �C/113 �F) to the affected area, which eases the pain of a sting by denaturing the toxins.
Vinegar dousing has been shown to cause strengthening of nematocysts from the larger (P. physalis) man-of-war species (that is, increasing the toxin and worsening the symptoms) while the effect of vinegar on the nematocysts of the smaller species (which has less severe stings) has been confirmed that will provoke hemorrhaging. Vinegar is therefore not recommended.

Hopefully it won't affect anyone but at least be prepared in case you do come across one.

Longboard Comp & Fish Fry

The West Coast Surf Club Longboard Competition is taking place this year in Lahinch on the 19th and 20th of September. This is always a great weekend out and a chance to see some of the countries best longboarders in action. The deadline for applications has been set for the 06th September 2009, with the first already received. Interested participants may download an entry form from The West Coast Surf Club Website or send their applications by post (to Lahinch Surf Shop, Old Promenade, Lahinch, Co. Clare c/o Cliodhna Fawl); a non-refundable entry fee of €15 is required on application as is current Irish Surfing Association membership.

For further details please contact Cliodhna Fawl 086-3366023 or Dave Flynn 087 629 2335, or visit The West Coast Surf Club Website.

The 2009 European Fish Fry will also be held the same weekend in Lahinch, this will be your chance to see and meet some of the best shapers in the world including Chris Christensen, Rich Pavel, Ian Zamora and Pat Rawson. Chris Christensen is also staying on to do some shaping so you can grab a Californian board from one of the world best shapers without the import duty and vat!
For more info contact paul@glidesurfboards.net or phone 087 7495680

All in all this weekend looks like it's going to be on of the biggest events in the Surfing Calendar.