Arugam Bay Surf Club with the support of Paddle4relief have produced a Code of Conduct for all surfers visiting Arugam Bay. The members of the club, the local surfers, recognise the importance of highlighting the need for safety in the water. They realise the value of respecting everyone’s desire to enjoy the waves. This season has seen an increase in surfers visiting this top quality right point break. it has also seen a number of anti-social incidents every day in the water. Incidents materialising from a minority of surfers who feel it necessary to paddle for, and take every wave! Many of these surfers, can’t surf, and ruin it for those that can, and those that respect their fellow surfers around them, and that acknowledge etiquette in the water. Arugam Bay Surf Club members are promoting safety in the water and respect for ones fellow surfers. If a small group of surfers from a third world country that have suffered a civil war and a massive natural disaster can stand up and be counted for the safety of others then why cant the travelling surfer respect their peers also? Wake up everyone. Look at what a small group of youngsters have done and please share the waves with a smile! They are prepared to share their home break with all that come to enjoy the waves. Please be prepared to come and share the waves to. No-one is greater than the other. If you can surf, then you know the buzz, the fire, the feeling! Sit back, shout someone else into the next set wave, and enjoy their joy! Smile and hoot with them. Chill in the line-up, be mellow, and wait your turn for one of mother natures heavenly walls of blue/green glass throwing out it’s curtain of white water. Hats off to the local surfers of Arugam Bay for they truely walk the walk!
Walking the walk!
Indola Sports Sponsors
The very first WQS Sri Lanka Trials Surfing Event held in Arugam Bay, on the 16th and 17th June 2010 received sponsorship from Sri Lanka business, Indola Sports, based in Colombo. Indola Sports Sales Manager, Rebecca Palmer, linked with Sri Lanka Surfing Federation Overseas Fundraising Manager, Tim Tanton, in providing the surfers and officials with 100 limited edition t-shirts.
Sri Lanka's Surfers with Indola Sports Sales Manager, Rebecca Palmer
(Photo courtesy of Peter Rob-o)
The competition was organised by the Arugam Bay Surf Club in association with the Surfing Federation of Sri Lanka, and Rebecca travelled to the East Coast of Sri Lanka to experience the closely fought event. The trials saw more than thirty Sri Lankan surfers from all over the island compete for the coveted two Wild Card places in the main Sri Lankan Airlines Pro sponsored ASP WQS 6 Star contest that took place directly after the Sri Lankan competition. In the end it was Arugam Bay's Asanka and Milan who won the coveted Wild Card entries, and with it $500 each. Arugam Bay club officials Fawas, Krish and Sril headed an enthusiastic team of surfers who worked hard throughout both the trials and main event.
ASP Australasia Tour Manager, Dane Jordan, was extremely impressed with Arugam Bay's surfers, and identified their motivation and enthusiasm for the sport as being crucial to the success of the high-profile ASP WQS contest. Dane also offered his full support to the proposed plans to develop a Surfing Federation in Sri Lanka.
Rebecca with SFSL's Peter Rob-o (left) & Tim Tanton, with ASP Tour Manager, Dane Jordan (far right).
(Photo courtesy of AiyaSurfPhotography)
Indola Sports are the first Sri Lankan business to offer direct support to the proposed Sri Lanka Surfing Federation. The company realises the importance of the surfing to Sri Lanka, both for the economy and to the individuals who surf. The sport offers individuals a healthy balance in their lives when combined with their work, study and family commitments. The surplus t-shirts from the event, of which there are only a few, can be purchased from Arugam Bay Surf Club. Many thanks must go to Indola Sports for having the vision to recognise and support the goal of the majority of Sri Lankan Surfers.
Paddle4Relief 2010
The Outcome!
An update!!
Part 3!!!
Some of you may have missed Part 1 and 2 of this years Paddle4Relief Big Paddle Event. Hopefully I can redress that with Part 3!
After a long haul in planning and organising this years Big Paddle Event, the deed was done! A long day saw a small entry in both the race and the social paddle! The decline in numbers did not see a decline in fund raising! Sunday 30th May saw £2590.06 raised on the day, with an expected additional £700.00 plus due from sponsorship! Not the case! Read On!
The rain held off and the wind was charitable as all the paddlers completed both the events without injury or failure.
Massive thanks must got to Barrie, Richie, Dave and all the crews on the three rescue boats. Without their generosity and expertise out on the water, the event would not be possible.
Volunteers were out in force this year, and not just from the local community. We were joined by five ladies from the London area. Ella and friends ventured down early in the morning and took to the task of emptying the Saunton beach crowds pockets of their hard earned cash. The temptation of the surfboard, donated by Surfed Out, as top prize in the raffle, was too much for most to ignore. There was a huge array of prizes to be one in both the raffle and the tombola. Further thanks must go to Kla, Ginny, Becs, Sean, Karen, Toby, Custard, Roy, Emms and Alec for their hard work on the day. Once again it appeared that Steve 'Joeby' Slight was going to win the Brend Hotels Saunton Villas Weekend Holiday. Steve out shone his own 2009 total of £500+ in sponsorship to a new record of £762! An absolutely amazing effort again. However, Stephen Gash, had other ideas about where the prize was going! Stephen is still on the case and determined to make it a close run thing!! An absolutely amazing photo finish was on the cards, and what a bonus for this small but extremely effective and respected local charity. Stephen has amassed £945.00 to date. Our total now reaching £3535.06! It appears that we are fortunate to have amazing people around us who have massive hearts with a determination to help those less fortunate than ourselves. These are individuals who I have only personally known for a few years but it feels like a lifetime! The mutual respect immense, the brotherhood solid, the vision the same!
Huge, huge, huge thanks to both Joeby and Stephen.
Back the days events and the first ever race held by the P4R Team was won by the talented young, local longboarder, Greg Norman. Greg needed a little persuasion to enter as he had just come out the water from surfing and was without a big longboard fit for racing! It was a 9' 10” log from P4R Founder, Tim Tanton, that swayed his decision, and he never looked back as he blitzed the opposition to win a weeks holiday in France, courtesy of Errant Surf. Enjoy your holiday Greg – many congratulations. Chris Barraclough and Chris Dyer came in 2nd and 3rd respectively, followed by Welsh entry Tim Aylett in 4th.
The social paddle may have seen a 70% drop in numbers but there was no drop in energy, enthusiasm or vibe! Many experienced regular surfers, who absolutely charge out in the water with their surfing prowess, have frequently complained the paddle is too far! Well, be ashamed! More ladies than ever took part this year, and all finished the paddle with a smile and an enthusiasm for next years event. I can only applaud these ladies and all the ladies who volunteered their time back on the beach.
Alas there were no entries in the Fancy dress section of the social paddle. Somewhat surprising knowing the characters that frequent the local surfing scene!
The social paddle was followed by the hugely entertaining Merlin Cadogan, (he of Britain's Got Talent 2009 and a man known to many for being one of the local crew surfing along our coast), with his show of escapology and fire juggling under water! Quite a feat of strength, bravery and skill. And then it was the immense musical talent of Jim Jones, Chris Millington and Country Rose and the Wild Thorns to entertain the crowd who were being well fed by Stormin Norman and the Hotdoggers Crew at the BBQ tent!
A huge thank you must got out to them all, and to the volunteers and competitors on the day, not forgetting all the sponsors and businesses who were so generous with their donations.
Special thanks to Christie Estates, Bridgett Allsop, Paul and Lucy Tamlin and the Saunton Surf Life Saving Club, for their continued help and support.
Apologies for missing anyone out in the thank you list, I guess i'm still rather tired myself from such a fantastic day of support in raising money for projects in Sri lanka and in donating money to the Haiti Eartquake victims. Perhaps also we may be able to look at helping those that have suffered in Chile.
I am now in Sri Lanka, working with members of Arugam Bay Surf Club in organising the ASP WQS Sri Lanka Trials Event and inaugural AGM of the newly formed Surfing Federation of Sri Lanka (www.surfingsrilanka.com). Paddle4Relief are a major sponsor to the Trials Event, Arugam Bay Surf Club, and the Surfing Federation here. We have had the vision to realise the importance of developing surfing in Sri Lanka. We acknowledge the benefits to all in participating in surfing not only as a physical activity, but also the benefits it brings socially, psychologically, emotionally and environmentally. How it brings individuals together, developing social interaction, improving communication and bringing a sense of well being and purpose to ones life.
Again, many thanks to one and all, from both me and the team at Paddle4Relief. I am honoured to share the experience with you all. Your generosity is second to none. And from the community here in Sri Lanka, Bohoma Isthuthi (Many thanks).
Saturday 15th May 2010 saw a bunch of extremely innocent and vulnerable surfers preyed upon by two local sadistic young beauticians, Sarah and Kay, and their dominant boss Eileen, from the Pure Skin & Beauty Salon.
Mark, Lloydy, Chris, Tim, Alec and Julian were joined by Tom in a spectacular night of fund raising for the victims of the 2010 Haiti Earthquake and the 2004 Asian Tsunami.
Local charity, Paddle4Relief, managed to extract more than £1500.00 from the local blood thirsty and pain hungry community.
The crowd that assembled at The Mariners Arms in Braunton were not satisfied with the first round of waxing that saw flesh bloodied and sore from years of well groomed hair being ripped from their rightful owners! No, they demanded more of a sacrifice and threw their money into the ring to satisfy their lust!
Backs, chests, and legs were the opener for the night but alas it was the armpits of Mark, Tom and Tim that had the crowd baying for more. Even the feet of Alec was not enough to satisfy their need to support the cause. Chris stepped in again and had his back done to match his chest, and wow was he hairy, but still there was cash in the crowds deep pockets.
Eileen, Sarah and Kay thought their night was done and so did all their victims, all apart from Alec that is, and the ever strangely enthusiastic crowd! Another £50.00 went in the pot and the eyebrows of Paddle4Relief's Founder, Tim, were soon just a distant memory as beautician Sarah gladly tore off the hair that had so elegantly grown for the best part of half a century above the blue eyes of a man now showing his age!!
Many thanks to all those that were involved on the night and to those who had previously pledged their hard earned cash to those less fortunate than ourselves.
Special thanks to the girls from Pure Skin & Beauty for donating their time for free, and to Eileen for her dominance and for donating all the equipment needed. Plus a huge thank you to Fred, Di and Andy at The Mariners, Braunton.
The Diary of a Middle Aged Surfer
Aged 38 and a half Written and illustrated by
Penfold Crockett
(Penfold Publications –
Paperback 87pages)
£6.99 from www.lulu.com
Not a long read for sure, but then how many surfers have the concentration span to read a magazine article, let alone a book!! It is by far an essentially humorous piece of literature that will surely cause many a reader PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) from flashbacks of a distant past!
The author reflects on both his own foolish middle age misfortune, and that of others who feel they need to fill a void in their life! To expose themselves to public humiliation!! Comical to say the least, it informs the latest kook (with aspirations of being Kelly Slater!!) on how not to do things!! Or was that , how to do things! No-one, escapes from the observations of the lost soul from the mountains of Portugal. There is something for all of us – either to laugh at ourselves, or to laugh at others. The classic everyday faux pas will entertain us forever! Beautifully written, and one you don't want to put down! Seriously! Honest!
Oh! And the bonus is:
A percentage of sales goes to P4R
Read and reviewed by a lost soul in Devon who hasn't had his Scooby Snacks!
....or:
I have read and reviewed this fine piece of contemporary literature!! Such cleverness to blend ones observations and experiences to a level of such magnitude! Such purity in the lessons of surfing! A must for any avid kook or surfing veteran! Both will be equally amused!!
See the Paddle4Relief article on the LineUp website. Click here>>
A FORMER Torrington mayor is urging North Devonians to buy and name water wells in Sri-Lanka.
Journal columnist, Anne Tattersall, who writes Tatt's Life was inspired by one of her subjects Braunton's Tim Tanton who set up Paddle4Relief to help Sri-Lankan victims of the for Tsuanmi.
Tim told her it cost just £50 to build a well to get a whole village fresh water and Anne subsequently donated enough for a well.
Anne decided to call the well, which is now up and running, Mandela, after Nelson for his work in fighting poverty.
She said: "I was so impressed it only costs £50 to bring fresh water to a village and I think would be great if we could get a few more Devonians to donate £50 and have a well named."
Introduction to P4R
We are Paddle4Relief and were formed shortly after the 2004 Asian Tsunami. We are a local charity in Devon who, every year since the disaster, hold a sponsored paddle and form a circle of remembrance, at Saunton Beach, for the forgotten victims. The monies raised go towards empowering the local community of Arugam Bay, a village on the south east coast of Sri Lanka, regularly visited by P4R Founder, Tim Tanton.
Getting back on their feet
Since the Boxing Day disaster, Tim has made a number of trips to Arugam Bay and had donated money and materials to help build homes and had set up loan schemes to help families rebuild their businesses. “When they get back on their feet and are able to repay us we can then loan money to more families.” Tim had received donations from family, friends and local businesses and had even sold personal possessions at car boot sales to raise money to help villagers.
How P4R came about
Paddle4Relief was set up after Tim and friend Paul ‘Custard’ Martin paddled out to the point at Downend, from Saunton, shortly after the disaster and ‘brainstormed’ as how to help the suffering who had lost their loved ones. As soon as Tim stepped out of the sea that day, his work started for the cause. The response from local surfers was so positive that we wanted to get as many local beach goers involved as possible.
Hopefully people will see it as British beach culture helping Sri Lankan beach culture.
Rejuvenating the community
Tim, has been a regular visitor to Sri Lanka for the past twelve years, and his first major project was the construction of a pre school classroom and playground, which has given a real boost to the children and has played an important part in rejuvenating the local community.
Achievements to date
The Paddle 4 Relief team has since achieved numerous other projects such as rebuilding the road accessing the Montessori pre-school and Temples, building cabanas and tea shops, regenerating existing wells, dramatically improving the water quality supplied to many families, putting in pipeline’s, providing water pumps, designing and constructing an environmentally friendly water tower and supplying medicine, food and fishing equipment. Tim most recently started a swimming club and he has now encouraged local young surfers to set up a surf club – the boards were generously donated from UK surfers and then shipped out to Arugam Bay.
This year will see the charity applying for official charity status which will enable us to move forward in greater capacity in 2008 and the years to come, with an aim of broadening the area of our aid work.
Last thought
Are you passionate, keen to travel to Sri Lanka and help a great charity? If so, contact Tim directly – you may just well be the next pioneer of Paddle4Relief. Also volunteers are welcome and we are currently looking for Legal and Financial Advisors to join our crew – please spread the word.
Please contact tim@paddle4relief.co.uk for further information.
£150 = well project
£75 = water pipeline and connection
£40 = load of bricks
£25 = new roof (woven coconut leaf) for family home
£8 = load of sand
£8 = mason's day salary
£5 = bag of cement
£4 = labourer's day salary
£1 = pair of sandals for a child
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Current
School Book Project!
The end of 2009 saw ten schools blessed with resources distributed by Paddle4Relief. Resources varied from pens, pencils, crayons and exercise books to reading books, educational toys, games and puzzles.
Anne's Well Project
