JAMES COX
“Alfie and I launched to head upwind to the reef on near enough flat water at the car park. The water resembled a speed strip more than a wave spot with nuclear winds blasting cross offshore. It only took one tack to make it upwind to the waves, at which point I immediately realised I’d need to crank on more downhaul and outhaul to handle the wind strength. Once accomplished, I started picking off waves at the point and riding them, all the while dealing with the extreme gusts and driving spray. The head high waves lined up and had a superb angle to them, offering exceptional waveriding as they peeled and pitched over the rocky bottom. On more than one occasion I was engaged in a turn when someone’s kit cartwheeled past me in almost comic fashion, thrown into the air by the unforgiving wind. The mayhem was compensated for by the beautiful surroundings of the cliff-lined foreshore, woodlands and Welsh hills. Whilst out there I couldn’t help but wish that the wind might ease off slightly although I knew that wouldn’t be the case as Bigsalty had forecast an increase in the afternoon. There would be no respite. I left in a state of ‘wind-shock’ but also wanting more; what we had experienced seemed like an introduction to a break that can handle waves of far greater size and exceptional quality!”