So here we are at the end of 2015, my first year of competitive longboarding and I have been ranked 4th in Britain and 7th in Europe! Huzzah!!
I am just so so thrilled and never thought that I could achieve this with all that’s going on in my life this year.
My father and coach Keith Beddoe has been training me alongside running longboarding clinics here in Newquay for others who could benefit from tailor-made, one to one coaching.
I still have so much to learn and hope to better my placement in both rankings next year. My trophy shelf needs filling up, ha!
After a hard decision to break up with the father of my young children, I am escaping the arctic winter and flying south to Jeffrey’s Bay for 10 weeks of sun and perfect waves!
The family have a house overlooking the mechanical right-hander known as ‘Point’. A long boarder’s heaven.
Won’t the locals be thrilled to see Katy and Keith ‘Wave-hog’ Beddoe turning up with their mals hungry for endless rides and sore arms?
We’re sure they’ll be happy to share their waves. I’ve had a long and seductive love affair with South Africa.
First visiting when I was just 13 and experiencing a coming of age adventure, only lacking surfing (hadn’t properly started surfing then).
I returned when I was 18 with my Grandpa who had bought the house out there, when property prices were so affordable, this was my first proper surfing holiday and the place I met my South African husband to be (only for 3 years!
We surfed our hearts out, and I fell firmly in love with Jeffrey’s bay
I was naïve ok!!). We surfed our hearts out, and I fell firmly in love with Jeffrey’s bay. I came back for our six-month honeymoon, learnt a bit of Afrikaans and enjoyed searching for waves up and down the coast to places like Mossel Bay amongst many.
My favorite times were surfing with my dad who now runs the house as a Surf Accommodation B&B, where he takes care of you in style and you get to surf world class waves with Keith Beddoe as your guide.
I’m set to enjoy sharing waves with my dad again in January 2016. I have decided to unwind with my toddlers out in the sun for 10 weeks where I hope to fine tune my longboarding to push me in the UK competitive circuit.
My sponsors have been brilliant, I’ve ordered my custom, handmade, fit to measure wetsuit from SNUGG Wetsuits, Newquay. Taking over fantastic sustainably made wax from West Coast Surf Wax.
Board bags, leashes and accessories from the incredible Rhino International Surf company. The ubiquitous holiday sunnies from Bamboo Eyewear made sustainably in the UK and of course my dad’s own brand of hand shaped custom boards KB Longboards.
As you may know I have started to try my hand at my father’s craft, taught under his watchful eye, using his hand tools to craft longboards of my very own.
We plan to shape a couple boards over there in J-Bay to test out the blank quality (watch this space).
So from me to you, have a very merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Book your flights and come surf perfect, peeling right-handers with Dad and I. Flights may be on the pricey side but the waves are free!
Love and waves,
Katy Beddoe. x
1 Comment
Congratulations! Enjoy your holiday!