Rob Barber Bodyboarders Bag British National Champs
Saturday, 9th October, 2010 11:48:22 AM
Source: http://www.globalsurfnews.com/news.asp?Id_news=48984
ob Barber, Steve Hall and Tabby Fox are crowned national champions in their respective divisions after a weekend of epic surf at Porthtowan. With the swell stacked and the winds offshore, the scene was perfectly set for the 2010 British Bodyboard Nationals at Porthtowan on the weekend.
However, Saturday’s clean six foot turned ugly on Sunday as the wind switched northerly, and competitors struggled to make the paddle through the lumpy onshore bombs.
Rob Barber was up against fellow British bodyboarding greats Damian Prisk, Joe Franklin and Chris Bray in the Senior division. Bray got off to a good start with a tight spin in the pocket followed by a big roll, but Barber was quick to answer with a similar wave, throwing in a trademark reverse to lead the heat.
Prisk’s wide position in the line-up almost paid off, but Barber’s superior wave selection saw him clinch the final and solidify his status as one of the foremost authorities in British bodyboarding. He said: “The conditions were epic this weekend, and the standard of bodyboarding across the divisions was superb. The weekend will go down as one of the best the BBC has ever had for sure, riders travelled from far and wide to make the event.
“To have showcased out sport in big waves here will hopefully have allowed people to see just what bodyboarding is all about. I am stoked with the win, and especially against such a high standard of competition in the final.”
In the under-18 division, Rob Barber’s Bodyboarding School team rider Steve Hall got off to a flying start by scooping into a wave just 30 seconds into his heat, throwing in a quick threesixty, trimming down the line and smashing a section with one of the best inverts of the event, tweaked well beyond his years. He followed it up with another solid wave shortly after, and clinched his place as under-18 national champion whilst turning heads across the beach.
The increased number of entrants in the women’s division was encouraging this year, and naturally led to a higher standard of competition. Four women battled it out in the draining surf as the conditions turned nasty, and at the halfway point in the final each rider still had a shot at the title. However, it was here Rob Barber’s Bodyboarding School team rider Tabby Fox turned it up a notch and whipped a few textbook spins in quick succession to elevate her above fellow finalists and on to become the women’s national champion.
Tabby was stoked: “I am so pleased with the result, I have trained really hard for the event and Rob’s coaching has helped me lots, he’s been a massive support. “The conditions were testing, the paddle out was a mission, it took well over five minutes to make the paddle, and the size of the surf made tricks challenging too.”
Rob Barber’s Bodyboard School also sponsored the under-14 division. The finalists made the most of the challenging surf by carefully snagging the reformed waves on the inside. Each rider showed great control and speed, with Sian Spooner coming close to landing a number of el rollos and Jamie Loweth and Ryan Bullen almost perfecting threesixty spins. Sam Crabtree’s decision to go the paddle and catch two bigger waves further out secured him the title of under-14 national champion.
On the back of its British national success, the bodyboarding school is now gearing up to host its next coaching weekend on October 16/17, and its final one of the year, now scheduled on November 20/21.
Rob said: “Traditionally we've only held bodyboard coaching weekends until the middle of October, but with the great advancements in wetsuit technology over the last few years the cooler months have become more accessible for all.
“With the best bodyboard conditions being in autumn and early winter (and the summer crowds a distant memory) we thought it was time to introduce some cooler water bodyboard coaching to riders of all abilities.”
The coaching weekends offer a safe introduction to the sport for novice riders, and encourage confidence, sea safety, paddling out, wave selection and riding skills. Rob Barber said: “We aim to offer well-rounded tuition that will help our pupils learn in a couple of days what would have usually taken a couple of years.”
Video analysis taken by professional videographer Sam Buckle will be provided, and enable the riders to see their performance in the water with Rob Barber commenting on each individual’s progress.
Rob said: “Using slow-motion and freeze framing it is way easier to break down paddling techniques, wave selection and specific move coaching. It is the most invaluable coaching tool, and delivers great results every time.” Every rider will receive a stuffed goodie bag from event sponsors ThreeSixty Bodyboard Magazine and NMD Bodyboards, a coach’s report of their performance, and DVD footage to take home.
There is usually a good mix of ages and abilities as well as individuals, couples, and friends on the course. The nature of the sport helps the group gel, and strong fun camaraderie between everyone soon appears. The social side of the weekends is always a highlight, with many of the riders swapping email addresses and phone numbers to arrange future trips together. The coaching weekend costs £119.
Rob Barber's Bodyboarding School also offers coaching holidays to Morocco, Gran Canaria, Bali, Central America and Ireland. For all enquiries please contact the school on 01637 879571 or log onto robbarber.com to book your place now.
Rob Barber, 34, from Newquay, and Aidan Salmon, 29, from Geraldton, Western Australia, have both been national bodyboard champions, coached the national team, and hold Level 4 coaching certificates (the highest award attainable). The school, based on Headland Road, Newquay, is the only BSA Centre of Excellence in Newquay. Having coached all the way up to British team level and having taught literally thousands of novices to surf and bodyboard, both Rob and Aidan are capable of coaching every standard of rider.
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