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Two weeks' training for British surfers pays dividends
by George Mojo
11/04/2007:// Two weeks' special training in France paid big dividends for British surfers in the first BPSA event of the season in North Devon.
Tassy Swallow, from St Ives, came fourth in the under-16's girls in an event won by Surf Solutions team-mate Gwen Spurlock, who finised third in the women's open.
Alex Baker impressed in the Saltrock Pro Junior under-16s boys division as did Lyndon Wake with a solid display of competition surfing against Britain rising surf stars.
The Easter Project training was held in quality waves in Hossegor, just north of Biarritz on France's south west coast.
It was organised by the team's head coach Joel Gray with assistance from Matt Adams, from the Trevose Surf School and one of the Uk's leading sports physical trainers Michael Pellegrino.
As well as one-to-one coaching, the team used video analysis, high level drills, photo sessions and assessments to improve technique.
Gray explains what the surfers went through. "Each day we'd have 2 or 3 surfs, working on both generic and individual performance markers. Heat drills, manoeuvre focus and lots of video analysis. The main aim is to improve the technique of the junior surfers and tidy up contest and pressure performance skills."
Aside from the surfing the squad members were introduced to many interesting state-of=the-art workouts involving both the 'flexi-bar' the stability ball, and a car.
"First of all I spent some time testing the young athletes for any imbalances and then set about putting together an individual programme for each." said Pellegrino.
"The flexi-bar works through sharpening the nervous system to react appropriately and the work with the balls was designed to help with balance, core conditioning and functional strength." he added.
All eyes are now focussed on next weekends British Schools Championships in Woolacombe where the SS Team will be hoping for more success.
Gray and the SS coaching team are flying back to support the team, the De La Salle school from Jersey and check on future prospects.
Future training sessions include the Future Pro Project, French Summer Camp, annual Hawaii Training Project "The Rock" and a Canaries Crash course.
The 2008 Beachley Classic got underway this morning, completing Rounds 1 and 2 as well as the opening two heats of Round 3 at nearby Freshwater Beach in clean two-to-three foot (1 metre) waves
Layne Beachley (AUS), 36, has officially announced her retirement from full-time competition, effective at the end of the year
Former Exeter University student Josh Lewin first heat at the Ocean and Earth Pro in the Canary Islands has been delayed because the 2ft surf was deemed uncontestable
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