Britsh Junior Squad Training – January Session, Croyde

The first meeting of the 2013 British Junior Surf Squad (supported by Calypso soft drinks) was held at the famous quality beachbreak at Croyde this weekend in very wintery and freezing conditions. Young surfers (under 18’s) from all over the SouthWest of England and Wales travelled through the snow and slush to train with British Junior Team coach (and multi Welsh champion legend)  Lloyd Cole and his coaching staff in the hope of making the British Junior Team due to compete in Nicaragua at the World Junior Surfing Games (the olympics of surfing) this summer. The first day consisted of PR work, fitness testing and heat drills in an effort to establish aims and goals for the squad and make sure they realise what is required to make the final pick. This is the first of a monthly get together to decide the final Team selection and probably the most difficult when you coinsider the conditions but it is testament to the character of the squad and their roots in British surfing – which thrives on the abundant quality surf available in wintertime –  that there was a genuine stoke and positive vibe form the squad who were all amped to train, impress and surf some classic Croyde low tide waves. Click on the pix to make them bigger, more pix and update tomorrow night. (Click on the pix to make them bigger).

Sunday session seemed warmer to me but the thermometer didnt budge much over 3°C, maybe the extra layers were working, at least it didnt snow so much……. (Water temperature is a balmy 9°C in SW England at this time of year btw).

Visit the Surfing Great Britain (SGB) website for more info and contact details.

Canon 5D & 7D w/ 24-70 2.8L, 70-300 4/5.6L, 600 f4 L all photos copyright ©estpix/SGB (high res available foc on request to promote the squad – email estpix@aol.com)