Artwork: Gemma Chalmers.

THE NEW PORTUGAL/LONDON SURF FILM FESTIVAL 2015 //

ROAD TRIPPIN’- NORTHERN SPAIN/10 BOARD C H A L L E N G E

/WAITPINGA BEACH // ...ENJOY!

ISSUE #31. JULY 2015Summer is in full swing here in Cornwall.

There have been some waves! It’s gone a little

choppy and small this week, but that’s ok -

there’s plenty else do do around our beautiful

coastline. Hope you enjoy this instalment of

The Slideshow mag. Remember - we are

always welcoming submissions for following

issues - email us at :

theslideshow.mag@gmail.com.

- Editor -Gemma Chalmers.

GODREVY, CORNWALL. Image: Gemma Chalmers.

Portugal’s north has much more to offer than the hell-man waves of Nazaré.

-Fern Cargill.

Praia Azul, Northern Portugal

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The New Portugal!A vikings first encounter with the sweet

rolling waves of tropical Cornwall

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“Do I bring my own board?”

“No, leave it, it’s not worth it, renting here is so cheap, but bring your own wetsuit and boots for the chilly water”, replies Concha.

After learning to surf on the coasts of Portugal, I am joining the first ever Seasoul Shelter guided surf week, where Concha and Killa will show us their version of Cornwall. I am very excited, since Cornwall has been on my ‘to do’ list even before I ever knew about surfing. The thought of palm trees in England was somewhat intriguing...

A new dawn, a new sunlight, a new country and a lovely cottage called ‘Sea View’. A ‘Seasoul Shelter’ indeed. A wonderful Cornish adventure was about to begin, settled in the perfect surroundings of Perranporth, with some of the most friendly and inviting people I have ever met.

The forecast predicted nice waves on the south coast, so with hearts full of anticipation, and with two tiny cars, top heavy and loaded with boards, we drove out into the picturesque Cornish countryside. Green, soft rolling hills, as far as the eye could see, sheltered by the typical English hedges and endless blue sky.

The south coast met us with green, soft longboard waves, peeling perfectly from the ends of the sheltered beach. And maybe even better, this hidden gem of a beach was almost empty. Plenty of space, for a group of rusty girls to fool around in. As I paddled out, with no gloves, it hit me how good you ladies over here have it (compared to Denmark), warm water in May!?

Past the break, another beautiful surprise met us: A Cornish version of the famous french Mont St. Michel - the cliff castle of St. Michael’s Mount. A beautiful view which is now forever printed in my mind.

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The New Portugal!

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After taking in the first experience of Cornwall’s beautiful coastline, I started to feel the rhythm of the ocean and prepared myself for my first Cornish wave. I started to paddle and hoped that my paddle fitness was still good enough to catch a wave, then the shock came, as I realized that I was actually catching the wave - then came the surprise: “Whoa! I’m standing up on it now”. Then the sort of panic, “what to do, what to do?! Turn! Oh yes, turn the board”. I turn and then the wave died under me, but the surf stoke had hit. My body filled with energy, and the paddle back out was sooo easy, because my mind was already thinking of the next wave, and what to do next time,

and how to turn that board faster, so I could prolong the feeling of flying over water.

During my week’s stay in Perranporth we went to Pearranuthanoe many times because it was simply a little piece of paradise. Easy wave-catching, sweet rides, and a wonderful little café overlooking the beach, that serves a wickedly good hot chocolate with whipped cream and marshmallows - just the perfect energy boost before going out for the second surf session.

Cornwall is ideally placed to pick up swell, unlike back home in Denmark, where good S/SW/W swell swells are blocked by Britain. Cornwall gets swell from the Azores to Iceland,

The New Portugal!

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and when you are not busy enjoying the beautiful and wild Cornish coast, there is the great fish’n’chips, Cornish pasties, or a Betty Stoggs Ale! there are plenty of spots to be explored, and corners that will be sheltered from the sometimes howling winds. I’d say altogether it’s like the viking heaven of Valhalla and that to me, makes Cornwall the new Portugal! No need to go south, when you can go west and have perfect waves and much emptier lineups, adding really good beer to end the perfect days.

Words: Christine Jürgensen. Illustration: Anja Bornhauser anjabornhauser.tumblr.comMore info on Seasoul Shelter & its next guided trips: go to seasoulshelter.com

The New Portugal!

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Submissions are now open for the 2015 London Surf / Film Festival - a celebration of the very best in contemporary surf culture. “2015 marks the 5th Edition of the London Surf / Film Festival and we’re stoked to invite independent filmmakers from across the globe to submit their films for consideration for this year’s festival programme,” says LS/FF Director Chris Nelson. “Surf culture is wide open to creative interpretation and we welcome films that explore all aspects and angles of surfing, through the genres. There is a great tradition of story telling within surfing and as always our focus is on those films that shine a new light on our culture whether through narrative, cinematography, soundtracks or surfing.”

Deadline for submissions is 23rd August.

Selected features will be premiered across the capital this Autumn in a showcase of the very best in British and international surfing. “Over the last 5 years we’ve been lucky enough to have worked with some of the most exciting and relevant

London Surf / Film Festival 2015 – Submissions Now Open!

surf filmmakers to bring to the UK outstanding independent filmmaking from both leading lights and emerging talents, premiering hotly anticipated films as well as underground hits,” says Chris. “We’re already stoked on the prospect of what’s to come for London Surf / Film Festival 2015.

Features will be considered by the Screening Panel – comprised of experts from within the worlds of surfing, filmmaking and media – for prestigious awards including: Best Film, Best Documentary, Best Cinematography, Best Soundtrack, Yeeeew! Factor, Spirit of the Festival and will be eligible for the Viewer’s Choice, as voted for by the knowledgeable London Surf / Film Festival audience.

Alongside a curated line up of screenings, LS/FF will be hosting the popular Q+A sessions, conversations and workshops with directors, producers and waveriders of note allowing the audience to get closer to the action and meet the legends of screen and surf as well a packed programme of exciting happenings around the festival.

For more information about the festival please head to: londonsurffilmfestival.com

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Road Trippin’ Northern Spain...

IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR EMPTY WHITE SANDY BEACHES, HOT WEATHER, AND EMPTY WAVES, THOSE IN EUROPE DON’T NEED TO LOOK ANY FURTHER THAN NORTHERN SPAIN. WITH A DIVERSE RANGE OF LANDSCAPES AND TWO COASTLINES TO CHOOSE FROM, NORTHERN SPAIN IS ANY SLIDERS’ DREAM, ESPECIALLY IF YOU COME FROM THE UK AND YOU’RE LOOKING FOR A CHEAP

END-OF-SUMMER TRIP.

RIGHT IN THE HEART OF CANTABRIA. PLAYA DE MERON. Image couretesy of Gen Conquest.

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I set off in September last year with my husband in our van/ bed for the holiday, 2 friends and their toddler, with a plan to meet more friends and family out there.

We found a cheap crossing from Portsmouth to Santander, and settled into our 26 hour ferry ride on the calmest flattest crossing in history, praying for there to be some swell when we arrived. The weather delivered straight away, hot sunny days and cloud free skies.

After arriving in Santander you are right in the heart of Cantabria and some of the best surfing beaches in Northern Spain. We headed for Playa de Meron, which is part of a long stretch of beach from the beautiful fishing town of San Vincente de la Barquera an hour drive from the ferry. There are facilities and peaks all along the beach; it’s a popular destination for surfers with vans because you can park just off the beach with the peaks 20m from your van.

We parked up in a farmer’s field and paid a few Euros a night so we could set up camp

ABOVE - GEN, RIGHT - JOSIE - RIPPING! Image couretesy of Gen Conquest.

and have some space. The waves were small but fun and we spent a few days surfing, swimming and walking. With no swell on the horizon we looked to Galicia, the more exposed west coast and saw that a pulse was due to hit in the next couple of days.

Galicia is wilder, with high hills and rugged coastlines; it’s exposed to the Atlantic with a huge variety of beaches and breaks. The temperature is cooler than on the North coast but the scenery and empty beaches make up for it. If you want a break from the

Road Trippin’ Northern Spain...

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beaches there is plenty of culture in the main city Santiago de Compostela, many pretty fishing villages line the coast serving up traditional tapas and grilled fish.

Playa de Louro offered us some chest high fun waves, with the top corner sheltering us from the wind. Again, camping in a van meant that we parked up just off the beach. The toilet and shower facilities at the beaches are great, typically staying open until the end of September.

As the swell hit we headed further around the coast after the men who took on gnarly shore break. We met a couple of French guys on the look out for the best spots but for the rest of the time we had the line-ups to ourselves.

After checking the forecast over a tapas lunch in the nearby fishing town of Muros we decided to head back to Playa de Meron. The drive took about 7 hours, we broke it up by staying over night on route. Again the swell delivered with head high plus waves. As the height increased we

KATE, CHASING THAT SECTION!Image couretesy of Gen Conquest.

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headed to the nearby Playa Oyambre for some shelter, where us female surfers scored empty perfect shoulder to head high waves to round off a great surf trip.

Words: Gen Conquest, South Devon.

EMPTY LINEUPS. Image couretesy of Gen Conquest.

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TEN BOARD CHALLENGE

Photographic coverage of the annual Ten Board Challenge courtesy of Martin Jackson.

A great turn out this year as 32 ladies took part in less than perfect conditions this year at Godrevy Beach, Cornwall.

Supported by The National Trust and organised by Alexa Poppa and Sarah Bentley. For full results, more photos and information check out the Ten Board Challenge Facebook page.

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South Australia’s southern coast is constantly pummelled by long-range swell. With raw power pumped straight out of the Southern Ocean, more often than not surfers are left seeking shelter amongst the many nooks and crannies of this coastline.

The Aboriginal meaning of Waitpinga is ‘home of the winds’. Fortunately on this day, the wind was funnelled offshore by the beach’s large sand dunes, Here we are making the most of a rare small swell day.

-Fern Cargill, Australia.

Waitpinga Beach, South Australia

Perranporth, Cornwall. surfing in the mist - Photo: Gemma Chalmers.

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