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14:53 - 08-July-2008
The giant wave broke on Wednesday for the first time since January, as an Atlantic storm sent waves up to 20ft high across the famous reef in front of Towan Head.
Veteran surfers say it is the first time for many years that they can remember the wave breaking in summer.
A handful of surfers seized the rare opportunity to ride the wave in warm weather, including local 17-year-old Josh Hughes. He became one of the youngest people to take on the wave as he paddled into the giant swell on a borrowed surf board.
The student and semi-professional surfer decided he was going to take on the wave after checking the forecast the night before, which he admits left his mum “quite worried”.
The plucky teenager borrowed a bigger board especially, giving him the extra paddle power needed to get into the fast-moving waves.
Luckily, he wasn't alone, as four other surfers paddled out, as well as two tow-in crews, using jet-skis to pull into the waves. An RNLI jet-ski also watched close by.
Josh said that, despite the company, it was a frightening experience. “I was really scared at first and I didn't want to catch one,” he said. “I saw a few guys take some pretty gnarly wipe-outs but they kept coming back up, so I thought – I could do that.
“It was just like, so much water behind me. It was a lot bigger than normal waves and it's so fast, so, so, fast and bumpy. It felt amazing.”
Having had a taste of the big-stuff, Josh plans to get his own big board ready for the next time the Cribbar breaks and to ride big waves around the world in future.
Besides Josh, a number of other surfers – including Newquay-based professionals Ben Skinner and Spencer Hargreaves – entertained eager crowds on the shore by riding the huge waves.
Andy Sturt, regional surf development coach with the British Surfing Association, said it was a memorable day.
“To get those kind of waves at this time of year is a rare phenomena, and a very welcome one,” he said. “Decent-sized waves and warm water is what every surfer wants.
“Taking on the Cribbar is a rite of passage for many surfers, and Josh was very brave to go out there at such a young age.
“He's not the youngest to have ridden the spot, but that doesn't take anything away from what he did. It's a dangerous wave and if you get things wrong, you are in a whole world of trouble.”
● Cribbar roars – 40-41
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POST OFFICES are a lifeline in rural areas and should not be a political football. Our local PO is a MUST and can survive with the support of local people. The mood/swing is away from LARGE DICTATORIAL outlets.Times they are a changing.
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