Our Visit To Surf Snowdonia

Wales, a long drive and heaps of fun...Surf Snowdonia

‘Fancy a trip to Surf Snowdonia? said the email, all expenses paid you’ve just got to get there...well surfing in a big swimming pool we thought, in all honesty not that bothered but then it has been flat for a month and the forecast looks rubbish, ok go on then. Thank you Firewire and Slater Designs surfboards it was well worth it.

Nicky C Ripping

A 7 hour drive from the South Coast and we arrive, wow its bigger than it looks in the videos! We roll up have a stroll round the place and hook up with the boys from Firewire Europe, our accommodation pods are all sorted and it’s time to suit up and jump in. The sun breaks out and its offshore (well in one direction at least) some of the Firewire boys are in already and we’re pencilled in for a 2pm start. 20 minutes later and we’re in, the Firewire boss man is desperate for one of us to miss our first wave (because he did and he’s the only one to do so so far) we don’t disappoint and one of us does indeed miss the first wave, he’s happy. The whole set up still looks new, everything is spotlessly clean and the staff are professional and yet laid back enough not to be in your face but right on hand if you need them. There’s a bar, cafe, and even a soft play are so kids are entertained whilst you go and rip. The accommodation pods are basic but perfect for what you need after all you’ll be surfing, talking about surfing or eating for the majority of the time you’re there.

Firewire Myles Evo Lip Smack

The wave itself, it’s better than you could hope for, the take off takes a bit of getting used to, you need to hold the fence and paddle as soon as you hear the whole mechanism whirring away to generate the wave. You need to dig for a couple of strokes when the wave arrives and then you’re in. The wave pushes you away form the central pier and you then surf  back towards it. The wave jacks on take off and then walls nicely there’s plenty of time to get a few turns in and cutback, the end section steepens up and then your into the shallows. If there’s 3 of you in the water you’re going to get around 12 waves in a session, word of advice, don’t book more than an hour at a time, it’s pretty knackering and its good to have an hour surfing then a break before your next session. Post surf it’s time to go and check out the photos of yourself ripping taken by the on site photographer and then retire to one of the hot tubs with a cold beer in hand.

Baked Potato In Action

Surprisingly some boards worked a lot better than others. Firewire surfboards had the whole collection there to try and pretty much every board got a run out. The stand outs were the Firewire Evo, the Baked Potato, and the Creeper. These boards got in quick and went really well, the Creeper especially was really cruisey and that pulled in tail worked so well for a whole range of abilities. Everyone had so much fun and is keen to go back asap. Pub Olympics in the evening involved press ups, squat thrusts, planking and sambucca, although not a regular fixture apparently it was heaps of fun.  All in all a brilliant experience and amazing set up, thanks to Andy and all the team up at Surf Snowdonia and to Firewire and Slater Designs Surfboards of course.

Adrian on the Sci-Phi

Evo Magic

Shaan On Creeper