(Yes, every post these days has to have the word 'amazing' in it. This is a contractual obligation flowing from the new book.)
But this is a genuinely amazing surfing spot. It comes from the man in the east himself, Neil Watson. Neil e-mails to ask me if I saw the re-mastered version of the Beatles' Magical Mystery Tour on Arena recently. I didn't, but helpfully such things are available on iPlayer these days. I've now watched it, and can corroborate what was seen by Neil's eagle eye. In the footage shot at Watergate Bay in September 1967 (in which Ringo's 'aunt' larks about with 'Buster Bloodvessel') a surfer gets to his or her feet and rides a wave for a short distance (the wrong way, methinks - it looks like a left and the surfer turns right, into the white water). You can check it out at roughly 22 mins 55 secs.
The question Neil poses is one I have too. Who was the surfer? Was he or she part of the Newquay/Watergate scene back then? Or a holidaymaker trying out surfing? Or a member of the film crew? Or someone else entirely?
The first person who can conclusively answer this (as in, with evidence that would be acceptable to any reasonable person, including me) wins a copy of Amazing Surfing Stories.
Very useful information. Thank you so much
Posted by: SUP Surfboard | February 04, 2013 at 02:04 AM