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In March 2000 I was lucky enough to go on a trip of a lifetime to South America with Chris Guts Griffiths and Beau Young. Not only was it a cultural eye-opener and a chance to ride one of the best left-handers in the globe, but it was an inspirational three weeks, learning heaps from Beau and Guts. Polishing his world title repertoire, (which he claimed six months later in Brazil), Beau was in awesome form, but Guts stole the show. On the flawless lefts he was unstoppable. Power, speed, adrenaline and style. In fact it was during this adventure that Guts lent me his board for a few waves. Instantly my surfing speeded up and I felt like I had a new lease of life, carving harder, staying in the pocket and nose-riding for longer. Ever since that magic trip, Guts has shaped all my boards. Here is a little taster from a story I wrote for Longboard Magazine
INTO THE HEART OF ECUADOR
By Sam Bleakley
The smallest of the Andean states, Ecuador is on of the world's most varied countries. In only 200km you can climb from the Pacific coastline to snow-caps over 6km high and then descend down to the steaming rainforest on the eastern side. Most importantly Ecuador is blessed with countless points, reefs and beach breaks, warm water, booming swells and no crowds. The warm equatorial counter-current from the central Pacific causes a hot and rainy season from January to April. Daytime temperatures average about 30degC. From May to December both the cool Humboldt and Peru currents from the south keep temperatures a few degrees lower and it rarely rains. We travelled in March when consistent NW swells offer a perfect chance to let loose in the juice.
In 1532 a Spaniard named Francisco Pizarro led a rapid and dramatic conquest throughout Inca-ruled Ecuador. His horse-riding, armour wearing, cannon-firing conquistadors were believed to be godlike and although few in number, spread terror among the native Indians. By 1534 Pizarro's lieutenant Sebastian de Benal Cazar finally battled his way into the heart of the Andean mountains and the capital Quito, only to find the city razed to the ground by the local Incas, who preferred destroying their home to leaving it in the hands of the conquistadors.
Our conquest upon Ecuador was not quite so dramatic. The adventure was born in Portugal during the European Amateur Championships when Danish longboard legend Brian Bojsen approached Chris "Guts" Griffiths (European Pro Champ) and me (European Amateur Champ) about an exotic trip to the Southern Hemisphere. Before long a Danish film crew, a few photographers and Beau Young were in on the mission. Fuelled by images of a mystical left hand point, beautiful scenery and wildlife, the whole team were stoked to be involved.
Upon arrival in Quito we heard tales of perfect swells from our Ecuadorian surf guide Eddie and Californian implant and shortboard ripper Pat. Turned on by the thought of 6ft perfection and zero crowd factor, we then discovered that the ocean was a whole days drive away. Next morn, before dawn, the crew hit the highway. Single lane, pot-holed, bumpy track roads from 10,000 feet to sea level coupled with failing brakes, a 14 surfboard load and 15 people was the recipe for a wild journey. Luckily, the sights were insane. The culture seemed to match the landscape: colourful, vibrant and unique.
The first leg of our journey was plagued by trashed-up roads and the devastation caused by El Nino storms. But Eddie claimed that the left hander we were heading for was the best kept secret in Ecuador. Not surprising, since to get there required a six hour car journey from the coastal town of Canoa, a 90 minute race along the sand, then a two hour boat trip through outer reefs and surf. The beaches were littered with colourful conch shells and all kinds of unrecognisable creatures. Fun and games turned a bit serious when the 26 foot skip got donuts by a close-out set and thousands of dollars worth of camera equipment was drenched. Nevertheless, paradise was just around the corner, and as we motored past a headland, we caught our first glimpse of a 400 yard long left hander barrelling on take off and walling through crystal clear green sea. Set beyond the beach were a few palm thatch beach huts and the whole bay was surrounded by impenetrable rain forest.
It was the best left-hander we had ever seen. Guts was in his element. Tubed on take-off, he was then busting the most vertical top-turns imaginable, carving endless radical roundhouses, and then smokin 30 second nose-rides all the way to the beach. Paradise discovered. |
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Guts Surfboards is proud to anounce they have managed to sign
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Sam Bleakley stormed into the fourthround of the Oxbow World Longboard Championships .
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From a surfers point of view, Wales in February has to be one of the hardest months to deal with.
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During February 2003 I travelled to Luzon in the northern Philippines with photographer John Callahan and Japanese loggers Anly Nabeshima and Yocchi Matsuyama... |
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In March 2000 I was lucky enough to go on a trip of a lifetime to South America with Chris 'Guts' Griffiths and Beau Young... |
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