Global Boarders provides luxury Cornwall surfing holidays, Corporate surfing days, Family Surfing Holidays, School Surf Trips and unique Cornwall Surf Experience packages. Combining the finest surf locations in Cornwall, the highest quality of instruction, customer service, accommodation and food, Global Boarders' Surfing Holidays in Cornwall will leave you with a feel good factor that will be with you long after your holiday is over.
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It's been six weeks since our last update but those six weeks have been the busiest of the year, with the surf school in full flow at Gwithian, Praa Sands and Perranuthnoe, Stand Up Paddleboarding and kayaking taking place in Mounts Bay and Vacations clients enjoying great waves all over the best beaches in West Penwith. Good comments all round (all very gratefully received), and good weather have meant for a really fun summer.
The big news in that we have just heard that
our Gourmet Surf Trip has been placed in the final 3 for Visit Cornwall's Leisure Experience Of The Year - and also we have made the final 3 in the Sustainability category as well for our work with disadvantaged young people and adults. Amazing news, and we hear the final results on October 7th. Watch this space!
Press-wise we've been picked up by Esquire Magazine, the Daily Telegraph and Cornwall Today (twice - see below) - some really positive reviews of both the surf school and of the Gourmet Surf Trip! The weather is still good, the autumn season is approaching with a full diary of work, so things are good!
First of all we're proud to announce that our very own Mod Le Froy has been appointed an Ambassador for The Cornwall Sustainable Tourism Project. This is a major recognition of the work she and all the GB team have been doing in the field of Sustainability, not just with 'greening' up our business and encouraging others to do the same but also with the work we do within the Community, working with Charitable groups, the NHS, the Short Stay Schools for excluded pupils, the Disadvantaged and clients with Challenging Behaviour.
Elsewhere it's been a very busy year so far; as the end of the summer term approaches we've been privileged and pleased to teach groups from St Hilary, St Mary's, Pen Sans, Weeth, Illogan, Trewirgie, Portreath, Devoran, St Michael's and Ludgvan Primaries, and Humphry Davy, Mounts Bay, Pool and Hayle Secondaries, and Penwith College. They have without exception been really fun to teach and the enthusiasm and application - and fun factor - of these kids never fails to inspire us!
Steve, Chris, Dom, Chris, Mod and Ed pass on their thanks and look forward to seeing many of them again in the autumn!
Conde Naste Traveller Magazine have picked up on our Gourmet Weekend Surf Trip describing it thus: 'Coastal Extravaganze: Spend a morning whipping up beetroot caviar and an afternoon chasing the best waves in Cornwall with Global Boarders, who have launched bespoke gourmet surfing breaks with the help of an award-winning local restaurant. From £150 per person'. Surf and turf, that's us!
Nice mention of us in a piece titled 'St Ives: Picturesque Perfect' in The National this week. Under the heading 'Don't Miss':
"The chance to try your hand at surfing. Global Boarders (www.globalboarders.com, 0044 1736 711404) takes beginners to a quiet part of St Ives Bay for lessons with qualified instructors. The new generation of stretchy wetsuits make getting in the cold water a pleasure and it’s the best fun I’ve had in the water – ever."
The con tract part of the season is now going in full swing as our mornings are full with the Penwith, Kerrier and Carrick Short Stay Schools and our afternoons filled with Ludgvan, Trewirgie, Illogan, Weeth, Portreath, Gwinear, St Hilary, Devoran, Pensans and St Michael's Primaries and Mounts Bay, Humphrey Davy, Pool and Hayle Secondaries. On top of that we've done sessions for Cheryl and the WILD Young Parents group, are working with Plymouth Uni and Eco Minds on our unique Surf to Success project and fulfilled Vacations for the Crosse and Simcox families!
The amazing weather has helped and also some great word-of-mouth recommendations that are filling up the summer tourist season already.
As ever for of our day to day shenanigans and photos check out our facebook and twitter pages. Here comes the summer!
Two recent news pieces... the first one in The Guardian naming us as no.6 in the UK's Clean Breaks! Not bad! And the second from The West Briton, showcasing Chris as young emerging Cornish talent gaining career advancement through apprenticeship rather than Uni. The message is clear kids! Ditch the education and come surfing!! (The personal view presented here in no way reflects Global Boarders policy and may not be attributable as such... ;)
We're back at the helm after some time off and there's loads to do. Steve and Chris had some sun-and-surf filled weeks in Portugal, Dunc headed for Grenada whilst Ed and Mod went to Ireland. Cornwall seems warm in comparison to the last one!
The funding has come through from 02 and Sportsmatch to continue the Boardriders Club so we'll be contacting the members soon to start scheduling in some lesssons (and ice-breaking practice - only joking!). We're kicking off our sessions with the new Short Stay Schools again on Feb 22nd, and hope to be extending our Penwith and Carrick groups by adding Kerrier as well. These sessions with the disadvantaged kids of West Cornwall are a really rewarding way to start the season, and we're looking forward to doing whatever we can to help with aspirations and attainment across the board.
We're also looking forward to hosting the kids from The Calypso Surf Academy as well, which will be a blast!
Keep logging on to hear more developments from us!
Click here to see Chris and Steve proselytising Global Boarders on the Calypso Surf Anywhere Tour in the Midlands, a campaign to get more people surfing, on the beach or the street. Steve is credited as working for the British Surfing Association, and Calypso aren't mentioned once, but it still makes for a fun news piece!
Monday night saw us again in the limelight, this time as Silver Award winners for Tourism Experience of the Year at the 2009/10 South West Tourism Excellence Awards held at Saunton Sands, North Devon. Ed and Mod were there to receive the Award and a great evening was had with lots of time to catch up with old friends and also to ingratiate ourselves with the sizeable media presence!
There was a good quote about us in the Western Morning News today from the guy who secret-shopped us for the SW Tourism Awards : "Brilliant, fun, great learning curve - a must for everyone. Impressive commitment to the environment and the local community". Community is going to be a large focus for us next year with our nascent Boardriders Club; we've received funding for wetsuits which is amazing and are now pursuing any funding available for the boards, safety equipment and other bits and pieces we need. The more people we can reach the better job we can do, so here's hoping that Santa brings us a cheque or two!
During the summer some of our schoolkids helped us out with filming an infomercial for our sponsors Calypso over a couple of days. The result is now up on Youtube - and you can catch Steve and Chris on the Calypso UK tour over the next couple of weeks where they will be addressing over 10,000 schoolkids in all... good luck guys!
You can see the film by clicking on the image to the right.
Thursday 15th October was a pretty good day for us when we were again amongst the winners at the Cornwall Tourism Awards 2009-10 held at the Headland Hotel, Newquay. We managed to get a well-deserved Silver Award for Leisure Experience of the Year, and have been fast-tracked through to the same category at the South West Tourism Regional Awards, meaning we'll be re-tested and perhaps even do better! That result comes through late in November, so we'll keep you informed!
More news... and pretty major stuff at that! Global Boarders received this email a few days ago:
____
Hello,
I’m writing to let you know that your company has been specially recommended in Rough Guides’ new book – Clean Breaks: 500 New Ways to See the World - published in August 2009.
Rough Guides is one of the most successful and respected travel brands in the world, with over 300 travel guides in print. We have a reputation for good writing, accuracy and honesty.
In writing this book, the authors have highlighted 500 fantastic places across the globe which will inspire people to see the world in a new light, selecting unusual holidays and alternative ways to travel which make a real difference to the lives of local people and the planet.
Only a few companies qualify for a special recommendation of this kind, which highlights your company as one of our authors’ favorites.
Ragini Govind
Rough Guides
____
We are of course stoked to appear in such amazing company... we must be doing something right!
Global Boarders are delighted to announce an exciting partnership with Calypso Surf Anywhere.
Global Boarders and Calypso are making a 'Britains got Surf Talent' tour around the UK looking for potential surfing stars. We had a really fun couple of days making a film with them, using some of our best surf school students from the local schools - for more info go to the Calypso site and we'll let you know when the film is online!
Also...
The Blue Gym
Global Boarders have been working with Chris Hines MBE [founding member of Surfers against Sewage and ex-Sustainability Director at The Eden Project] on a pivotal social networking project to get people out enjoying the water.
At The Blue Gym you’ll find opportunities to find out about Blue Gym activities and sports, meet like-minded people, join groups, share photos and make a difference to the environment while getting fit! Join the movement. Have a look, you might even see images or film of yourself enjoying the Blue Gym...
The tourist season is drawing to a close and it's been easily our most successful yet. Steve, Duncan and Julian were full for each day they worked, and a huge thanks has to go to Steve for taking on running the Surf School whilst Chris was flat out on Vacations. We are proud to say that not one injury was sustained or complaint received (you can read some testimonials here); over 1500 people came on the day surf school; Vacations was solidly booked for six weeks, and Surf Experience Days really took off with many solo travellers and families enjoying some great surf and great weather. The first week of September was a well-earned holiday for everyone, with Hossegor playing host to the GB Coach Team!
Of course the season isn't over yet; we are now starting on the Autumn
after-school groups, with Secondary Schools Mounts Bay and Humphrey Davy, both in Penzance, joining our growing list of schools. We're continuing ourt work with the disadvantaged local kids in both Penwith and Carrick, teaching them four mornings a week, and the Ladies Surf Club is back on track!
It was only by chance that we discovered this piece in the Air South West inflight magazine - we were rung up by a client who had surfed with us to tell us he had read it on the way home! So it wasn't until Ed went to Ireland that we were able to get a look at it!
The piece states "Global Boarders have been carbon neutral for more than three years, and were the first surf company in the UK to be awarded a Green Tourism Business Scheme
silver award. Their environmental policy is epic in proportion, but is hugely impressive".
Onwards and upwards, if you'll forgive the pun!
Cornwall Life Magazine, Cornwall's most pretigious monthly, has printed a really positive article about the company. The writer Jennie Wilkinson said: 'The emphasis is on having a great time, irrespective of capability, at your own pace. We were privileged to have the use of a private beach and, driving along a track surrounded by snad dunes and protected land, it struck me again how beautiful the Cornish coast is.
"What this company does best, from a novice's point of view, is encourage, teach and support with real enthusiasm, whatever your standard. Global Boarders wants you to become as enthusiastic as they are about the sport - and it works!"
To celebrate the launch of our new Surf Experience Days - day long surfaris where guests are taken out to a variety of b eaches, taken to a good lunch spot, are given dry wetsuits for the afternoon session (you can read all about them here) we've had a great review printed in the Cornishman. The reviewsays 'My Surf Experience Day was attended by professionals from all sectors of society, including journalists, chefs, tourism bosses and holiday entrepreneurs who all shared a common goal - an ambition to either learn the basics of the sport or improve their skills in a group of likeminded watermen, or women'.
The Daily Telegraph has printed a response to an enquiry from a reader about a 'learn-to-surf hen weekend in Cornwall somewhere quieter and more sophisticated than Newquay'! They very kindly flagged up Global Boarders, stating that 'the award-winning holiday specialists operate on west Cornwall's glorious - and much emptier - beaches and tailors breaks to individual requirements. Global Boarders find the best swell each day.' Some more good press, and we look forward to an influx of sophisticated young ladies any day now!
We're in the news again, for the right reasons... this time an article highlighting our sponsorship of the Penwith Sports Awards at St John's Hall, Penzance on Mrach 13th and the presentation by GB Surf School's own Steve Hancock and Chris Brown of the Under 18 Sportswoman of the Year award to Tassy Swallow. Our sponsorship of the Award serves to underline our commitment to promoting sport in Cornwall, especially to young people, and all the winners and sponsors of the evening are to be congratulated.
In other news, the hardy kids from St Hilary, Marazion, Devoran and St Mary's C of E have started their afternoon sessions in (thankfully) glorious sunshine. We've got many more schools starting after Easter so the spring schools' sessions should see us putting over 150 kids a week into the sea - not a bad way to spend your afterschool time!
Drift Surf Magazine have printed a piece about Global Boarders winning the 2008-09 Cornwall Tourism Awards:
'It's been quite a year for Global Boarders. Earlier this year they became the first surf company to gain Ofsted accreditation, and were also the first surf company in the UK to receive the prestigious Silver grading in the Green Tourism Business Scheme. Winning Leisure Experience Of The Year and Winner Of Winners at the Cornwall Tourism Awards, as well as getting a Silver in the Sustainable Business category adds to the impressive achievements of this young Cornish company, which last year included winning the Surfers Path Magazine's Travel Operator Of The Year.
'Robin Barker, Project Manager of the Excellence Awards Programme, said "For the Gold winners we were looking for 'blemish-free' businesses, with all elements of their business to an excellent standard and some of them outstanding. To be a winner, given the competition, is a very significant achievement indeed".
The March issue of Healthy Magazine (the UK's top-selling health magazine) carries a piece about Global Boarders:
'First stop was Mousehole, the picture-perfect fishing village on the south coast. Here we were staying in Raginnis Barn, a cool, four-star eco-accommodation provided by Global Boarders, the UK's only carbon-neutral surfing company. The company offers coaching to all levels, and was the first company to be awarded a silver under the Green Tourism Business Scheme. The accommodation provided recycling, energy and water conservation and is stocked with local and Fairtrade food.
On our first day we ended up at secret spot with miles of stunning beach we would never have discovered without Mod and her co-instructor Chris. It was fantastic to be in the sea in the UK in winter - we didn't need the tropics!"
There's more to read in the article, and the pics do our Cornish breaks justice!
More good press... this from the EcoEscapes brochure:
'Forget everything you know about surfing. Visualise some eco-chic comfort along with tailor-made surf lessons to help you progress on the waves. They offer would-be surfers the opportunity to learn the sport without harming the environment or compromising on luxury - and so slick, sustainable surfing is born.
At the end of a week's surfing you'll be able to catch a green wave - but the best part of Global Boarders is the fact that you'll have the opportunity to travel to the best surf spots during your stay as the Instructors keep both ears to the ground to ensure optimum surfing and the best waves."
Following an appeal in the press Global Boarders and the GB Surf school were happy to step in and help with a gap in funding for the British Junior Team and especially Penwith surfer Tassy Swallow to attend the World Surfing Games in Ecuador in March. The BSA has had a lot of sponsors withdrawdue to the economic climate and as a result the team members were each left with £1000 to find to attend the Games. Addressing aspirations and attainment for local young people is an absolute priority for us and we are delighted to help.
It's been a busy start to the year. Firstly we're delighted to have Chris Brown take on the Head Coach role at the GB Surf School. Chris has been with us almost since our inception, and has proved to be a dedicated and tireless Coach and co-worker over those four years. Secondly we're stoked to welcome back Steve Hancock, who took last year out to surf the world from California to Indo to Australia. He's bringing some great stories and some fresh thinking into the Surf School which is great.
We're also hard at work getting our new Charity up and running, and we'll keep you up to date with that as things progress. The aim is to be able to widen our remit and increase our capacity and hopefully subsidise some of the sessions we currently do out of the tourist season, these being mainly school groups for children ranging from 7 to 16, Sixth form colleges, Universities and Organisations dealing with disadvantaged people or people with disabilities. We've had great help so far from many sources, notably Ewan McClymont from Bishop Fleming, Tracy Bowers at Extended Services and Jackie Trevaskis from Penwith Family Services.
On the Global Boarders front Chris and Mod have been hard at work sorting the Portugal trips and also re-examining the UK trips to improve them even further. The first bit of Big News is that Rip Curl have now upped their participation in the Company so that Global Boarders are now In Association With Rip Curl, and they will be featuring the company in many in-store promotions this year - look out for them as many will be offering discounted holidays! The Second bit of Big News is a piece that appeared in Conde Naste American Traveler magazine - a double page spread on Global Boarder featuring an enormous photo of Chris and Mod that has made a windy (and occasionally snowy) West Cornwall just a little warmer this week!
A final season update! We were very proud to receive a Silver Award for Leisure Experience of the Year at the South West Excellence Awards at Bristol in November. The evening was hosted by Dr Phil Hammond, him off the telly, and it was a great boost to the Global Boarders and GB Surf School teams to again be officially recognised for the work we have put in over the year. The champagne flowed, the dancefloor rocked and it was a tired but happy surf van that returned to West Cornwall the next morning!
But the work doesn't stop there. Mod and Chris have been out to Portugal to scout the next trip, and Duncan and James are hading to Morrocco in the new year to scope a trip there as well. Steve Hancock is back from travelling the world to rejoin the GB Surf School team next Spring, with Chris Brown taking on the Head Coach role.
After such an exciting season, despite what the weather had to throw at us and the economic downturn threatening many such businesses as ours, it has been heartwarmign to hear so many positive comments from the most essential party of or operation, you the customers! You can read many of them here. Many thanks from all of us to all of you, and with every good wish for Christmas and the New Year!
Ed, Mod, Adam, Anne, Chris, JP, Duncan and Liz.
A pioneering surf vacation company rode the wave of success last night (Thursday 16th October) as it took top honours in the Cornwall Tourism Awards 2008.
West Cornwall-based Global Boarders emotionally accepted the coveted “Winner of Winners” title sponsored by Christie & Co, having earlier in the evening scooped gold in the Leisure Experience of the Year category as well as the silver Sustainable Tourism Award. The company’s strong social and environmental conscience and quality ethos won the judges over setting it apart from the competition.
Global Boarders’ feat was made all the more impressive by the high standard of the rival entries, as Teresa Timms of Award organisers VisitCornwall, explains: “Now in their seventh year, the Cornwall Tourism Awards are well established and draw high numbers of entries. Each year they get more difficult to judge and the standard gets better and better. The high level of the competition is testament to the fantastic work of businesses in the Cornish tourism industry. All the finalists should be proud of themselves!”
Joining Global Boarders at the Headland Hotel for the glittering Awards ceremony were almost 300 people, ensuring a packed house and nail biting evening. Hoteliers, publicans and restaurateurs rubbed shoulders with Tourism Officers and associations from around the county and congratulated the great and the good of the industry.
Adding to the celebrations was Ruby Wax, who entertained guests with tales of her visits to the county.
http://businesscornwall.wordpress.com/2008/10/17/tourism-champions-revealed/
Thursday 16th October was a good day for Global Boarders - we were proud and amazed to receive not only Leisure Provider of the Year in the Cornwall Tourism Awards but also a silver award in the Sutainability category and to cap it all Winner of Winners! The evening was compered by Ruby Wax and saw over 300 people from businesses all over Cornwall gather in the Headland Hotel, Newquay on a really fun and productive night.
Of course the real work starts now to promote and capitalise on the accolades but we woud like to start by thanking everyone who has helped us over the past three years and also everyone who has surfed with us - it goes without saying that without customers and their feedback we cannot acieve much!
We also heard that we are a finalist in the regional Awards for Excellence and will hear the results of that on November 24th. So until then a big thanks from us to all of you and watch this space!
Despite the weather Gods flinging all the worst they could at us this summer and wishing we were stocking umrellas and raincoats instead of tee shirts and shorts we've managed to still have a very productive summer. We've held onto our market share, thanks largely to the large amounts of repeat business we've been getting from holidaymakers finding us from previous years, but also due to the excellent selling skills of Jon, Chris and Duncan, not to mention the Directors! We've managed to get seven local schools into the water, and also managed to offer our usual discounted lessons to local organisations such as the Trelya Youth Project, the Integrated Youth Project, Willows Educare, the YMCA, Mounts Bay and Humphry Davy secondary Schools and last but not least Penwith District Council, who braved monsoon conditions to surf at Gwithian! Many thanks are due to Nicola Wright and Jon Coleman and Natasha Sandoe from the Cornwall Sports Partnership, and also Guy Botterill from Penwith District Council for their help over the year so far.
Now the holiday trade has declined we're back in the sea with the local schools until the end of October.
We're also excited about having reached the final three in both Cornwall Leisure Provider of the Year and the Cornwall Sustainability Awards. We find out where we've come at the awards ceremony on October 16th at the Headland Hotel, Newquay.
Global Boarders awarded ‘Green Tourism Business Scheme [GTBS] SILVER Grade’ Press Release
Global Boarders, sponsored by Rip Curl and Ecotricity, mobile Surf School & Surf Vacations Company based in Marazion, near Penzance, West Cornwall, have been awarded the prestigious ‘GTBS Silver grading’. The first Surf School / Surf Vacations Company / Surf Shop in the UK to receive this accolade, Global Boarders is clearly a forerunner in promoting sustainability within the surf industry. This highly significant recognition by GTBS, adds to the impressive achievements of this young, Cornish company. Could they be helping to make green tourism a little more cool and surfing to be taken a little more seriously?
The Green Tourism Business Scheme describes: ‘The GTBS [as] the leading sustainable tourism certification scheme in the UK. Businesses opting to join are assessed by a qualified grading advisor against a rigorous set of criteria, covering a range of areas, like energy and water efficiency, waste management, biodiversity and more. Businesses that meet the required standard, receive a Bronze, Silver, or Gold award based on their level of achievement’.
Mod Le Froy, Director of Global Boarders, comments:
“The Global Boarders team believe in providing unique, accessible and sustainable surfing, without compromising on quality or the environment. Following hot on the heels of winning The Surfer’s Path Green Travel Company of the Year 2007 and the only surf company to be represented by ResponsibleTravel.com, we feel privileged to have won the GTBS Silver award, and feel this confirms our commitment to raising public awareness of environmental concerns and contributing to the wellbeing of the planet via our sustainable surfing venture.”
Global Boarders, the first Corporate Member of Surfers Against Sewage, are becoming better known for their unique products and the promotion and supply of quality, sustainable surfing in the UK, and are receiving well deserved support:
Karen Walton, National Director British Surfing Association & Secretary General of The European Surfing Federation says:
“As the National Governing Body for Surfing in the UK, the BSA support the professionalism that Global Boarders display towards their mission in creating sustainable surfing for all, at every level of their business. As a BSA approved surf school, we are delighted to see Global Boarders leading by example.”
James Hendy, Marketing Manager, Rip Curl UK adds:
“As sponsors of Global Boarders, Rip Curl fully support the drive, energy and fresh approach which Global Boarders is applying in all areas of their business and in particular we applaud their commitment and pro-active stance in their efforts towards creating sustainable surfing for all".
For more information regarding GTBS and its Criteria see:
http://www.green-business.co.uk/index.asp
http://www.green-business.co.uk/GreenBusiness_Criteria_Introduction.asp
A quick update on the Schools news - we're now running seven schools and two pupil referral unit groups, and hope to be adding some more of these in the near future! Jon is currently on his Level 3 and Chris has done his Level 2 surf Instructor qualifications. We've booked 61 Vacationers already for the summer; and are delighted our friends at Moet Hennessy have for the third year running chosen us to host their corporate incentive and reward groups, doubling in size from last year. These guys are always great fun so it should be a blast. We're also pleased to be able to be helping out the St Just Youth Project, the Bishop Fleming group, the Cornwall Youth Incentive group and Pensans Beach Day groups, all booked in for sunny days in the surf later this summer.
We've also brought online two more full time properties for the surf vacationers - Kit's Cottage and Lowena. We'll be bringing you more details of these in the near future.
Thanks also to our Sponsors, Rip Curl, who have done an amazing job furnishing us with summer and winter wetsuits for all the instructors and Directors and also for the surf school. We're also all now sporting the latest in Rip Curl casual clothing (although we do look a bit like a walking billboard for Mick Fanning) and all the Vacationers this year will be receiving goodie bags with tees, DVDs, keyrings etc courtsey of the guys. A big thank you from us all!
Some news from our affiliates responsibletravel.com:
"responsibletravel.com, the leading online directory of specialist hand-picked holidays, has seen a staggering 113% increase in the number of enquiries from travellers looking for trips and accommodation options in England between 1 January and 21 April 2008, compared to the same period in 2007. Furthermore, England has jumped from 14th to second most popular destination in terms of actual holiday bookings via responsibletravel.com for the same time frame, just trailing behind Egypt which takes first place.
Justin Francis, co-founder of responsibletravel.com said: "We have seen strong overall growth in responsible holidays and I'd like to think that this latest news perhaps shows that travellers are starting to cut down on short haul flights and city breaks. "Responsibletravel.com was one of the first travel companies to encourage customers to take fewer and longer holidays. Over the past year or so, we've also been proactively adding to the site, some fantastic UK-based trips and accommodations have joined that really put responsible tourism at the core of their business.
"Every one of us needs to be reducing our everyday carbon output and holidaying closer to home can be a great way to do this, wherever you may be based in the world. Appreciating the local character of a place is what travel is all about - it's something unique and truly memorable, whether you are travelling 20 or 20,000 miles from home."
Another few reasons, in case you didn't know them already, to come and enjoy a sunshine surf holiday in Cornwall!
It's been a busy Easter and spring break for us as the water warms up and the waves roll in. Some epic swells have brought us a few great weeks of surfing, with both coasts firing at various times. The Schools Sessions are beginning from April 7th, with St Mary's, St Hilary, Marazion, Ludgvan, Pensans and Devoran all lined up to enjoy the Spring sunshine.
An exciting new development has been the birth of the GB Boardriders Club, a non-profit making Community-lead project that we're developing with the very able Jon Parlby at the helm. The Club will initially comprise of 20 young people, aged from 8 to 18, with ten in the Junior Boardriders section and ten in the Elite section. We'll be training up the Elites for both judging and coaching qualifications, and hopefully we'll uncover the next Russel Winter whilst we're at it! At the end of th season we hope to promote one of the Club to being an Instructor for next year. We've received excellent help on this project from Natasha Sandoe at the Conrwall Sports Partnership, Andy Sturt at the BSA and Guy Botterill at Penwith Council. We're stoked that Rip Curl have agreed to be official sponsors of this very worthwhile community initiative. If you're interested in joining the Club or becoming a Committe member then get in contact with us via the link above.
We're also working with the Penwith Pupil Referral Unit, the Extended Schools project and the Bishops Forum group in Truro... the diary is filling up!
It's only early January and already thing are buzzing at GBHQ. Mod has already booked out two weeks of the summer for surf vacations - there's still loads more room but it's a great start.
For the surf school, we've got the Uni of Kent coming down for some splashy fun in late Feb, and we're already sorting out the school groups for the spring. Surfers Against Sewage will be coming along on some of our school sessions to do a chat about coastal and environmental awareness. Classic Cottages are going to be promoting us in all their properties which is great.
Our annual catchup with James Hendy at Rip Curl brought some exciting new possibilities, one being Global Boarders being recognised as the official vacation provider for the Girls Day Out weekend in June and the Boardmasters and Womens WQT event in August. Rip Curl are also going to throw their weight behind promoting us as the most high-end surf vacations company they deal with, and there's some good synergy as regarding our mutual green policies. The Global Boarders Surf Shop is also being considered as Marazion's only Rip Curl retailer.
Other stuff: we're still working on promoting our First Place in the Surfers Path Magazine's travel Operator of the Year; we are now the only formally recognised green surf school in the UK; we are of course carrying on our carbon neutral status into 2008 with CO2 Balance; Responsible Travel will be adding us to their list of trusted Green Holiday providers; Sue Perkins has agreed to review a Global Boarders surf trip; we're setting up a new Global Boarders surf destination in Portugal; Sarah has got engaged to Matt; Adam is off to surf New Zealand until June... it's all happening!
The last guests have left tired and happy, the Instructors are scattering to the four corners of the earth... it's been a fantastic year. Over 4000 guests through the surf school!
There's a good article about a lesson with us here: http://www.plentymag.com/features/2007/09/the_first_lesson.php
Happy holidays!
As we enter the final weeks of our season it is with great pleasure that we can announce that we have won The Surfer's Path Top Surf Travel Company award. Needless to say we are honoured to have been nominated by those who have surfed with us and even more stoked to have been chosen by The Surfer's Path readers as the winner. Full details of the award will appear in the next issue of the magazine, out in November.
We have also been shortlisted (i.e.in the final five) for Cornwall Leisure Provider Of The Year. As this is only our second season we are pretty chuffed about this as well! We'll keep you posted when the final decision is made!
Global Boarders have been nominated as the Top Surf Travel Company in the 2nd Annual Surfer's Path Green Wave Awards! This means that we have been nominated by the readers of The Surfer's Path to deserve recognition for our work towards a cleaner, more sustainable surf world. Needless to say we are grateful and honoured to have been recognised in this way - thanks to everyone that wrote in!
With a month to go before the end of the season we've passed the 2000 lesson mark! In a year where the weather has been shocking this is a testament to the dedication of the Instructor team and the excellent marketing work done over the spring and summer.
The summer brought a rush of Corporate Clients to the company, and we are pleased to have surfed with representatives of Moet Hennessy, Clear Channel UK, Mediacom, Starcom MediaVest and Mindshare. You can read their testimonials here. We are also proud to have received great reviews from The Independent, The Sunday Telegraph, The Daily Telegraph, The Daily Express, Channel 4 and Plenty Magazine - you can also read their comments here.
Global Boarders were lucky enough to have been featured in the Saturday 25th edition of The Daily Telegraph. A residential stay was roadtested by a journalist and luckily the experience generated a glowing review! The full article is available online at:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/main.jhtml?xml=/travel/2007/08/25/et-surfcornwall-125.xml
As the summer season really kicks off there was a small celebration at GBHQ this week as we celebrated our 1000th lesson of the season. Despite a late summer start and some atrocious conditions it serves as a testament to our Instructors that they still managed to keep the surf school afloat through what was a very challenging period!
The Global Boarders Surf Shop now has several items from the Australian surf hardware and clothing company Balin
in stock - and we're delighted with their popularity.
Yet another van has joined the Global Boarders fleet - the Green Machine! The VW T4 van will be almost exclusively for the use of the growing number of Global Boarders Vacationers.
Finally, we've been lucky enough to have our contact details feature in both The Guardian and The Times in the past couple of weeks. We also have features in The Daily Telegraph and The Daily Express coming up soon.
The full Surfers Against Sewage / Global Boarders joint initiative press release can now be viewed online at here - here's the edited highlights:
Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) are stoked to welcome Cornish surf company Global Boarders, as its first Corporate Member. SAS Membership Manager Wendy Nicolson said "It's a great way to spread the word and let people know that you're doing your bit to protect the precious water environment that millions of people in the UK use for recreation and relaxation.'
Global Boarders Director Mod Le Froy said 'Global Boarders are delighted to be SAS's first Corporate Member. It is no coincidence that Global Boarders, the UK's first Carbon Neutral surf school and surf vacations company, have decided to become a corporate member as we synergise with SAS in providing safe, sustainable surfing. We are passionate about promoting responsible use of our beaches and waves and countering abuse through littering, pollution and erosion. Together with SAS Global Boarders will do everything we can to lead the way in sustainable surfing.'
The beach at Mounts Bay was the venue for a photo shoot of the whole Global Boarders team organised by Surfers Against Sewage for both their Pipeline Magazine and national marketing campaign. As both companies heavily promote environmental awareness and energy saving practices we have joined forces to promote our common aims. Left to right: Rich from SAS, Chris from GB, Andrew from SAS, Mod from GB, Andy from SAS and Izzy, Vicki, Adam and Sarah from GB. Pic taken by Ed from Global Boarders.
Hot on the heels of our appearance on BBC World's 'Fast Track' programme Global Boarders were delighted to be approached by Channel 4 to feature as the chosen surf school in their 'A Place By The Sea' programme, about people relocating to the South West. We were filmed giving the relocating family a surf lesson at Gwithian, and conditions were perfect for the day. Both Director and crew were pleased with the level of professionalism and fun that Global Boarders brought to the day, and promised to be back for some further (off camera) tuition in the future!
The shop is now nearly fully stocked for summer. Customers can choose between a full range of soft or hard boards, Tiki wetsuits, Global Boarders branded hoods, tees and caps, Rowemansurf 'Kernow' boardies, Wombat headbands, Childsafe beach accessories, kids tees, beach mats, surf books, US eyewear shades, rashies, leashes, wax, UV sunsuits for kids, jewellery... many happy hours browsing for the discerning shopper!
The Global Boarders premier surf lodge at Raginnis has been awarded 4 star status by the Quality in Tourism / Visit Britain board. This is great news, and we're still improving it all the time - recent improvements include wi-fi throughout the house, another bathroom (now 3), payphone, dishwasher and suit and board storage area. You can see the criteria that such a property has to fufill to get such a rating here. Information about the lodge can be quickly accessed here.
We've now taken delivery of our 3rd van, an Executive Mercedes Vito. This means that we can cover two beaches in the summer and also be able to transfer Vacationers to where the waves are best. With four After-School Clubs, Evening Surf Club, Women's Surf Club and Improvers Surf Club already in progress for this year - and it's not even the school holidays yet - it is already proving invaluable!
Global Boarders again feature as the surf pin-ups in the west of England's two main local papers, The Cornishman and The West Briton. The focus of the article was on the company's credentials as the only totally carbon neutral surf school in the UK (and possbily the world, we don't know!) Also featured is our expansion from three employees to eight and the success of the Global Boarders shop. You can see the full article by clicking here (link will open in a new window).
Fresh from surf trips to Morocco and Australia the Global Boarders team are gearing up for what forecasters are predicting is going to be one of the hottest summers for the UK in recent years - click here for details. We are looking forward to a great summer and hope you can join us!
The Global Boarders Shop is now open! Situated in the heart of Marazion the shop is ideally centred close to the beach of Mounts Bay and between Penzance and Praa Sands. We are taking surf lesson bookings from the shop, and also offer complimentary transfers to Praa Sands and Gwithian for the best conditions on the day. The shop is selling a variety of boards, from soft learner boards to Mini Mals and Thrusters, and wetsuits, tee shirts, wax, books, surf-themed cards, Ollypop towels... everything you could ask for! And there's a pasty shop twenty yards away!
A sunny but windy day saw a film crew from BBC World come down and film the GB Surf School in action on Praa Sands. The filming was for their Fast Track programme for International Travellers and followed a businessman coming down and spending a weekend in Penzance with a surf lesson from Global Boarders as a main feature. The programme will be aired at 1pm on February 18th.
Global Boarders have been chosen by actnow Cornwall (link will open in a new window) as one of five case studies of innovative businesses in the southwest.
Global Boarders were pleased to be the chosen surf school to feature in Radio 4's 'Guerilla Reporter' show to be aired on December 18th at 10am. The programme spotlit the crapsurfer.com surf competition at Praa Sands where Global Boarders were happy to do the lifeguarding duties and also be on hand to provide help on surf provision and related enquiries. The programme features an interview with Head Coach Adam Beare about Global Boarders' activities and also coverage of the competition.
Global Boarders have been informed that we are due to be nominated for a Green Surf Award by The Surfers Path (link will open in a new window) magazine. Needless to say we are stoked about this and believe it goes to show that there is increasing recognition for eco-friendly businesses within the surf industry. All nominees will be listed in The Surfer’s Path no. 62.
Global Boarders have been contacted by the Prime Minister's Office, to help on a consultancy paper to be presented to the Prime Minister on climate change and companies that are actively working to reduce their carbon footprint and adapt their working practices to the need for energy conservation. Global Boarders are proud to have been chosen to represent the surf industry in this way and look forward to working with the OPM to achieve this. We also look forward to catching a few barrels with Tony and Gordon in the near future.
This comes hot on the heels of our work with Rebecca Jefferson of the Plymouth University Marine Environment Survey. who had this to say about Global Boarders:
"Very professional and thorough, and it's nice to see a site which gives lots of information about the product. The product looks very good, you seem to have got a good balance on the site in aiming at the corporate and the recreational visitor - rather than coming across as more centred on one or the other. I like the look of the optional extras to tailor make trips to the groups' demands. Overall a great product and a great website. I'll sit in my dull office thinking about surfing now! Thanks again for your help with the survey."
We have completed on our DEDICATED surf lodge! The Global Boarders Surf Lodge is now online for solo and group residential surfers. Situated above the village of Mousehole, the four bedroom / 2 bathroom barn conversion boasts sea views across Mounts Bay to the Lizard and beaches of Perranuthnoe and Praa Sands, a double height wood clad interior, exterior board and wetsuit storage space, a seperate mezzanine chillout floor... and all within walking distance of the pubs and restaurants of Mousehole.
The lodge is ideally placed midway between the far west beaches of Sennen and Gwenver and the more eastern beaches at Gwithian and Praa. A specific webpage will be coming soon! Meanwhile you can check out the other Global Boarders accommodation here
The season officially closed for beach-sold lessons today, but we are still taking bookings for groups and schools right through the winter. A quick tally of our diaries has revealed that we sold over 1200 lessons since April, and catered for lots of residential surfers - and not a single one went home dissatisfied with their Global Boarders experience! You can read some of their testimonials here
Global Boarders are offering Womens Surfing Lessons to beginners & lower intermediates on Tuesday evenings at 6.30 (until October 24). This is the ideal opportunity to learn & improve your surfing free of the pressures which a mixed group might present. £10 introductory session and £14 thereafter. All equipment, instruction and wetsuits included. Contact us to discuss this further. Pre-booking essential.
As of July 1st 2006 Global Boarders have neutralised our carbon footprint. In association with C02 Balance (link will open in a new window), Global Boarders are offsetting all of their carbon emissions from their office, transfer vehicles, UK and International vacations by planting trees in the West Country, UK. They believe that they are the only carbon neutral surf company in the world offering surf guiding, instruction and vacations with minimum impact on the environment.
Global Boarders feature in article about Green Surfing and Sustainability in respected UK National newspaper The Times written by Sam Bleakley, European Longboard Champion (link will open in a new window).
Global Boarders Surf School donated a prize of a morning's private surf tuition for two people to the Global Angels Charity STEP UP campaign (link will open in a new window) which was raffled at a concert in London on May 12th by Daniel Bedingfield and Nate James. Louise and Patricia Young were the lucky winners, with organiser Molly Bedingfield saying "Global Angels is an innovative international children’s charity championing the needs of children around the world. The event on May 12th was wonderful and we were able to feed and educate another 100 children from the donations on the night. Global Boarders' prize was was the most sought after prize in the raffle which raised £2,000. Thanks so much to Ed and the Global Boarders team."
James Parry - the Global Boarders sponsored 2005 Ripcurl Junior Longboard Champion - finished in 2nd place behind Newquay's Ben Skinner at The Traditional Stylemasters at Saunton Sands on 13th/14th May.
Tales from the Tube: Global Boarders demonstrate the strength of their mission with strong support from a major international surf company, a prominent surf-eco awareness company and the National Governing Body for surfing in the UK. The article, printed in 2 major West Country newspapers focuses heavily on the ecological aspects of the company with strong support from The Eco Surf Project, Rip Curl and The British Surfing Association who said they "fully support the aims and objectives of this organisation's surf school and believe that these capture accurately the values of what the BSA is attempting to achieve: 'Safe surfing for All'."
Read the full article here (link will open in a new window)
Global Boarders and The EcoSurf Project (link will open in a new window) join forces.
The Global Boarders Surf School will be trading from Praa sands Beach car park, Cornwall UK from April 1st 2006
James Parry - the Global Boarders sponsored 2005 Ripcurl Junior Longboard Champion - ripped it up in Noosa, Australia at the International Malibu Classic Amateur Open Final by coming 2nd! However, according to many spectators he should have won the contest.
Rip Curl (link will open in a new window) become the official sponsors of Global Boarders.
Roweman Surf board shorts company (link will open in a new window) are working in partnership with Global Boarders providing Cornish inspired boardies to the surfing community. The shorts look and feel great and they dry off in no time at all! They are a winner.
Sterling House, North Street
Marazion
Cornwall
TR17 0EA
Copyright © Global Boarders 2007
Registered Company Number: 5660242
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