Winner of Surfer's Path Travel Operator of the Year 2007 - Shortlisted for Cornwall Tourism Leisure Pursuit Provider of the Year 2007 - Nominated for Sustainability Awards 2007 - Highly Recommended by the Fat Face Guide 2007 - Official Sponsors of Surfers Against Sewage environmental campaign group
Global Boarders › News
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.
Global Boarders, Lowena, Chynoweth Lane, St Hilary
Penzance, TR20 9DU, Cornwall, UK
Copyright © Global Boarders 2007
Registered Company Number: 5660242
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