George Watt

Filming for the MVP

2011-03-07T14:43:00.002Z

Valentines day surf with George Noble

2011-02-14T20:36:00.004Z

I want that one, difficult wave to position yourself so shifty

George Watt on a 6'1 Luke Young Zero

George Noble on a 5'11 Luke Young Cyborg

George Watt, all pics by Kelly Tait

Sunday Fun!!!

2011-02-08T12:04:00.001Z

pics by David Buchan

Day Tripping Cairngorms

2011-01-31T17:58:00.000Z

Thursday Day Trip Up North

2011-01-26T10:05:00.001Z

Its been a cold month with fun waves

2010-12-04T06:34:00.004Z

Friday Slabs

2010-10-24T19:46:00.000+01:00

Double overhead sets on a dry slab, wish we got surfs like this more often. I wasn't wasting any time trying to get "the shot" just a quick snap before heading out. It takes around 10 minutes to paddle out to this wave and is always bigger than it looks, pic doesn't give this session justice I kinda wish I took the camera out in the water with me to get some shots but I'd rather go surfing.

Elusive Welsh Open “Off The Lip” 2010

2010-10-18T11:43:00.001+01:00

The Elusive Welsh Open will take place at Rest Bay, Porthcawl on Saturday 20 November and will be supporting “Movember” the Prostate Cancer Charity. The Event will include an Open surf competition with prizes for the finalists and highest placed U/18 & woman surfers.

Following a full days surfing, the Fairways Hotel, Porthcawl will host the official party night including live band, raffle, giveaways and plenty of Movember fun & games. Competition entry £15, includes admission to the after party. Party entry £5, all proceeds to Movember.

Discounted rooms for the event available at the Fairways Hotel. £50 double/twin room per night. Quote “Elusive Welsh Open” on booking. www.thefairwayshotel.co.uk 01656 782085

The event is supported by Bridgend Council, Welsh Cost Surf Club, Welsh Surfing Federation, Christian Surfers, British Surfing Association, Surfboard Tracker and Chris Harris Surfboards.

For further details visit http://www.elusivesurf.com/

UKPST FRASERBURGH OPEN

2010-09-27T18:32:00.004+01:00

"I've never seen so many people at the beach before, it was a great weekend for the town. We were quite lucky to have some waves and dry weather for all the Surf, Skate & BMX crew who put on a fantastic show, I'm sure this had an impact on everyone and also inspiring all the local kids"

"It was very dissapointing in my Quarter Final heat to have so many non competing surfers in the same area where the competitors were trying to compete in, this should never happen. Trying to surf in a competition while dodging surfers really ruined any scoring potential that certain waves had for me."

Brothers Russell and Lester Cruickshank were unfortunate not to advance in there first round heat, Big congrats to Scratchy taking out the reigning British Champion in Round 1 before falling out of rhythm in the Quarters.

Video coming soon

"Me casa su casa".

2010-09-17T17:04:00.004+01:00

This trip was a bit of a disaster, a usual 4 hour drive up north turned into 6 hours due to an ongoing array of slow moving trucks, tractors and the constant downpours of rain. Arriving in Thurso late to find out the mini hyped swell hadn't arrived yet and my hotel was fully booked, a short phone call later and good friend Scott Main "Me casa su casa". I spent 2 full days up north, Tuesday was flat, Wednesday had 30-40 mph W winds and the waves were too small, on Thursday the big swell had arrived but along with a unforecasted 50 -60 mph N wind, Hail Stones, Thunder and Lightning and, this is far too windy to surf so I headed home and actually ended up scoring really good waves at my local break. It's easy to say I shouldn't have left in the first place but I did get 1 surf and it was good to catch up with some old mates, I'm really looking forward to getting back up there in the winter, hoping for some waves next time tho.

Another board to add my Luke Young Quiver

2010-09-13T18:02:00.002+01:00

My 2nd 5'9 Cyborg Model shaped by Luke Young.
Spray by Lukes new artist/glasser Al Manning

Check this out!!

2010-08-14T16:17:00.000+01:00

Up to 40% off Elusive Products. Live Vision Sunglasses and DVD'S at the Elusive Online Store

I'm bored and I got Spray Paint!!!

2010-08-11T21:40:00.002+01:00

"Lester and Roy's shaping bay, Roy and I are trying to rebuild the tail of my 6ft Spitfire, not sure if maskin tape and cardboard is the best template but it appears to be working"

"Lack of surf's starting to drive me crazy, just wanted to touch my boards again so doing a spray job on the bottom of this one"

Can't believe we got this in July

2010-08-05T16:07:00.009+01:00

Wish this broke more often, super fun, one of my favourite spots

Sessions like this make the long flat spells worth the wait, I was a bit rusty to begin with, hadn't surfed in so long and on my 1st wave I got caught in the lip from the offshore which lead to a bit of a beating and my first taste of the reef, all good tho no damage done and I managed to get some good ones after that. Somehow I managed to clip a rock on the way in bringing my board destruction tally to 5 this past 2 months, loads of ding repairs for Roy haha.

Liive Vision Sunglasses

2010-07-01T17:48:00.005+01:00

July is the month of no waves, bbq's, camping, sunburnt arms and the oh so positive people in Scotland complaining that its too hot now rather than the too cold some were moaning about a month ago ; ) I usually tend to disappear for a while this time of year but with work commitments I’m stuck at home, it's not a bad thing tho, the weather's been good and everyone is out of hibernation mode, I've got loads of things planned for the next month so life’s good. I got an email from Nick at Elusive introducing me to Max at Liive Visions, a short phone call later and I’m in the team. Who would have thought a Scottish Surfer would need some sunnies? Let’s hope the sun hangs around for the summer and we get the odd cheeky surf in too. I look forward to representing Liive Vision.

Stop number 1, Gul Night Surf

2010-06-21T13:43:00.008+01:00

I think this picture alone sums up my whole experience from travelling 700+ miles to Newquay, spending £500+ to hang around for 3 days and surf a 20 minute heat in shitty knee high - can't say enough bad things about it - surf, where the best - if I can even call it best? - wave I caught was ruined by 2 non-competitors getting in the way. Safe to say I'm not going back to Newquay.

Tom Tom, my new best friend

To end the short trip from hell, Easyjet managed to break the tail of my favourite board, thanks alot Easyjet and Europcar tried to overcharge me for my car-hire. All the costs, shit waves and boredom was soon forgotten about when I returned home - straight from the airport to pumping surf with all my best mates in the water.

The morning surfed I missed at home, George Noble

Big shout out to Nick and Amanda at Elusive for helping me out and letting me stay at there home.

Check out more Elusive Gear here

MVP YOU DECIDE the UK's best free surfer

2010-06-07T16:24:00.006+01:00

MVP YOU DECIDE an online video surf contest to find out who is the UK’s best free surfer or as we like to say surfings ‘Most Valuable Player’. Check out the top 10 surfers profiles

Whats MVP you might ask?

It short for ‘Most Valuable Player’, in other sports it’s the title you give the ‘man of the match’, the best player in the team or in the game. At ‘MVP you decide’ we are going to find surfings ‘MVP’! We are looking for the best free surfer in the UK.

How do we do this?
We didn't want any bias or politics so asked every surfer in the UK to submit a mini surf movie of them selves consisting of only ten waves, there was a lot of video’s to choose from so we asked you the public to pick the best ten video’s and now we are bringing you your top ten surfers together head to head just for you! watch their videos and have your say.

Vote for who you think is the number one and we will name them the UK’s best free surfer- ‘The UK’s ‘MVP’

Worst May for Surf ever???

2010-05-29T17:08:00.006+01:00

Add March and April to that List too, I know the North East is not regarded as a consistant place for surfing but this really ____
(think positive, good things come to those who wait, apparently)

Passing Time: Landscapes Altered

2010-05-29T16:37:00.012+01:00

Landscape Altered - Episodes from Kustom Airstrike on Vimeo

Ne'er cast a clout till May be oot

2010-05-02T23:50:00.002+01:00

The day God created hope was probably the same day he created Spring. Our hope for May has arrived on cue, The Gabs of May. Named by local fishermen, the gabs are a week of Northerly winds in the North Sea which happens every May. Although rarely producing epic surf the gabs do produce a week of waves which is rare here. I hardly surfed in March and April but have been keeping busy none the less. The first stop for the UKPST is in 2 weeks down at Saltburn, never been down there before but I'm really looking forward to getting back amongst it.

March and April tend to be a primetime around here but this year failed to deliver, 1 good day for 2 months of flat or poor conditions, worth the wait?

Coldwater Classic Thurso 2010

2010-04-14T08:02:00.006+01:00

Wow I forgot how good those guys surfed. I got a call the day before the event from Andy Bain letting me know I got a late entry into the WQS if I wanted it, I wasn't going to turn down the chance to go up north and have a heat with some of the best surfers in the world so I packed my bags and off I went. Me and Scratch arrived there about 8pm at night and with both of us not having a surf in the past 2 weeks we opted for a quick session at a crowded Brimms Bowl before it got dark, it didn't go to well for Scratchy, 10 minutes in and he had broke both of his boards what a disaster it was the only 2 boards he had brought with him so he’s now on loaned equipment for his heat, it’s pretty funny those boys are just freezing in the water, it’s the start of summer here and its actually quite warm in the water for us, be pretty funny to see them having a QS in January, think there would be a few cases of hypothermia.

Tuesday morning and I’m in the very first heat at 7:30am, getting changed in the back of the van I somehow stood on this glass slated mirror I had and it cut my foot open, guess that means 7 years more funny blog stories? So here I am 10 minutes before I get in the water picking glass out of my foot, not having surfed in 2 weeks and up against the best surfers in the world and to make it worse its in at the Brimms Bowl, I hadn't surfed there since the last WQS was in town this time last year and I had exactly the same heat sort of heat, It's just hard to get a wave off those guys there because its such a close take off spot, they know all the tricks to make sure there on the sets and your not, all I was hoping for was to get atleast 1 wave and surf it to the best of my ability just to see what sort of score I'd get, but that didn't happen I got 4th in the heat and knocked out the comp.

It was great to get up there for a day and check it out tho, it’s inspiring to watch those guys surf there so quick and just surf the wave so critically it’s great to watch. Scratch and Boydie have there heats today, the winds supposed to be light offshore and a similar size of swell to yesterday so hopefully there’s some barrels going and the boys can get a few waves.

I’ve got to say a big thanks to the guys at Oneill for having the contest year after year, all the pros I spoke to think it's the best stop on tour and by giving the finalists of the Scottish National comp all the chance to compete it helps push the standard of surfing throughout Scotland. Anyone who’s interested in surfing should try and head up North this week and check out the action, I’m going to head back up on Saturday wish I could have stayed up all week but got to work, gutted. If you can't get up north check it out on live webcast http://www.oneill.com/cwc/scotland/

Articles:
http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/1688500?UserKey

Please stop using the Voodoo Doll!!!

2010-03-07T20:25:00.034Z

Scottish Surfing Championships 2010
Just arrived home from the Scottish Surfing Championships which took place over the weekend. Was stoked to get back up north for some surf and hook up with all my mates I hadn't seen in a long time.

I had been doing a bit of preparation for this event, good nutrition and doing surf specific training, it was paying off, I felt really good physically and mentally during the competition, every heat leading up to the final I stuck with my game plan of staying relaxed and an eye on the clock just doing enough to get through each heat.

(George Watt Road to the Final)

I once read that the more preparation you do leading up to a contest the more good luck you will have on the day, this didn't quite work to my favour during the Final, after waiting patiently for the first set I turn around paddle and somehow managed to get tangled up with my friend Scratch's leash, we both missed every wave in that set too, a total disaster and not the way you want to start the Final, we had a good laugh about it tho, only in an occasion like the Final of a comp would something like that ever happen.

(Mark Boyd setting the line)

After being quite consistent all day the Final was just such a wave starved affair, 12 minutes in and I catch my first wave, a run through the barrel only to get pinched at the end and I get myself a 3 for my effort. Thinking my bad luck had passed I catch my 2nd wave and try a floater over a shallow barrelling section creasing my new board on the way down (bottom image below), maybe too much commitment, shambles.

(Above: the floater that ended the final for me)

(Scratch getting slotted during the Senior Final)

I didn't get 1 good wave in the final, no-one really did it was the lowest scoring heats of the contest for sure, pretty disappointing, all 4 finalists are really good mates so there was no stressing out in the water, we were all pretty disappointed because we feel that we all just wanted to put on a bit of a show and get some good waves to show the spectators that we can surf up here, fortunately enough there were a few really good waves surfed prior to the final, Chris Noble got a 10 in the Quarters for an amazing barrel as did Scratch in the Seniors, there was also some good wipeouts but along with them a few causalities, George Noble is away home with a suspected torn rotary cuff and Russell Cruickshank fractured his hand in the Semis, it was quite shallow out there and I’m sure there are going to be a lot of bruises Monday Morning.

(Chris Noble, Quarter Finals 10 point ride)

I am really disappointed with the end result but it was obviously not meant to be this year, I did everything I could out there and wouldn't change any decisions I made during the Final, it sucks losing again without being able to put up a fight, I want to go wave for wave with the guys and see who come out on top, it's all going to come together some year tho, can't wait. I'm going to try and get off work to support Scratch during the WQS Thurso event this year, I really believe he has the ability to progress through some heats and Ill be there to cheer him on.

(Finalists L2R George Watt, Scratch, Chris Noble, Boydie)

Mens Open Final

1st Scratch

2nd Chris Noble

3rd Mark Boyd

4th George Watt

The next Scottish Surfing Federation contest could happen around September/October, it will be the Gathering of the Clans event, there’s a really good Location in the pipeline for this event so keep checking the SSF website for the official call.

For more pictures of this event please visit Martina Cross and James Gunn

(click on the pic for the link, approx 19:10)

There will be some footage coming soon so keep checking back here and I'll post up as soon as it arrives.

Other Write Ups
A1 Surf
UK Surf Talk
Scottish Surfing Federation
Press and Journal
HangtimeFive7
Boydie

Ice Ice Baby!!!

2010-02-21T19:51:00.001Z

I don't usually blog on a one day story but today was pretty funny. On the coldest day of the year, so far... I wake up around 4am absolutely freezing and couldn't get back to sleep, this kind of worked to my favour tho as I timed it well to watch the Finals on webcast of the QS in OZ which was pretty inspiring.

Dawn is breaking and I've had brekkie and am getting my gear ready to go for a surf, first problem I run into, my house door is frozen shut WTF! A couple of rugby tackles and I’m free, good to go I’m out of here. I think I've forgot something, Where’s my wetsuit gloves? Shit, I've left them in the car overnight and there frozen solid, I can't wait to put them on.

After defrosting the windscreen I'm on the road, -10 degrees on the car temp thing and the road is just a sheet of Ice. Trekking around trying to find the best place to surf on the Low I hook up with my mate Boydie for some fun waves an hour up the coast. On my 2nd wave of the day I kick through a closing section and grab my board only to have the fin slash through my glove. With no spare gloves I have to man up and surf the rest of the session with the coldest hand in the coldest day in a surf break where the Icy River flows through the line-up, great, at least the waves were fun. Round 2 at my local was fun too, ducktape saved the day.

Latest Media: Jan/Feb Pitpilot

2010-02-11T15:25:00.003Z

Grab a copy of the latest Pit Pilot Mag for an article about my travel disaster doing the last UKPST event of 2009, big shout out to Cassie Tait for the Photo and George Noble for the Words.

Another Fresh Start

2010-01-22T18:45:00.011Z

January is a time of reckoning and readjustment. Many of us emerge on the first of January to the realization that the festivities and feasts of the preceding weeks have taken their toll. It took a bit longer for that little voice to come back in my head and tell me to get back into the health mission and cut out the partying, it's easy to get sucked into living for the weekend when you’re having such a good time but it's only seasonal with me haha.

I've had such a good month so far, we had an on running 4 weeks surf from mid December which was shortly followed by a few cheeky south swells and to this day the beaches keep producing. It really has been one of the most consistent winters, It's quite rare to stay at home surfing the local breaks - usually I tend to do trips up North to get my fill but I haven’t seen anything worth travelling for in the North Atlantic, can't wait to get back up there tho although it's been consistent here we haven’t had any big swells. As a bonus when it has occasionally gone flat there's been so much snow that I've been up the slopes with family and friends snowboarding.

Media ways this year things are going good for my sponsors and I, with an Article in Januarys Pitpilot Surf Magazine, Scotsman Magazine and the Herald . Also capping 2009 off with a funny award from Carve Magazine and I got a trophy for being the UKPST Best Scottish Surfer. I also got voted into the MVP. Things are looking very promising for the up-coming months, watch this space.

MVP You Decide

2009-12-30T16:07:00.003Z

Blog http://www.evolutionsurf.tv/

If you haven’t heard of ‘MVP you decide’ let me fill you in on what it’s all about.

It’s a competition to find out who the best free surfer in the country is and claim the title of the UK’s Most Valuable Player (MVP).

The difference between MVP and every other peer poll rating, magazine claim or contest result is that the people who decide who the bee’s knees is, is you. Yes, you (and all your friends…) get to decide the who’s best. So instead of asking why did they choose ‘joe blow’ as numero uno when i think ‘Bob’ over there blows him out of the water you can have your say and it counts.

So now you might ask how the surfers get selected in the first place, who picks the cream of the crop? It plays out like this… 1) Any British or Irish surfer can submit a video of themselves (ten waves max) to mvpyoudecide.com. 2) You (the public) log on and vote for who you think surfs the best. Then… 3) We take the ten surfers with the highest votes on surf trips videoing every session. 4) You watch the vids, have your say and vote for you favourite surfer. Then (finally…) by this summer we will count up all the votes and announce the winner picked by you for the best free surfer in the country, The UK’s MVP!

And if all this sounds too much and you couldn’t care less who The UK’s MVP! is, you can can still log on to watch some fresh footage of the countries best surfers. We will be making a free full feature surf dvd at the end of it all for you guys to enjoy.

So check out www.mvpyoudecide.com - results of the top ten will be announced new years day!

Roger Cox: Scotsman Article

2009-12-22T17:51:00.003Z

It's been a funny year," muses Fraserburgh surfer George Watt. That's one way of putting it. By rights, the dizzying series of ups and downs the 22 year-old has experienced over the last 12 months should have reduced him to a gibbering wreck. He has been laid low by heatstroke, suffered innumerable travel disasters and crashed out of a string of surf contests due to bad luck or bad strategy or both.

The emotional rollercoaster started gathering momentum in April, at the Scottish Surfing Championships at Melvich. Watt appeared to cruise almost effortlessly into the final, impressing the judges with his flowing, skate-inspired style, only to be into second place by Mark Cameron 32. At the time, it looked as if only the winner of that contest would get to compete against the pros at the O'Neill Coldwater Classic at Thurso – the highlight of the Scottish surfing calendar. But then, just as the Classic was about to begin, the event organisers decided they would accept wildcard entries from the top two surfers in Scotland, giving both Watt and Cameron a chance.

Watt was drawn against American Matt Mohagen, France's Gordon Fontaine and Basque surfer Haritz Mendiluce – a tricky mix, sure, but certainly no group of death. As soon as the hooter sounded for the start of the heat, however, King Neptune decided to turn off the wave machine, or at least turn the dial to "sporadic". Only a handful of contestable waves rumbled across the reef at Brims Ness in the allotted time, and the pros – blackbelts in the sharp-elbowed art of jockeying for position – snapped them up, leaving Watt out in the cold.

Never mind: in July he was off to Sri Lanka for the Champion of Champions Surf Contest at Arugam Bay – an event hosted by the UK Pro Surf Tour at an almost cartoonishly perfect pointbreak on the island's east coast. Only trouble was, Watt developed a nasty case of heatstroke on day one. He somehow managed to stagger through the first round, but in the second he became paralysed by what can only be described as surfer's block.

"I got a seven point something (out of ten] right at the start and then I sat and waited for the whole heat and didn't get another wave," he says. "I only needed a three or a four to get through, but I just sat and waited. I think it must've been because it was so hot. Yeah, I'm gonna blame the heat melting my brain or something. I was just frozen in the same position, waiting for a wave that never came."

Back in the UK, Watt surfed UK Pro Tour events in Newcastle, Wales and Newquay, with mixed success, suffered death by a thousand cuts at the hands of the British public transport system, picked up his Best Scottish Surfer gong, acquired some much-needed sponsors (Circle One wetsuits, Luke Young surfboards and Elusive Clothing) and then made what may yet turn out to be his smartest decision of 2009 by entering himself for the MVP You Decide video project, sponsored by UK surf mag Wavelength.

The format is simple: aspiring UK surfers post a short video of themselves surfing on the MVP website (MVP stands for Most Valuable Player), then wait for the surfing public to vote on which ones they like best. On Boxing Day, the ten surfers with the most votes will be selected to star in the forthcoming MVP film, which will entail travelling to a number of premier surf locations around the world, all expenses paid.

At time of going to press, Watt is sitting pretty in second place in the MVP rankings, but he isn't leaving anything to chance.

"I'm going to have a big party at my house before the deadline," he says, "and the rule is you can't come in unless you vote. I'm going to invite the whole town."

The MVP locations are still a mystery, but the winners could be sent anywhere: Hawaii, Tahiti, Australia... Watt, though, is probably the only surfer in the top ten hoping for more northerly locales.

"I'd like some of it to be shot in cold places," he says. "I love surfing in a wetsuit – I guess I'm just used to it. I'm actually hoping to go to Iceland next year, whatever happens with the MVP thing. That should be good – surfing with icebergs in the line-up."

There's still time to vote for George Watt at http://www.mvpyoudecide.com/

Article from: http://news.scotsman.com/opinion/Roger-Cox-Surfings-reality-PC.5926486.jp

UKPST Animal Newquay Open

2009-11-17T16:34:00.010Z

Was good to be back in Newquay, took a bit longer than expected travelling down there tho I missed 3 out of a possible 4 of my buses, Im so unorganised, definitely learn from all this to take into next year. Not sure how many times I've wrote this now but conditions were hopeless the first day in the comp and I got knocked out straight away with probably a 2 point heat total, I couldn't buy a wave in Newquay never did a single turn in my heat and caught about 4, snapped my leash and with the high tide my board got smashed up against the side of a cliff, all the boys were struggling day 1 even Oli Adams (who won the last event) got knocked in the first round. It was a bit of a write off this day I didn't watch a heat after I lossed, went off to the pub for the Scotland Wales game with the Welsh boys.

Nate Phillips doing the biggest turn I've ever seen, beach went mad after this one Photo: Roger Sharp click for the sequence shot

Day 2 and its pumping overhead surf at fistral. I sat and watched just about every heat this day trying to learn from the best surfers in UK, one thing I've realised is that the best surfers are so consistent in everything competition, always solid turns and no matter what the conditions are like they will find the best waves. Its gonna take me a while to get up to this standard of competitive surfing but I know I can get there I'm still young and new to this, most the guys have been competing in a high standard of competition from such a young age, this is the first year I've done pro comps and the standard in competition from previous Scottish comps Isn't even close to that of the first rounds in the UKPST.

This was the final comp from the UKPST this year and an Awards dinner was held the night after the comp, Alan Stokes won the tour, he's a friendly guy and he is representing the UK very well on the world stage by making Quarters in 6 start WQS events and also winning Expression sessions in them too, a worthy winner.

Gul UKPST Best Scottish Surfer

Big shout out to Micah Lester for letting me stay at his over the wknd, if it wasn't for surfers like Micah on tour I wouldn't even be able to compete in these events. Also a shout out to Johno for giving me a run to the airport on the way back after I missed yet another bus, Legend. Cheers for all the help boys and look forward to doing every event on tour next year.

Animal Newquay Open

2009-11-08T14:19:00.002Z

Im on the Road again, off to Newquay at the end of the week for the last competition of the year on the UK Pro Surf Tour, had a good time in Newquay earlier in the year scored some fun waves, can't wait to get down there only 3 more days of work the I'm off. As well as the comp there is gonna be an Awards night/dinner on the Sunday which will see the Mens and Womens Champions crowned as well as Pro-Junior Chamipon and all the Regional best Surfers on tour.

Working with Elusive

2009-11-03T18:32:00.012Z

I am stoked to say that I have joined the Elusive Surf team, looking forward to representing a quality team of surfers in this company that gets involved with the UK Surf scene. Check out there website Elusive Surf for a look at there products and all the latest.

UKPST Newcastle and Wales

2009-11-02T16:19:00.016Z

(George Watt: Photo by Will Bailey)

The past 1 1/2 weeks I've been away for 2 more UK Pro Surf Tour events. I got off too a bad start in Newcastle, an interference call was given to me early in my first heat which pretty much made it impossible for me to get through, the waves were so bad for the comp in Newcastle, howling crosshore winds and small surf which gradually got better throughout the day allowing the boys to get a fun surf in just before dark, big shout out to Richie Sills and Rachael for feeding the boys and letting us stay at there place over the wknd, legends.

I spent a week in Wales staying with my mates Nathin Phillips and the Zaffa Wilkins brothers, Nate was generous enough to let us stay at his house all week and share his waves, Wales is an amazing place we surfed Nates local reefs all week which were super fun.

(Struan Wilkins: Photo by Will Bailey)

The event was held at a shifty beach break in quite challenging small onshore waves, I got off to a good start in Porthcawl by winning my first heat against one of the Welsh favourites. But unfortunately I got knocked in round 2, I had a 5.7 off the buzzer and only required a 5.0 for the rest of the heat which for some reason I couldn't seem to find, so frustrating, I felt that I was surfing good in that heat but I just couldn't find a wave to get the score, after some time to think about the loss and going for a freesurf to clear the my head I was OK with the result, unfortunately contests do require a bit of luck and I am still learning about competition surfing each event I do.

Next up for me is Newquay for the final event of the year. It's on the same days as the Gathering of the Clans event, its ashame theres only 2 comps in Scotland each year the GOTC and the Nationals, but I've chosen to do the Newquay comp because it will push my surfing more, Im slowly getting better at the whole competitive act in these contests and my freesurfing has come along so much since the start of the year, stoked to be able to do the tour and looking forward to the future.

AXL DOH Pro Results 09
NE Results 09

UKPST North East Open

2009-10-22T19:12:00.004+01:00

Heading down to Newcastle this weekend for the UKPST North East Open, got a good heat in Round 1 with 2 mates and a local so fingers crossed for some fun waves. After this weekend im off to Wales for the week for the AXL / DOH Welsh UKPST Event, never surfed in wales before so should be a good experience, can't wait.

Newcastle Heat Draw

Congratulations to Luke Young

2009-10-19T12:35:00.011+01:00

Luke has just been voted UK's Best Young Shaper through Carve magazine poll. Check this link for more information on his boards.

Winter chill in the air

2009-10-10T19:45:00.007+01:00

It's been a long time since we have had a good run of waves at home, the past 10 or so days has produced fun beach surfs, snapped boards and the odd bit of reef action. The waters starting to feel colder and the short lit days are on there way, can't wait for the next swell. Starting a new job next week working as a postman too, up early finish early, plenty time to surf and train while getting some cash in the bank.

My past 2 surfs I left the camera on record overlooking the surf, check it out here

And summers over at last

2009-09-28T13:29:00.011+01:00

This summer’s been a bit of a write off in Scotland. 8 or so weeks had passed since I last had good surf. A small desperation chart was on offer a while back so trekking up north with some mates hoping to make the most it... I was in for a bit of a shambles, camping out in the “if Carlsberg made tents this would probably be the worst tent in the world” tent, a rather sleepless night was had to wake up in the morning with my only set of clothes all dampfrom the heavy rain and feeling ill, pretty miserable, all this for a 2 hour surf in a waist high beach. That was supposed to be my surf fix for about 2 weeks.

Another chart another trip, trekking up north with the boys
again, this time learning from my previous mistakes, checking the weather forecast not just the surfing one camping was off the cards and a warm and dry comfy hotel room was booked. My luck had passed to George Noble this trip who had a series of unfortunate events from burst tyres to busted boards, its hard to put to words all that went wrong on the first day for George, luck turned round after day 1 tho and we were in for some good surf.

Sundays conditions were super fun, the wave we were surfing required a long half hour walk over muddy fields in the rain but to our reward we got some long overhead lefts with only us out, everyone got there share of waves and left north with a smile on the face. It was good to surf waves that were worthy of calling a wave again, after 8 weeks with the odd bit of slop it was great to get some open face to play with. I was hoping to get some new clips for the MVP but it was windy and rainy all wknd, hoping to get some clips in the near future tho im not to impressed with my entry it could be so much better so fingers crossed we get some waves. It does looks like we are in for some surf the next few days, hoping to get some surfing done as well as checking out the British kite surfing championships this week which is taking place in Fraserburgh, going to support our local riders hoping they make there name on the British kite surfing scene. p.s check out the new pit pilot mag for an article on us in the Broch

Check out the new equipment section

2009-09-21T23:30:00.002+01:00

No waves and too much rain so I've thrown together a section featuring the surf equipment im using, I plan on creating a review feature with my honest opinion on wetsuits and various other accessories in the near future, going to test them first so keep checking for updates. Use the links on the right sidebar to browse through my boards.

The Old Winter League

2009-09-04T09:10:00.019+01:00

Click Here to read Article, February 2004

This is the write up from the first Mens Open Division that I won when i was 16 years old. Pretty stoked with the result back then. Iain Masson and Alan Wilson ran a Winter League for all the local surfers from 2002 - 2004, at one point there were 28 surfers in the League, im not sure if there is even 28 surfers in Fraserburgh anymore, where have they all gone? I loved competing in these comps, it always pushed the standard of surfing in the area and everyone would have a good banter throughout the day, we used to score some good surf too. They stopped the league shortly after this comp tho when nearly every date set for the year was cursed with no waves.

Through the Ages from 2003 - 2009

2009-09-03T00:32:00.005+01:00

George Watt: Throught the Ages from George Watt on Vimeo.

When I was younger I used to take my camcorder down the beach to try and get my friends to film, I could never get someone to film a whole session but there is the odd shakey clip, usually taken by whoever was first out. When my main computer is fixed I'll make a proper job of editing all these clips, I just got bored one night and through it all together. Im gonna try and get on it more this winter to get some new pics and clips, its good to have some lying around to show the friends and family.

Maldives: Lohifushi Island 2005

2009-09-03T00:14:00.012+01:00

Old days Maldives 2005 from George Watt on Vimeo.

We had a good routine going in the maldives. We woke up first light every day and had a surf, then grab some breakfast from the buffet, go for another surf, top up the energy with some lunch then go surfing until it got dark. Every day was the same. We also took it in turns to film, In a 3 hour surf we would all film for 1 hour while the other two surfed, great way of gathering some footage while having a short rest and seeking some shade. The waterlife is something else, all sorts of coloured fish cruising about, turtles in the line ups, little sharks lurking about, all sorts of stuff, just a really beautiful place. A true paradise.

40 days and 40 nights

2009-08-24T14:20:00.006+01:00

Im going crazy!!! Summer surf in Scotland just doesn't produce the goods. In the last 6 weeks i've had 1 surf, adding to this frustration it was 2ft onshore slop. This must be how alcoholics and junkies feel when they go cold turkey, i've found myself having cold ice baths just to rekindle the joy of the near hypothermic state the Scottish winter puts you in. Luckily enough my friends are on it and we all try and keep busy during flatspells, alot of games of golf have been played, fish have been caught, underwater rock runs been keepin us healthy, bbq's and camping trips keep us entertained, summer is fun but the lack of surf is sometimes too much, bring on the winter, the cold water surf makes us feel alive.

George Watt MVP youdecide.com

2009-08-02T19:08:00.006+01:00

Have a look at the MVP website below and vote for your favourite surfer, i mean vote for me haha.. Theres a couple of sick entries check them out. We didn't do that much filming when we were in Bali so theres not any great clips but still thought its worth entering to get involved, the top ten surfers will be invited on surf trips around the world to make the next 'MVP' movie for 'wavelength magazine' and the public will decide who is the UK's MVP!. Voting starts soon
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zH4-jqdIJG4 http://www.mvpyoudecide.com/

Bali Slideshow

2009-07-25T11:02:00.002+01:00

All through a google search of George Watt

2009-07-20T13:01:00.005+01:00

Last year an aussie called George Watt rocked up at my house when me and Scotty Main were away to head off to Thurso for a surf, pretty random but heres the story.

Bali Madness

2009-07-20T12:37:00.002+01:00

(Russell Cruickshank Nihiwatu)
Just arrived home from Bali today, long 4 days travelling through airports so pretty tired but gonna try stay up to avoid any jet lag. Bali has changed a bit since last time a was there, (2007). Theres alot more tourists around and the prices on living are slowly on the rise, its still a cheap place to live and eat tho but it felt a bit more like an aussie clubbers land than a surfing destination this trip because we stayed in Kuta. Didnt score any epic surfs when we were over there, couple of fun days but nothing too exciting, wish we were over there the month before, russell scored a few sick ones on his honeymoon. Tryed to avoid the main spots because of the crowds so it was good to go treking the coasts in the motorbikes looking for a wave. Dont think ill be going back to Bali for a surf trip, been there four times now and im kindov over the place, Kutas not a relxaing place at all, its hard just walking down the shops for a bottle of water without getting asked a million times if you want a taxi / massage / ben chungs etc.. be good to see more of the world, maybe somwhere more stress free next time.

(GW)

(GW )

Video Clips coming shortly, more pics too.

Sri Lanka

2009-07-06T17:38:00.009+01:00

Had a good one in Sri Lanka, that place is epic. Good food, happy people, cheap living, sun and fun waves all the time, its such an under-rated country. The standard of surfing in the contest was all time, boys were ripping, i had a bit of a shocker on the first day, managed to get sun stroke the day before after laying in the sun all afternoon so i was still ill but managed to get one good one in the heat getting 2nd to Jayce Robinson. The 2nd day they held round 2 in good conditions but some heats had few waves. I got off to a good start getting a keeper in the first 5 minutes, then i played the patient game which didn't pay off. Sat and waited for another set wave and in the last 3 minutes i panicked and caught a small one but didn't get the score because I only got the one turn in shown below

I think thats the first time i've ever only surfed 2 waves in my heat, ended up getting third in that one so got knocked out but i wasn't to bummed because i felt i could have got the score if the right wave came during the heat. Had a good laugh with all the boys tho, couple of good nights out after the contest and some funny storys too tell my mates when i get back home. Off to bali next luvin it

Sri Lanka & Bali from George Watt on Vimeo.

Arugam Bay Sri Lanka

2009-06-24T17:00:00.002+01:00

Off to Sri Lanka on Friday for the UK Pro Surf Tour Champions of Champions event. Looking forward to surfing in boardies again, got 3/4 days to get used to the wave again and the temperatures before the comp starts, the sea waters like a bath tub over there, cant wait.

Good Times in Newquay

2009-06-15T23:48:00.006+01:00

Just arrived back home from Newquay, note to self - dont take the bus for 24 hours after having a jog, calf muscles were aching the whole trip and had a bit of a hard time on the way home getting the boards on but im home now with everything so no worries. Got to say i loved Newquay, good vibes in and out of the water. Bit daunting at a first glance tho, the whole town is based on surfing, theres like 100 guys out in the line ups and another 50 guys who i've named hair flicks, just dudes who look the part, walking up and down the beach with no intention of going for a surf haha, theres more than enough waves for everyone there tho, the beach is a mile long with plenty waves going so no trouble getting more than your share.

I didn't do great in the comp, waves were small on the friday with some heats scoring more waves than others. By round 2 got third place in my heat. Only had 1 scoring wave in my heat, tried to be patient but waited for the wave that didn't arrive, same old story. Need to work on my grovelling skills if i want to do well in these comps. I packed a 6mm wetsuit by mistake too and was cooking in the water, pretty funny a guy was surfing my heat in a shorty - there will be plenty more comps in the future tho.

At this moment in time im doing these contest just to improve my surfing so im not really to worried if i get through heats or not, as long as i come away from wherever i've been - feeling that i've improved or learned something valuable is jobe done for me. Saturday had a clean overhead swell at fistal beach and it was super fun, i surfed these bowly lefts at little fistral with a few of the top guys out and was loving it, didn't expect to surf such quality waves on this trip, didn't even realise that cornwall got waves that good, it was enough to make me want to go back. If that wasn't enough the night life was good to.

Im going to Sri Lanka next week or the week after for a Champions of Champions comp, i've been there before and its a fun right hander so its gonna be good to work on the backhand, after a week of rights im planning on going to Indo again for some warm lefts. Forgot to take the camera to Newquay so no photos but ill remember and take one on the next trip.

Gul Night Surf

2009-06-10T10:55:00.001+01:00

Heading down to Newquay today for the Gul Night Surf comp, taking a few buses to get down there, the journey lasts about 23 hours so its gonna be a long trip. Hopefully all those winter night surfs at the point will make me more comfortable surfing in the dark, sounds like a cool event cant wait.

Cancelled Croyde

2009-05-24T18:52:00.001+01:00

Looked like the waves were going to be quite small for the first UK Pro Surf Tour events, i wasn't to keen on travelling 1200 miles to go surf waist high waves so i've not made the trek down south this wknd. Heres hoping we get some waves the next few weeks, gonna try and get some clips together for the MVP you decide. Check it out, http://www.mvpyoudecide.com/

6-Star WQS Oneill Highland Open

2009-05-04T00:50:00.002+01:00

Got to thank Alex Sutherland for talking to Oneill and getting me a Wildcard entry into the QS in thurso, originally it was only going to be the winner of the Scottish who got a chance to compete but Oneill were more than happy to make it 1st and 2nd this year. Unfortunately I got knocked out of the competition in Round 1 in a set starved heat at brimms ness. Its a different atmosphere in the water compared to any competitions ive been in, those guys are quite aggresive and will do whatever it takes to stop you getting the score, would love to go wave for wave with them in good waves to see how i would get on, but thats the art of competitive surfing, you have got to be prepared for any conditions. Was a really good experience competing with some of the worlds best tho, had alot of fun free surfing with the guys on the days before and after the contest, its good to see the worlds best surfing the waves we surf up north, i would reccomend anyone interested to go check it out next year.

Scratch

Scottish National by Roger Cox

2009-04-21T13:54:00.001+01:00

Melvich is a beautiful surfing spot – a huge sweep of white sand – and it's a relief to see small but perfectly formed waves breaking in front of the rivermouth at its eastern end.

As the tide pushes in, the waves get a little bigger until, by the time the four-man final hits the water, they're shoulder-to-head high and peeling into the river with machine-like precision. Fraserburgh's George Watt takes an early lead, surfing with real power and style – at just 21 years old, he's surely one of the brightest hopes for the future of Scottish surfing. In the end, though, he is narrowly beaten by last year's champion, Mark "Scratch" Cameron, 31, who pulls off a spectacular 360 to clinch first place.

"I'm obviously delighted to have come out on top," Cameron says, at an awards ceremony at the nearby Halladale Inn, "particularly when such a good crew of surfers came up for the competition."

Last year, Cameron narrowly missed out on causing a major upset in the first round of the Highland Open with a brave display of tube riding. Does he think he can do something similar this year?

"It's a great experience to come up here and see all the pro surfers," he says. "They're really good compared to me, so it boosts my surfing, having to compete with them. So, we'll see."

Full Article

Scottish Championships 2009

2009-04-08T10:26:00.002+01:00

Just arrived home from the Scottish Champs this wknd, finished 2nd place in the comp, my friend Scratch took the win in a close-fought final. I could almost taste the victory in the final, i got off to a good start and was leading up until the last few minutes Scratch got his best wave and after that one i knew it was going to be close. I was paddling out watching the whole wave and just praying for him to dig a rail and fall off haha, but he remained calm and surfed it well. Have to wait until next year before i get a shot at the Scottish again, hopefully the WQS stays around for another year so i can have a chance of winning that wildcard. I learned alot from this comp tho, guess the main thing i've took from it is not to try and surf the heat doing competition turns, im going to go into future heats with a total free surfing approach, think that way will suit me better as i tend to hesitate alot on the waves i got in this competition and didn't do the surfing i would normally do if it was an everyday freesurf. Good experience tho, cant wait for the UKPST. Good luck to Scratch in the WQS, hope he takes down some big names

Guess its about time i wrote something in here.

2009-01-14T21:36:00.000Z

I've created this blog as a way of keeping people up to date with what im doing and to store all the latest photos and videos that i recieve of myself surfing.

This year im planning to compete a full season on the UK Pro Surf Tour, would have loved to do this tour in previous years but i've never really had enough money to do it. I know that i would regret not doing the tour and wonder how i would have got on, so i finally decided to get a job and work hard for a few months until i had enough money to do it. I've had help from Luke Young on Surfboard costs which im very thankful for, Luke shapes some sick boards and he knows what hes on about. I think its a bit of an essential to work with a shaper if you want that dream board. I've also got wetsuits from Simon at Circle One which are helping keeping me warm in this cold winter we are all having, this helps out alot. Cheers Guys

I've entered a few pro comps in the past but never really dedicated much time to preparing mentally and physically for surfing against the countries top surfers, they are at another level than what im used to seeing in my everday surfs. Got alot of work to do if i want to get any results. Competitions don't start until April so i have alot of time to get ready and have some fun doing it.

Anyway, hope alls well

See you soon

Circle One Wetsuit

2008-12-14T16:06:00.002Z

I’m currently using a 5/3mm + 6/4mm Noir Wetsuit created by Circle One.

RRP 6/4mm £180 5/3mm £160
http://www.circle-one.co.uk/

Surfing Scotland

2008-10-02T00:43:00.001+01:00

Tim Nunn Shots Thurso 2008

2008-10-01T21:02:00.003+01:00