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Surfing
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Matt Fox has been surfing for over eight years, and is now a surfing instructor with West Coast Surf, Abersoch.
How did you get started?
I moved to the Abersoch area from Liverpool when I was young. I began to surf about eight years ago because my friends had taken it up. It had become easier to get hold of wetsuits and surfboards in the area, as there weren't many shops selling surfing equipment before then.
Where did you go from there?
I went to university, but found that surfing suited me much better. I got the beach lifeguard qualification and I was offered a job as a surfing instructor about three years ago, and then in the West Coast Surf shop.
What clothing and equipment do you need?
Surfing is one of the cheapest water sports. You just need a wetsuit, a surfboard, a leash and wax. You can get these second hand.
There are lots of different types of surfboards, so you should get some expert advice on which one suits you before buying a board.
What's your most memorable experience?
I went surfing at Easkey on the west coast of Ireland last year. The Atlantic waves there were fantastic, and the weather was warm, for a change.
Have you got a favourite place?
Hell's Mouth is the main beach for surfing round here. It gets a good diversity of surf breaks.
Any other points?
To take up surfing, you just need to be able to swim, obviously. The more you go surfing the fitter you'll become!
You need to be qualified as a beach lifeguard, by the Royal Life Saving Society and the British Surfing Association level 1 qualification before you can be insured to be a surfing instructor.
Surfing is very dependent on the weather though, You've really got to check what the weather and the surf's like before going out, and be prepared to drop everything and go surfing if the weather's ok. When the waves are good, the shops can sometimes be closed because everyone's in the water.
Where can I have a go?
Hell's Mouth. It takes up the most swells as it faces southwest, where the swell comes up the Irish sea between Ireland and Cornwall.
Useful websites:
www.westcoastsurf.co.uk
www.welshsurfingfederation.co.uk
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