Hi

For those of you who don't know me a brief into; I bought my first ski (then called a surfski) in 1977 after my Surfer mk2 surf kayak imploded on me one gnarly March day at Putsborough and I had a long swim in with not another soul anywhere to be seen. I'd soon filled in the deep seatwell and fitted a seatbelt, in 1979 I won my first contest at Watergate on a custom ski and in '83 and '85 was British ranking champion. In '83 I spent 2 months in Aus and came 4th in the NSW Open at DeeWhy Point in monster surf, Christo & Petrie were 1st and 2nd, this was probably my best ever result. In '84 went to SA for the first World Waveski Champs and was founder member of WWSA. In '85 became secretary of the BCU surf committee and started making skis for a living trading as Dirty Habits. In '86 went to Hawaii for the Worlds and won for UK the right to host 1989 Worlds. Because S.Africans would be coming to UK for this event I drafted a constitution for a new British Wave Ski Association on the flight home. The following weekend was the surf ctte agm where I announced the move and resigned from BCU - what a row that caused. 1989 Worlds went v.smoothly and I became President of WWSA for next 2 years. I stopped competing about 1992 and a few years later sold Dirty Habits after making about 800 popouts and 100 customs to concentrate on building up 'Wild Things' and rotomoulding kayaks. In 1997 was asked to be chief judge at the Worlds at Gwithian which was my last real involvement with the organised side of the sport but I still really enjoy surfing my ski and haven't changed waveski or style for 10 years, but my ski is wrecked - must make a new one!!