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Cornish Pirates attend O’Neill Surf Academy
by George Mojo
24/06/2006:// Take eight burly rugby players, squeeze them into wetsuits; shake them vigorously for two hours in cold Atlantic seawater, and what are you left with. Happy, smiling, though slightly exhausted surfers is the answer.
At least that was the case today at Watergate Bay, when players from The National Division 1 Cornish Pirates team, attended the opening of the new O’Neill Surf Academy.
British surfing champions Robyn Davies and Sam Lamiroy helped to put the boys through their paces, but it was 19 year old Ashleigh Bennett, a full time instructor at the Academy that really had them captivated. Ashleigh’s bubbly enthusiasm, combined with her honed teaching skills, soon had the players up and riding in the somewhat testing conditions. As to the success of her pupils, Ashleigh commented:
“They were great. They were incredibly agile for their size, and a few of them really got to grips with riding properly. I won’t say which one was the best, but I was definitely impressed with the green shorts worn over the wetsuit by one of them”.
Team Manager Adrian Edwards was joined by Coach Simon Rayes, front row players Dan Seal, Nick Makin and Alan Paver, as well as Rhodri McAtee and new signings Chris Cracknell and James Moore.
As well as teaching the Cornish Pirates, the Academy instructors had a full schedule, starting with 35 kids from Newquay Junior School, and then taking the trainees from “Fifteen Cornwall” for their first session in the surf. Joshua Hawthorne, Micheal Mallett and Frankie Yeo were delighted to take a break from the kitchen, and are all keen to get into a sport that is after all right outside the door for them.
As well as teaching absolute beginners, the O’Neill Surf Academy also offers advanced coaching for surfers wanting to improve, and the first pupil for opening day was actor Danny Webb. Danny who has starred in the last two episodes of Dr Who, spent two hours with Academy Director and Head Coach Patrick Sweeney, picking up tips to improve his performance. Summing the experience up afterwards Danny said:
“It was amazing. I learned loads. It makes such a difference surfing with someone who not only knows the technique, but has the ability to pass that knowledge on.”
The new centre is the first permanent O’Neill Surf Academy to be opened in Britain. It is operated in conjunction with West Coast Surfari, a world renowned and well established Surf School specialising in providing all age and all ability professional surf courses, based at Watergate Bay, Newquay,
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