Santa is a professional surfer ..... link

Sad news has made its way over the ocean this morning. Confirmed reports that 3X World Champion Andy Irons has passed away.

HONOLULU – (November 2, 2010) — The world of surfing mourns an incredibly sad loss today with the news that Hawaii’s Andy Irons has died. Andy was a beloved husband, and a true champion. Irons, 32, withdrew from a professional surfing event in Puerto Rico last weekend due to illness and passed away during a layover en-route to his home in Kauai, Hawaii. He had reportedly been battling with dengue fever, a viral disease.

At this time the family thanks his friends and fans for their support, and asks that the community respect its privacy. The family also asks to not be contacted so their focus can remain on one another during this time of profound loss.

Andy leaves behind his wife Lyndie and their unborn child.

Ok, so neither Lisa or I were completely prepared for the challenge but I was at about 85% so wasn't worried. Lisa was a little more concerned

Actually it wasn't that bad at all. With a bit more training we'd have improved on our times but Lisa's biggest challenge was the mountainbike section. Lisa loves pottering about on her mountainbike and following the occasional bumpy track but off-road really isn't her thing & so screaming down hill over wet roots and rocks was a complete unknown for her. Still, she did very well and with a bit of ahead shouting/warning from me, she really

pushed her skill limit (with out falling off).

Dave & Barney did very well & if it hadn't been for a slight direction issue, they'd have come very high up on the list of finishers ..... as it happened they did the same distance as everyone else but missed a check-point and so received a time penalty - at least next year should see a significant time improvement should they remember to hit every time-check.

Will I do it again ..... most definitely!

Last wakeboard of the year ..... Went out last night and had a few beers (followed by a curry & then more beer) and so getting up this morning was a struggle. Still, after a spot of grunting and groaning I did make it out of my pit and into the car. None of the promised sunshine but unlike last week the lake was nice and calm (last week was a bloody nightmare with strong wind and rain) and it just felt good ***COLD*** to get wet. Still loving the heal-side but switch is hard work. My jumps are coming along and one of my wake-to-wakes was so big that it not only surprised Lisa in the boat but it pretty much shocked me as well Lisa's riding is also improving and growing in confidence .... really a shame the lake will be closed 'til April next year.

Went out last night and had a few beers (followed by a curry & then more beer) and so getting up this morning was a struggle. Still, after a spot of grunting and groaning I did make it out of my pit and into the car None of the promised sunshine but unlike last week the lake was nice and calm (last week was a bloody nightmare with strong wind and rain) and it just felt good ***COLD*** to get wet. Still loving the heal-side but switch is hard work. My jumps are coming along and one of my wake-to-wakes was so big that it not only surprised Lisa in the boat but it pretty much shocked me as well Lisa's riding is also improving and growing in confidence .... really a shame the lake will be closed 'til April next year.

Still torn between my MYOPERA blog and BLOGGER. Established and have loads of pics etc on MYOPERA but like the simplicity of BLOGGER ...... Mmmmmm!

Anyway, summer is well and truely over. Only a couple of weeks left of the wakeboarding season until the boats & boats are locked away for the winter :(

It was Rich's birthday last weekend and even with a nasty bug we headed to the coast for beer, surf and more beer. Planned to be in the bar by 9.30pm on the Friday but the M5 had other plans for us - it was completely closed from about 7pm-2am ..... Aaaaagh! So, we eventually arrived at 1.30am after taking a few sneaky detours (once we had managed to get off the M5). The guys who didn't know the sneakier routes didn't arrive until closer to 3am! Still, once we all arrived the weekend was a blast. Softball on the beach followed by a surf in the afternoon. The bar soon followed & then it was into Woolly for food, more beer & Mariscos (all Good!). Lisa managed to pull the second scariest man of the evening (the scariest man was his mate & was eagerly looking on as I contemplated stepping in to protect my honour - & that of Lisa's). Although I think I had the scariest man of the evening was caught on his back-foot due to the fact that as soon as he entered the club I wandered up to him (in a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle outfit) & asked him what the hell he did for a job ...... he was huuuuge and covered in tattoos & I was curious was such a scary man would do for a living! You'll be amazed to know that we/I survived the night and safely arrived home late on Sunday.

Wakeboarding tomorrow morning. It's been a couple of weeks since I last hit the lake & I'm hoping that I can improve on my jumps and that my wetsuit dies out (I hate putting a damp wetsuit on). looks like heavy rain tomorrow :(

Think that's about it .... Oh yeh, I now have a motorbike. Definitely going to avoid riding it to work in the wet (that's why I still have a car) but loving the freedom. Just a tad frustrated/confused/annoyed that somehow my bike-box actually fell off the other day en-route to work ..... didn't see it, hear it and no one flashed or beeped to tell me hit had fallen off (or hit their car. Reported it's loss to the Police thinking someone would have reported me for an unsafe load but no joy. I think gremlins must be taking the piss out of me from the bushes!

Back at work and the weather has completely changed. We've gone from the barmy 28'C of the weekend and the triathlon to cooler and much wetter weather.

Looking at the Wakestock line-up the festival should be a great one..... Ting-Tings, Maximo Park, Plan-B & Feeder are just a few of the guys and girls appearing ont he variety of stages. Radio 1 are also going to be there.

How ever, before hitting Wakestock I really must get my arse in gear and do some actual work so that I can afford to keep going on these little adventures.

It's the rough Ride this weekend as well but I think that I'll gve it a miss for either a laid-back weekend at home or a spot of wakeboarding ..... Mmmmm, what to do?

Finally .... I need to get fitter!

Just messing with Blogger again and wasting a bit of time before hitting the shower and then going to bed. Over the last year or so I've been blogging on myopera but a load of my mates use this site to blog their world.

Ok, so there is a lack of smileys etc but it might be worth a play ...... myopera is a lot more user friendly though and photo albums are very easy to throw together.

..... lets see how this looks.