Surfing in the UK - Surf Wear - Change

Hi there, we've not been around much recently to place an up-date on our blog, we've been making some changes to He'e Nalu which have been taking up all of our time. Change is good, it brings new attitudes and new direction. It also brings new innovation and focus, it makes you look at everything in a much clearer light without all of the muddled blurred images you had before.
Just like surfing itself? you need to be focused, you need to know what direction you want to take, and you want a clear day to enjoy it to the max. Surf wear also changes with every season. Yes it holds onto that classic format, but then again why change a formula that has been working through several decades, through economic turmoil and high times, surfing has always been strong.
Just like surfing in the UK and surf wear He'e Nalu is changing and we hope for the better? We are looking forward to a much stronger better equipped He'e Nalu more focused able to react quicker, and more importantly more flexible. We have our new website that is almost ready to go live and that is looking awesome, and some huge changes to the business model which will be made clearer in the coming weeks, but watch this space it is an exciting time for He'e Nalu.

Surfing in the UK - Surf Wear - A Cold Winter

2008 could be a cold winter in more ways than one. We are still in October and already we have had snow and frost and sub zero temperatures over night. More reason to stock up on your winter wardrobe and perhaps throw out some those old pieces and replace them with some nice warm surf wear. When I say surf wear, I don't mean a nice new pair of Headworx boardshorts or new O'Neill bikini, I mean check out these guys winter ranges.
O'Neill, Realm, Saltrock, Billabong to name but a few produce some of the best winter collections out there. Forget all this cheap Primark stuff, it might be cheap but there is a reason for this? It's made from cheap materials and probably won't last. So treat yourself to something that will really keep you warm and will last more than a couple of wears before it falls apart.
The other reason why it could be cold winter is because of the imminent recession which with out doubt is going to make a lot of peoples lives a misery for quite some time. The banks, who have been given all of this bail money are still as useless as ever if not more so, and if you are currently experiencing problems with your bank, get out now. There are plenty of banks willing to help, banks such as Natwest we have found particularly helpful, where as Barclays haven't got a clue. Strange that they have no interest in helping their customers when they are one of the biggest culprits to the whole financial meltdown.
So wrap up warm this winter, invest in a snuggly warm fleece and turn the thermostat down a notch, what a great way of justifying your new winter surf wear purchase while justifying not going to Primark. Oh and one more thing, why not pay cash thus saving yourself some bank charges and the guys you shop with. Have a warm snuggly winter.

Surfing in the UK - Surf Wear - Bouremouth Artificial Reef

We have an update on the new artificial reef being built in Bournemouth from Leisl our reporter on the ground.
Apparently when you arrive at Boscombe beach you are welcomed by a huge pile of sand a few bouys on the beach and a lifeguard. The rig is still moored off shore and there was two guys on it in yellow coats and Leisl thinks there might have been a guy in the water, however, and it's a big however due to some problems with the scuba divers who were perfectly competent the work has fallen behind and because the contractors now have another project to get started Bournemouth will have to wait till next summer before the reef is ready.
Good news though is that it's going to be huge, set 225 meters of the shore it's going to be the size of a football pitch with the longest stretch 30 meters long, so it will be well worth waiting for, although the three guys sitting on the boards on the other side of the pier while leisl was down there are probably a bit premature.
So thank you to our on the ground reporter and we will keep you up to date with the progress. If you're looking to go surfing in the UK this week, Bournemouth was only about a foot, so you might want to look further afield. We also heard that it wasn't exactly warm so you may want to cash in on some new surf wear for your trip.

Surfing in the UK - Surf Wear - Yoga for Surfers

You don't have to surf in the UK or anywhere else for that matter to reap the benefits from practicing yoga. In these times of stress we all need to relax and look after ourselves and having followed the exersizes in Peggy Halls yoga DVD I cannot rate it highly enough. The whole thing has a gentle feel to it and you don't really feel like you are doing anything to strenuous, but the feeling of relaxation it quite overwhelming and also you get to iron out all those knots and tensions that we build up in our every day lives. And the even better thing is you don't need loads of space, or expensive equipment or costly gym membership (I all for tightening your belt during the credit crunch!) All you need is a copy of the DVD, a DVD player ofcourse, a little space in your living room and if you really want, a yoga mat.
Go on give it a go and feel all life's annoying tensions drift away (if only for an hour or 2). I bet you sleep better too!
If you don't believe me click on the DVD to the right of this blog and see what Amazon customers are saying about it.

Surfing in the UK - Surf Wear- Winter Surfboard Care

Protecting your board in winter

I can only hope that I’m not the only landlocked surfer in the country who is thinking about hanging his board up for the winter, but to be honest I can’t see that I’m going to get the chance to go surfing in the UK this year, so it won’t used till our trip to Lanzaroti at Christmas. Only the sponsored professionals can afford to update their surfboards every six months, and since a badly treated surfboard will ride significantly worse (slower, less responsive) than a board that has been cared for, and the unsightliness of a shaby stick can considerably lower your on-the-beach attractor factor, it is beneficial to your performance in and out of the water that you follow some basic steps to keep your board looking tip-top and working as good as possible.
#1. Bag Your Board
Out of the water, keep your board in a board bag at all times. This is so important because 50% of the dings and chips that will cause your surfboard's to perform badly will occur in transport to and from the beach. I don’t use my boards anywhere near as much as I would like but; nonetheless, I have kept boards white and pristine for as long as two years just by religiously keeping them bagged up and safe.
#2. Keep your Surfboard Safe:
A badly placed surfboard can easily be knocked when placed haphazardly in a standing position against a wall or in a corner and cause major damage and this will keep you out of the water for days. A way to avoid this is by building a rack so you can secure your boards or installing some L-brackets on your wall in order to hang your boards safely out of reach. Your surfboard will thank you.

#3. Treat you Surfboard like a Baby: Be a Protective Parent.
The sun and heat is your board's enemy, so store it safely in a cool, shady spot. Placing your board in a shed or car on a hot day will cause major delamination issues. Your surfboard will hate you. In addition, the sun's rays will cause major yellowing and weakening of the integrity of your board's fiberglass coating, so don't store your boards in the back yard or leave them on a roof rack uncovered too long.
#4. Surfboard survival
Even minor dings can cause serious problems if left untreated for too long, so be sure to repair any crack or puncture in your board as soon as possible (at least after the swell is gone). Otherwise, water leaking into the inner foam core of your board will cause yellowing and your board to delaminate, and worst of all, extra weight which is the worst contributor to lower board performance. Additionally, you should periodically strip old wax off the deck in order to check for any unseen dings or cracks that may be lurking below.


These steps will greatly extend the life of your precious surfboard, or the love of your life. In addition, remember to secure your board when transporting it in the bed of a truck, place it out of the way of foot traffic and car traffic (I have seen many boards fall prey to vehicles backing out of a parking space), and choose who may borrow your board wisely. Even with perfect care, a board will eventually lose its "energy" and require you to update to something fresh, and if your best mate has trashed it, I bet he won’t contribute towards the new one.
Keep your board safe and enjoy your surfing.

Surf in the UK - Surf Wear - World Belly Boarding

The 6th Annual World Belly Board championships in Chapel Porth in Cornwall this month, Juniors (under 60’s) and seniors compete for various titles. With the sea at its’ warmest and the beaches delightfully empty it’s the turn of the “grandad-olescents” age-group to turn their noses up at the heated wet suits favoured by the younger competitors and go for the 1950’s apparel as they hit the surfing bays of Cornwall.

“The period between the schools going back and the October half term is just perfect for older people to take advantage of the best of the South West” says Debbie Skyrme, manager of Cornish Horizons Holiday Cottages.

“The sea swells are building again, following the summer lull and the water retains its’ warmth long after the land has cooled down so it really is the best time to enjoy belly boarding; it’s a whole body workout ideal for any age.” And after a long day on the beach what better way to relax than in your own Cornish cottage, being the main prize.

Surf in the UK - Surf wear - Saltrock

Sorry we haven't posted a blog for the last couple of days we've been a little busy looking at new collections which hopefully might appear in He'e Nalu in the not too distant future. This will bring a full on retro feel to surfing in the Uk with traditional Surf Wear from Saltrock.
One of the brands that we have been looking at is Saltrock. They have a compact collection but it has a real sense of fun with characters such as the Running Man, some great VW dubster prints and some real old school surf logos for the guys. For the ladies they have a fresh look with a retro feel and altogether a beach ready collection so watch this space and we will keep you updated on the possible arrival of the winter collection.