So i’ve finally had a chance to get out and shoot some surfing at Freshwater Bay on the Isle of Wight again. Finally a chance to test out the Sigma 50-500mm telephoto lens in action. I got the lens with UK Surf photography in mind almost a year ago now, and I have barely had a chance to photograph any waves with it till the last few days!

Freshwater bay looked pretty bumpy and back-washy as the high tide pushed in. Far from ideal for surfing, but a talented bunch of locals, including Sam Scadgell, Chris Mannion and Tom Court made the best of the conditions available on the day, and it actually looks pretty good now that you cant see the close-outs and drop-ins.

As for the lens, well i wouldn’t be without it now, the extra reach that the 500mm gives me is invaluable and the focus is always more than fast enough to keep up with the surf action. The results are here for you to judge for yourself, i’m always open to feedback and criticism.

Surfing at Freshwater Bay, 1/11/2011 – Images by jason swain

But whereas on Monday at the bay we had big clean lines breaking nicely along the point for some pretty decent length rides, Tuesday 18th at Compton was mostly a story of close-outs as the sand-banks, or angle, or something, just couldn’t handle the long wavelengths of this particular swell (even though the waves themselves were only chest to shoulder high).

Still the takeoffs were fun, and every now and again I managed to grab a fast little section and escape the close-outs so no complaints about a surf session in the sun with only two other people out!

Thanks again to Paul Blackley for these pics, you can see all his other shots from the day, including a few of Dave Downer and Joe Truman here…. and read why we were both late to make the line up and paul was equipped with camera but no surf board.

http://wightsurfhistory.co.uk/compton-18th-jan-2011/

We had another nice clean day (pictured here below) on Sunday 3rd Jan 2011, the swell was a bit smaller, mostly waist to chest high, but with the very occasional head-high wave if you had the patience to sit our back and could bear the cold long enough.

It was also the day of the latest frost bite surfing comp organised by the Isle of Wight surf club, and my good friend Paul Blackley was taking pics after having a surf earlier that morning. You can see a set of Paul’s contest shots and read more about the contest here http://wightsurfhistory.co.uk/iow-surf-club-frost-bite-event-no-3/

I wasn’t in the comp, but Paul also grabbed a few of me on my big red longboard, including one of those choice set waves that made the whole thing worthwhile.

Then i thought i shouldn’t do it at all, as the site should remain pure and only deal with surfing and waves (i’ve never taken any ads or promos on the site, despite requests)

But in the end i thought it best just to come out with it, make it a shameless plug, its my site why not good wetsuits are a vital part of surfing in the UK, and the changes over the last 10-15 years mean you can probably have twice as much time in the water on a winters day, and thats when the best waves are here, so maybe a little discussion about suits wasn’t such a bad thing after all.

And this blog has another angle too, vanity, and perhaps its an angle a few people can relate to, pretending that the advancing years are having no effect and i can still fit into the same size suit as i did 15 years ago. I got seduced by all the hi-tec jargon for the new ‘pyschofreak’ winter suits, and i let my desire blind me to the fact that the one i was looking at was a size medium, and i’ve really been too big for a medium for a few years now.

The ebay listing is WAS full of all that technical gumpf that worked on me, describing the ‘state of the art’ technology making it the warmest suit ever made etc.. And the fact is, it is the warmest suit i’ve ever tried, i actually felt warm out there in it, and i tried it on two of the coldest days this winter, so i’m genuinely disappointed to be selling HAVE SOLD it, but i need to wear a large and wearing a suit thats too small isnt good for your back or you’re surfing so its gotHAD to go.

Find the best triathlon wetsuit for your most awaited triathlon tournament.