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.

Read part one here

The 14 images shown here, are taken from a sequence of 32 shots that took place over a period of 16 seconds (which was co-incidentally the same time that what was quoted as the wave-period for the swell that day).

Featuring the work of local photographers and surfers, Jason Swain and Paul Blackley, its the first event of the Wight Surf history Project, which aims to document and celebrate 50 years of surfing on the Isle of Wight.

We got the go-ahead for this project on Tuesday, the exhibition starts Friday, nothing like a bit of last minute pressure to get you focused! (at the same time as HAVING to play in the snow and go surfing

So, i’d like to invite all my friends from all over the world to the exhibition, please put your RSVP in the comment box below and i will arrange first class flights and travel from anywhere (please note, that is a big lie, and i wont really do anything of the sort, but you are more than welcome to come under your own steam).

And if you’re that way inclined, please feel free to blog or tweet or facebook this and help publicise the event.

Cheers
Jason

Surf photography exhibition