Crest Podcast Ep59 - Christmas Special featuring RHINO

Who in Wales doesn't miss the Rhines? Of course, it was only a matter of time before Crest and Welsh Surfing legend James Rhino Thomas appeared on our bandwidth again - and this time it's from New Zealand, his new place of abode. Following a late arrival, as Rob had to finish his Cricket Club's AGM first, he and Tom ask Rhines about all the important things; how is the surf, what's the weather like, was John-John Florence really that good in real life? This is a great tale of ongoing adventure, and we're stoked to hear that the family's new set-up is going well. What better way to put together a Christmas episode than by talking to someone who's right in the best days of their summer? (Information about how to emigrate appears at the end of the show...)</p>Produced by James Dodd</p>Artwork by GS Design Co</p>Music Copyright James Dodd 2020</p>

01:04:39

Crest Podcast Ep58 - Welsh Surfing Federation 50-year Anniversary Edition

We formed this podcast to chat with legends, and here they are! To celebrate the WSF turning 50 this year, Crest has pulled together quite a guest list. Mark Vaughan and James Jones have joined Tom and Rob on the couch, alongside none other than Linda Sharp and Herbi aka Huw John. These guys pretty much <em>are </em>the WSF over the past few decades, and once again, Linda's encyclopedic knowledge of Welsh, European and World surf culture is as expansive as it gets. Flanked by the storytelling of Herbi, it's quite an experience to chat to the pair together. When we did a Surveymonkey of who'd you'd most like to hear from back in 2020, Herbi was one of the most suggested names. So, here it is. You want legends... We give you legends...</p>Produced by James Dodd</p>Music Copyright James Dodd 2023</p>Artwork by GS Design Co</p>

01:29:37

Crest Podcast Ep57 - Llywelyn 'Sponge' Williams

For most of Wales' sixty-plus years of surf culture, the idea we could have a world champion was beyond improbable. Not any more. Last winter, at Pismo Beach, California, Llywelyn 'Sponge' Williams broke the best record of them all - the first ever Welsh world surfing champion. This is an incredible tale, from the beaches and points of the Llŷn Peninsula to touring the world, and could it even one-day lead to an appearance at the Paralympics for this tiny surfing nation? Hear Llywelyn tell all in this moving interview with Tom and the WSF's Steve White.Produced by James Dodd & Tom AndersonArtwork by GS Design CoMusic Copyright James Dodd 2023</p>

01:00:33

Crest Podcast Ep56 - Yolanda Hopkins

Charger, style-master, Olympian and current European Number One... could there be a better start to our fourth season? On the morning of the final (Boardmasters), Tom and Millie Phillips sat down with the defending event champ, Portugal's rising star Yolanda Hopkins. Yolanda has been a popular figure on the QS in recent years, as well as qualifying for the Toyko Olympics in style. She has already more than made a mark against the biggest in the game - including beating Carissa Moore earlier this year as a WCT wildcard in Peniche. And did you know her mother was from <em>Bridgend</em>? Of course you did! This episode also includes an update on the Welsh and British surfers' QS situations at the end of the first four events of the European calendar.</p>Produced by James Dodd</p>Artwork by GS Design Co</p>Music Copyright James Dodd 2023</p>

00:38:04

Crest Podcast Ep55 - Welsh Nationals 2023

It's here! Season 4 is go, and it's kicking off with Rob and Tom's analysis of the 2023 Welsh. Held over the Mayday weekend, it turned into a real showcase of the state of Wales' surfing, and our presenters should know, having watched just about every heat as our team helped run the webcast with Camera Anchor (a.k.a. Craig Nicol). This full breakdown includes a comprehensive list of results, scores, anecdotes and interviews with Josie Hawke, Emily Williams, Patrick Langdon-Dark, Tom Fisher and Mark Vaughan.</p>Produced by James Dodd</p>Music Copyright James Dodd 2022</p>

00:55:46

Crest Podcast Ep54 - Christmas Special

The latest on Llewelyn 'Sponge' Williams' win at the World Games - a first in Welsh Surfing. Then we have a run-through with Producer Dodd and Tom of some of the last two seasons' guests' favourite memories of Christmas surfs. Plus, will there be a wave on Christmas Day? Or is it too early to tell...</p>Produced by James Dodd</p>Artwork by GS Design Co</p>Music Copyright James Dodd 2020</p>

00:25:32

Crest Podcast Ep53 - John Purton of JP Surfboards & goodbye Rhino!

The Season Three finale sees us chat to a very special person in Welsh and British surfing. John Purton has been shaping surfboards seriously for some half a century, and in that time has met, known and worked with some of the top athletes these shores have known. Involved from the first moments of the UK surf industry, we hear about the various labels JP has shaped under, and the characters and capers that have come along through a lifetime of surfing and shaping. As Rhino is moving to New Zealand, this episode doubles up as a special send-off for him - JP is one of the figures he has most wanted to sit down with for a podcast. To mark the special occasion, Camera Anchor Craig Nicol has worked with us to come up with a video edition if you're using YouTube. Thanks to all our 2022 listeners and see you again in Spring 2023!</p>Video Produced and Directed by Camera Anchor</p>Audio Episode Produced by James Dodd</p>Music Copyright James Dodd 2022</p>

01:37:18

Crest Podcast Ep52 - Hugo Tagholm

With more heat than ever on governments' approaches to clean oceans, sewage discharge, sustainability and plastic reduction, we catch up with one of the shining lights of surfing's ecological movements. Hugo Tagholm has decades of experience trying to hold power to account on behalf of the environment. Right as the SAS Safer Seas and Rivers app was in most headline bulletins for exposing the extent to which water companies actually use loopholes to pollute, Hugo spoke extenisvely with Rob and Tom (who'd also been asked to speak to the BBC the day before about the same story). Listen as Hugo reminisces about the history of the iconic organisation that is Surfers Against Sewage, his life in campaigning and what surfers can do to contribute to the crucial causes on which our oceans survival may depend. And, the question on every Welsh surfer's lips... when is the legendary Toxic Trophy contest making a comeback to Langland Bay?</p>Produced by James Dodd.</p>Artwork by GS Design Co.</p>Music Copyright James Dodd 2022.</p>

01:15:47

Crest Podcast Ep51 - Boardmasters Part Two: Groms & QS Update

In the second of Rob and Tom's dispatches while on WSL duty in Newquay, this is a celebration of a range of voices from the UK junior scene. During the Havianas Junior Open, beach marshall Tim Pitt let Crest run a pop-up interview station during Rounds One and Two of the boys' event, through which they managed to get the thoughts of a range of the competitors, including the eventual boys winner Jay Phipps and his father, shaper Mark Phipps. (The Havianas Junior Girls Open was won for the second year running by Gower's Alys Barton, who was interviewed as part of the live broadcast released last week.) Full list of interviewees are tagged in the Instagram post to accompany release. This episode also includes a studio-based update on how the Brits are standing in the European QS rankings after the 3000 event in Anglet, with the help of Logan Nicol, as well as a quick preview of his and others' upcoming trip to the Worlds in Huntington Beach later this month.</p>Produced by James Dodd & Tom Anderson</p>Artwork by GS Design Co</p>Music Copyright James Dodd 2022</p>Episode recorded with thanks to Tim Pitt, Pauly Jefferey and the rest of the Boardmasters directing team.</p>

00:44:25

Crest Podcast Ep50 - Boardmasters Part One: Live from the Booth

Having annoyed ears around Wales for decades, Rob and Tom were both fortunate to finally make their debuts as WSL rent-a-gobs last week at this year‘s Newquay Boardmasters Surfing Festival, after the event was given QS status again. A fitting fiftieth episode has emerged; a special Crest live which Rob did on Saturday afternoon, with the help of Callum Thomas, while the juniors were on hold for a few hours. This is a series of quickfire interviews which went out to the beach crowd, with a huge range of characters who were on hand in the competitors' area. We have simply uploaded the whole broadcast here, but if you want to pick out specific guests they are time-stamped in the show notes below. There will be another Boardmasters special to follow for September's First Tuesday's episode, featuring a huge list of UK juniors and a round-up of where the British Isles' surfers are sitting after the big three summer QS events. In the meantime, enjoy these candid chats with the following guests, for whose time we are eternally grateful:</p>Gearoid McDaid - 2:22</p>Sam Hearn - 8:45</p>Alys Barton - 16:29</p>Joel Gray - 22:24</p>Ben Skinner - 29:36</p>Lauren Sandland - 40:17</p>Mark Boyd - 45:41</p>Phil Williams - 52:27</p>PLD & Logan Nicol - 1,03:00</p>Kerry Powell - 1,16:18</p>Gabe Llewellyn - 1,23:28</p>Eva Blackford & Lila Skinner - 1,29:24</p>Tegan Blackford - 1,34:07</p>David Nankivell - 1,36:22</p>Produced by Tom Anderson & James Dodd</p>Artwork by GS Design Co</p>Music copyright James Dodd 2022</p>

01:42:16