Now that summer's nearly here anybody a really keen and regular swimmer in the sea/ surf with waist length hair or longer ? How do you tie your hair up securely given the force of the breakers as I'd like to get my old surfboard out again this year ? 

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Thanks - oiling and braiding sounds the best, though even on a small 4 or 5 footer the force underwater when you fall off is still pretty strong as you get pulled every which way imaginable. And just how anyone can survive after falling off, then going over the falls again on those monstrous 30/ 40 foot winter waves in Hawaii.... It's too frightening to even think about - sheer suicidal lunacy !!

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Oh wow yes definitely we do get waves as well !!   Ever since the mid fifties in fact. It’s incredibly popular these days though, especially in the South West of England in Cornwall just the same as in Oz and the US !   And as the whole of the west coast of England, Wales and Scotland is on the Atlantic too obviously we get the whole lot ! Really violent storms and enormous waves sometimes ! A lot of World championship rounds have been held here for years during the summer months too, and as fortunately I'm only about an hour's drive or so from several good surf spots I'm not complaining either !  

This will give you some idea !   Click on the very detailed surf map of west Cornwall, not bad eh ?  

http://images.google.co.uk/images?hl=en&q=surfing+cornwall&btnG=Search+Images&gb...

It’s been my top favourite sport of all since the ahem early seventies (at least you weren’t elbowed off waves so often !), all mostly on 8’6’ish boards. Apart from mid summer yes the waters are a lot colder so wetsuits are usually essential, yet some of the locals are so keen it’s a year round sport ! I’ve seen people out surfing some really classic waves when it’s been snowing ! It’s the same in west Scotland too where the wind chill must be even worse !

The best time of all for me was when I was living in Durban, South Africa in 1979 (when bleached long hair was very much a part of the beach scene !), as I was able to spend 6 month’s surfing almost every day non-stop ! I even started one unforgettable long ride towards the beach and sea road just as the sun set finishing it in the dark by the light of the street lamps !!

The ultimate though was one fabulous mind blowing 10 day trip of a lifetime to the renowned Jeffrey’s Bay at the tip of the Cape. Clear warm waters and 2/ 3 minute long rights though the coral was razor sharp and lethal ! Hanging ten and three or four long tube rides on top are memories I will always treasure !

Yes I remember reading "Surfer" and a lot of very, very scary stuff about the winter surf in Hawaii (off Maui or Oahu ?), but I’m out of touch with it all these days. I certainly didn’t know they now take helicopters out to the really big waves !! Lunacy ! The fatalities must be even worse than before when they just used to paddle out !  

You a boarder too ?  

Then there's the Celtic history sides to Cornwall as a bonus !

http://www.caradon.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=2115

Sounds like once you've had your first ride to shore without falling off you'll be just as hooked as I still am !  

I think an awful lot of people in North and S. America must have some Celtic blood in them too judging, if you're interested by the excellent detailed article below. I know my great grandmother was from a very old Irish family and I gather Cornwall was also in there somewhere as well. Perhaps why I suppose I like Pantheism so much !  

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celtic_nations

Entering Celtic Cornwall and Celts Cornwall into Google is quite rewarding as Cornwall was one of their main strongholds.

(I wonder how the vicar explained it all to the Bishop !)