Harbour Sports Blog

The Bilingual Bastian Meyer!

2012-02-13T07:20:00.002-08:00

My trip to Torquay

Written by Bastian Meyer

After a very good breakfast on Sunday morning (05.02.2012) I left my home village and drove to the Hannover airport. The ride lasted on hour. Arrived at the airport, my first task was to get my tickets “Air France; Hannover – Paris – London” stamped on them, so we had a short stop in Paris. Both flights were very good; comfortable, quiet and very acceptable. But before we left Germany, we drank a last cold beer, and that was very delicious!

Kevin, the small one with a bald head, was waiting for us (me and my room member) to bring us to our host families. After a five hour trip we arrived in Torquay and he brought us to our host family. A small woman was waiting for us and she welcomed us warmly.

Without enough energy we simply fell into bed and slept till 9 o clock next morning.

My weekly schedule looks like this:

Monday: work at Harbour Sports
Tuesday: work at Harbour Sports
Wednesday: work at Harbour Sports
Thursday: English conversation at the partnership school (The Training Partnership)
Friday: work at Harbour Sports

Last weekend we visited a karaoke bar and the “Mambo”, the Torquay disco.
It was very funny and we had a lot of fun! Most off the English people are very friendly!
On Sunday, we visited the Dartmoor and it was amazing. One has a fantastic outlook over the moor.
In my opinion the next two weeks were just as good as the last. Hopefully!

My work placement, Harbour Sports, is a water sports store with three locations; Plymouth, Paignton and Exeter.
I am very happy to work here, because in my free time I like sports; football and tennis. The first day was very interesting; Kerrie and Chris made me feel very welcome. They gave me an introduction in the store and how the business works. They showed me all the things that will be important for the next two weeks. I had an interesting walk with Frank Sobey , a director of Harbour Sports, around Roundham Head and he told me some facts about Brixham, Paignton and Torquay.
I think I'm going to spend very good few weeks at Harbour Sports.

Meine Tage im Torquay

Geschrieben von Bastian Meyer

Es ist Sonntag 13:00 Uhr und mein Auto, zum Hannover Flughafen, erwartet mich in meiner Heimatstadt Holzminden. Die Fahrt dauerte eine Stunde. Angekommen am Flughafen mussten wir unsere Flugtickets holen. “Air France; Hannover- Paris- London Heathrow” war auf dem Ticket geschrieben. Kurz vor der Abreise haben wir uns noch ein kuehles deutsches Bier gegoennt, wechles fantastisch geschmeckt hat.
Die Fluege ( Hannover – Paris / Paris – London ) waren sehr angenehm und es gab keine groesseren Probleme.
Kevin, ein kleiner Mann mit einer Glatze, erwartete uns (mich und meinen Zimmernachbarn) schon, um uns zu unseren Gasteltern zu bringen. Nach einer 5 stuendigen Fahrt, von London nach Torquay, waren wir endlich angekommen und unsere Gastmutter begruesste uns sehr freundlich. Voellig geschafftt von dem langen Trip bin ich nur ins Bett gefallen und hatte eine hervorragende Nacht auf englischem Boden.
Der Wochenplan in England sieht wie folgt aus:
Montag: Arbeiten bei Harbour Sports
Dienstag: Arbeiten bei Harbour Sports
Mittwoch: Arbeiten bei Harbour Sports
Donnerstag: Englischunterricht, danach eine Gruppenaktion
Freitag: Arbeiten bei Harbour Sports
Samstag und Sonntag frei

Am Wochenende haben wir eine Karaokebar besucht und das Mambo, eine Disco in Torquay unsicher gemacht. Sonntag ging es in das Dartmoor, um eine 2 stuendige Wanderung zu machen. Sehr anstrengend, aber hat sich gelohnt, da man einen fantastischen Blick ueber das Moor hatte! Ich denke die naechsten 2 Wochen werdem genauso so gut wie die letzte Woche und ich werde auf alle Faelle meinen Aufenthalt hier in Torquay noch geniessen!

Harbour Sports, ein Wassersportladen, der seit 1977 besteht und von Frank Sobey und Julian Smith gegruendet wurde. 3 Geschaefte bestehen : Plymouth , Paignton und Exeter.
Ich bin sehr froh, dass ich bei Harbour Sports arbeiten darf, da ich auch in der Freizeit eine Menge mit Sport zu tun habe ( Fussball und Tennis). Der erste Tag war grossartig: ich wurde so aufgenommen, als ob ich nicht den ersten Arbeitstag hatte, sondern so, als ob ich schon 10 Jahre Angestellter war. Ein gute Einleitung bekommen und mir wurde gleich alles gezeigt, was fuer 2 Wochen wichtig ist. Kerrie und Chris, zwei Angestellte haben mir den Tag ueber die Aufgaben von HS erklaert. Frank Sobey, der Chef, ging mit mir in der Mittagspause eine kleine Runde, um etwas ueber die Gegend zu erzaehlen. Sehr interessant!
Ich bin gespannt, wie die naechsten Tage warden, doch ich glaube es warden sehr gute Tage in Torquay bei Harbour Sports!

Bastian Meyer

Shiver me timbers!

2012-02-02T05:07:00.000-08:00

East wind brings surf into Torbay and the coast is dotted with surfers paddling out against the rolling sea. But the water is cold and the wind even colder having started life in the frozen winter heartland of Europe.

BUT the technology today takes the sting out of splashing through the waves. Winter wetsuits offer protection, flexibility and style. A decent hood is a guard against the shocking ice cream head, gloves save icicle shaped fingers and toes remain toasty in split toe boots.

Get out there and live the life……oh-ahrrrrrr

Coralie. The Hotel and English Riviera TV

2012-01-13T04:01:00.000-08:00

Sometimes those moments of silliness can produce outstanding results. Take the other morning for example. Coralie Blanc (19) started a three week work placement, via The Training Partnership, at Harbour Sports Paignton.

At the same time John Reynolds of English Riviera TV happened to be filming around the harbour. If you have not logged on to http://www.englishriviera.tv/ then I suggest you do since they have been tracking the stars of the Channel 4 Sunday evening series called The Hotel.

The Hotel is a reality TV series of eight programmes based at Torquay’s Grosvenor Hotel in Belgrave Road. It’s very funny and very over the top. Mr Tickle tickled me! What a free publicity boost for Torbay and the English Riviera!

So John happened past the shop and stopped for a chat. He had a camera and I had Coralie! Suddenly Coralie was answering my silly questions about Harbour Sports in a sort of slapstick few minutes of madness in front of the camera.

The video that resulted is listed ended up all over the place and made people laugh. Sometimes the most amusing things pop up unexpectedly and bring a smile. I guess it is all about living the life!

You can see the video on English Riviera tv!

frank

Channel 4 Fat Fighters Episode One....

2012-01-04T03:00:00.000-08:00

You have to laugh! No sooner had went sent out our last blog saying how much fun sit on kayaks cans be and what a great way to keep fit when CHANNEL 4 broadcast the first episode FAT FIGHTERS last night.

This hour long programme featured local Torquay girl Sharon and the day she came kayaking at Harbour Sports with personal trainer Dan 'Action Man' Corbett!

Great shots of our shop and excellent on the water stuff which really shows how much fun it all is. Harbour Sports kayaker Ali Glenning provided safety cover although we don't get to see him because Channel 4 kept him out of camera! Moment of glory lost for Ali!

One thing that is very clear in the programme is how easy it is to put on weight by simply stuffing junk food and taking too little exercise.

Come on, get out there and paddle!

You can watch the episode on 4oD........

2012...get up and do something for goodness sake

2012-01-01T08:49:00.000-08:00

Well here we are in 2012 scratching and sucking after the Christmas and New Year festivities! As the world bumps from wall to wall you have to wonder what the future holds for all of us. But pointlessly staring into space isn't the answer at all.

Our little Harbour Sports strap line is LIVE THE LIFE! Like so many these days that isn't quite so easy as it used to be, but we can all make a difference. It really is simply a question as to whether we really want to make the effort or just sit in a hopeless heap letting image after image pass before us as we surf the web in a sort of voyeuristic stupor.

How about starting the year on a kayak? Take the little Bic Ouassou for example. This fun boat will let you drift around the coast, ride waves on the beach or keep you company as you belt down river white water. 2012 and a super way to keep fit. If you can walk in a straight line then you can use one of these fun kayaks. Our prices are good and the Harbour Sports folk will help you to get the very best out for your craft with a mass of local knowledge. Yes that's right local knowledge! Free local delivery also! How good is that? If you are worried about whether this is the kayak for you then come to Paignton and try one. But you will need your wetsuit at this time of year.

By the way, talking about wetuits we now have a stack of really cheap Gul sample suits in all three shops (Plymouth, Paignton and Exeter). Come on, make the effort and LIVE THE LIFE WITH HARBOUR SPORTS IN 2012!!f

£10 for free!!!

2011-12-13T04:28:00.000-08:00

Less than two weeks till Christmas... time to get shopping! Spend £50 on one present and get a free £10 voucher to put towards another!!

Get your skates on and visit the harbour sports Christmas grotto.

All you need to do is pass through the seven levels of the Candy Cane Forest... Then go past the sea of twirly, swirly gumdrops (Paignton Harbour) and then whats that shining beacon of light? Yes Harbour Sports at last...

written by elf (AKA Al)

Has Santa Clause visited Harbour Sports early this Year...

2011-12-08T04:13:00.000-08:00

With Brand New Blazer and Saltrock scooters, accessories, DC clothes, shoes and ski wear arriving at Harbour Sports you would be asking 'has Santa Clause visited us early this year?' Well YES! With Christmas only a few weeks away Santa's little helpers at the Harbour sports shops have been busy making sure all Santa's gifts are hear for you to pick up and wrap this Christmas.

We have everything you need from them little stocking fillers to that special gift! Winter 2011 needn't be so chilly with a whole load of DC clothing and shoes for Youth and Adults.

Save the endless searching for that perfect gift when everything you need for gift ideas are right here. We think you would be hard pressed to find more variety in scooters and accessories anywhere this Christmas time. Not to mention with all this ice and snow on the way ensure you have your bum sled and all your protective gear to save any tears this Christmas.

So why not come down and visit us here at the Harbour Sports christmas groto and turn dreaded Christmas shopping into a magical sleigh ride!

Written by Ali G aka Santa's Little Helper....

Torbay - taste the sea air....

2011-11-01T05:27:00.000-07:00

Too often, in our increasingly virtual world, we simply miss the taste of adventure. Oh yes, there is a thrill in twiddling both thumbs rapidly and apparently jumping and pumping from a Black Hawk helicopter whilst unfriendly natives narrowly miss your camouflaged head with an assortment of nasty missiles! But in reality you are still slumped in the chair in a darkened room all alone covered in sweat.

The other evening if you happened to be looking out over Torbay from the lounge at the Redcliffe hotel as darkness started to spread across the water, you will have noticed two Harbour Sports paddlers quietly making their way along the shore in a bright yellow Bic Tobago kayak! Through an open window you would have been able to hear the gentle splash of water as they cut through the silky sea.

What you will not have known is that one of the two had been part of a Channel 4 filming session the day before and was still living the life.

But stand back you harbingers of doom already crying out “Kayaking in the dark! Are they mad?”, or “Goodness me that sounds very dangerous! What happens if they get into trouble?”

Well there you have it. It is the taste for adventure that too often is missing these days and we try to make everything super safe. Oh yes, care must be taken but the joy of paddling along a beautiful as dusk falls, the sparkling strings of light burst into life and the glorious smell of freshly cooked food drifts out across the sea.

Live the life.

GERMAN CHOCOLATE....YUMMY

2011-09-09T04:32:00.000-07:00

Story published recently online in "thisissouthdevon"..... (Tuesday, September 06, 2011 Harbour Sports Ltd).

Florian Bippus (21) from Ninzen in Germany is joining Harbour Sports Paignton for a month as a business intern. Ninzen is a town near Freiburg and, according to Florian, is famous for its delicious chocolate. Florian's first job was to present shop manager Kerrie (aka Sister Agnes) Waller (26) with a bumper bucket of chocolate! Florian is studying in Germany to become an industrial salesman and says that his main interest is football.

Harbour Sports work with the Training Partnership in Torquay in providing work placements for foreign students. "Having these students here is so good for the business and they really lift the spirit!", says Kerrie. Harbour Sports have shops in Paignton, Plymouth and Exeter. The Training Partnership is based at the Torquay Innovation Centre in the Torquay.

Requiem for a holiday resort: Torbay 2011.

2011-08-29T06:34:00.000-07:00

Well there you have it, another dismal summer weather-wise and a body blow for our battered tourist industry. Do you know, although doubtless some dysfunctional statistician will find the exception, the last really hot month was April 2007. Now I mean hot rather than warm, the sort of heat that has you horizontal in no time at all and not the occasion warm day.

Of course poor weather makes any holiday location dismal and as singer song writer Chris de Burgh wisely said, “There is nothing quite so sad as a holiday resort in the rain.”

But it is more than that. Getting back to the basics is essential and that has to start with whether we here in Torbay really want a tourist industry! Notice the word Torbay. At one time it was simply a case of three towns; Torquay, Paignton and Brixham (soon to become Tesco-By-The-Sea!). That morphed into Torbay and was marketed under the English Riviera banner.

That lasted for a while before being re-branded as simple the English Riviera. Even the English Riviera Centre became the RICC (I’ll leave you to add the words). During that time we had the traditional running battle between assorted hoteliers, attraction owners and others, which really wasn’t helpful. That’s the trouble with clutching at straws.

This year the re-branding boys and girls have been at it again! Yes, we’re back on track with the name English Riviera / Agatha’s Riviera with a newly commissioned (commissioning is seen by some as a little like the proverbial washing of hands) tourist company. That got off to a publicity hungry start but soon bumped into the new mayor and talk of amalgamation between the board and the conference centre (RICC).

Now whilst we are crashing about the questioned has to be asked about the welcome for visitors. Take Paignton harbour as an example. We seem to have an increasing proliferation of prohibition notices, parking restrictions and now the possible idiotic advent of parking meters. I guess what I am getting at is the curious landscape of one sector of the council saying come and have a good time other departments work against that.

For many local businesses this winter will really be a time of seeing darkness at the end of the tunnel and if we are really to make a difference that there is a real and urgent need to get the whole town on board as to what Torbay/ the English Riviera/ Agatha’s Riviera is all about. That requires something more than unhelpful rhetoric and political infighting.

The thing is that unless we wake up and decide whether we want a tourist economy, in these hard economic times, then it is going to slip away whilst we sleepwalk into terminal decline. Let’s stop the dreaming and get on with the here and now. We need to celebrate what we have and either use it or lose it.

The photograph was taken on August Ban Holiday Monday 2011

frank sobey

The Rising Coastline...

2011-08-21T03:10:00.000-07:00

You probably will not hear about it on the local news and indeed if you happen to be standing on the South Devon Coast the fact that the land is an inch or so higher will, I doubt, have caught your attention. Yet it is a fact and so here is the hard evidence.

You see it is simply the absence of the combined weight of people and cars! On Saturday as I drove back after a morning at Harbour Sports Exeter the queuing traffic heading out of Devon was stunning. Where the A30 meets the M5 long lines of steaming cars tailed back toward Okehampton and static traffic clogged both Telegraph and Haldon Hill. Heading down the Kingskerwell Road at 40mph, passing slow moving vehicles solidly heading out of the English Riviera. Now you will understand why the land is a little higher!

YET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Today Torbay has coast to coast sailing because this weekend is the combined Torbay Regatta sailing event and craft of all shapes and sizes compete in the various races. The water is flat and already numerous sit on kayaks explore the coastline discovering little coves that cannot be reached from the shore.

Harbour Sports Plymouth is buzzing as the Barbican springs into life greeting tourists and yachtsmen from all over the world. The spectacular news is that after a tediously damaging summer Wales and West Utilities have at last up sticks and the BARBICAN IS ONCE AGAIN FULLY OPEN TO TRAFFIC. Amen to that…..

This is an interesting time at Harbour Sports Exeter because the huge influx of students has yet to arrive and there is a curious quietness about the town. Sunday is a good time for us because many shops are closed and so we have become a destination hot spot. We have a good reputation for action sports that range from longboard skates to longboard surfboards.
So it’s time to drag yourself from the television and endless cyber surfing. Get up, get out and live the life.

Frank Sobey

Plymouth Road Rage in video

2011-08-02T05:24:00.000-07:00

You might have already read the bit below about the annoying traffic situation in Plymouth and around the Barbican specifically. Well the rant continues, but this time in video and if you have a smart phone then scan the QR code and take a look. If you don't have a smart phone simply follow the http:// below the QR code.......frank

Summer on the English Riviera

2011-07-31T03:24:00.000-07:00

The English Riviera at 11am on Sunday the 31st August as viewed from Paignton Harbour! It’s the very height of summer but where are the tourists, where are the boating people, the swimmers, the children splashing around on the beaches? I hear the constant institutional rhetoric about the boom in tourism, the anticipated thousands home holidaying families and here is the evidence. This beautiful harbour, this stunning coastline, this lovely bay, these miles of open beaches and coastal walks….and yet?

What I find a little curious; well more than a little curious is the gap between what is said and what is actually happening. You can print whatever you like but unless you capture the hearts and minds very little will change. Too much of what we hear is about what we will do rather than what we are doing. Harnessing new information technology rather than printing endless brochures might be a good start. But hey, what do I know? What I do know is the gap between myth and reality.

The biggest factor, of course, is weather and after five poor summers in a row that isn’t too hard to understand. Yet last week, the first of the school summer holidays, the weather was warm and sunny but the beaches were quiet. The second huge factor is the reality of a local welcome. Take this harbour as an example where the proliferation of notices telling folk what they can’t do has become endemic. New fences now solve a problem that we never had and the road surface is covered with white, yellow and red lines! The master mariner harbour masters of a former time would spin in their watery graves. Added to that is the cost of parking and I am still the lonely advocate of first hour free parking.

He travels on……simply wanted to say that the water is fine so come and play…….frank

Black comedy and comic farce…………………….Plymouth Summer 2011

2011-07-28T04:06:00.000-07:00

You really would be hard pressed to write a script that had major roads in a city closed or restricted for long periods of time, but in Plymouth we have produced a demonic comedy or epic proportions. It started with the closing of Gadynia Way, the eastern arterial route into Plymouth, over a year ago. Since then we have had a proliferation of traffic cones, massive traffic queues, neighbourhoods shattered by new rat runs as motorists become suicidal attempting to get in and out of the city, diversions and goodness knows what else.

This dysfunctional landscape is with us still offering little hope of a reprieve in the immediate future.

Showing the strategic reasoning of a small child on Christmas Day, Plymouth then allowed a utility company to dig thumping great trenches on the eastern approaches, closing road after road! This, it seems, is essential work to provide us with natural gas for the next sixty years. It is nice to know that those lovely Russian businessmen will be pumping the stuff into Plymouth for years to come.

As I say, you couldn’t make it up.

Now consider this. We employ highly paid local government executives to think strategically, to promote Plymouth as a tourist attraction and to encourage business. But for many visitors this would be their one and only visit to Plymouth having spent pointless hours queuing whilst listening to meaningless traffic reports on the radio.

Perhaps Plymouth’s best known tourist hot spot is the historic Barbican, where I have a shop on the Parade. Yesterday I eventually managed to drive there after queuing, nipping down various side streets and pausing to read the road closed/access only signs. The Barbican, on this hot sunny afternoon, was almost empty. The numerous eateries had a far too many empty seats with staff staring into space and wondering whether, for them, the outcome would be a P45. Hopeless.

But like the proverbial frog we all seem to be being gently heated until we become so lethargic we simply sink beneath the troubled economic waters having been beaten to death by institutional stupidity.

Frank Sobey

SUMMERTIME - WHEN THE LIVING IS EASY

2011-07-25T05:52:00.000-07:00

Well here we are at the start of the school summer holidays, the sun is high in the clear blue sky and a warm wind is blowing over the ocean. This is the time for getting out there and living the life. Drag yourself away from the computer, leave the safety of the television and get out on the water. There is no age limit, so sexual bias, no religious requirement and open to all ethnic groups. You can do whatever you want from messing around on a boogie board to scrambling in and out of the sea coasteering!

Perhaps the most popular activity at the moment is kayaking on a sit on kayak! Super safe and so easy to use. Traditional kayaks tend to have you balancing like a pea on a a knife with your legs inside the kayak. But a sit on kayak has you sitting on top with your legs tanning in the afternoon sun. How good is that? Whether you seek the open sea of quiet hidden creeks, a sit on kayak will bring you hours and hours of fun.

Kayaks are available on managers special deals in all our shops and if you are in Paignton we actually hire them from the shop at low low prices. For a single kayak it is only £25 a day and for a double it is only £40! Now that has to be fantastic value.

Come and play...............................

Open Roads

2011-05-29T01:46:00.001-07:00

Our last blog was a bit of a rant about the gridlock around Plymouth's Barbican and the fact that to get to HARBOUR SPORTS PLYMOUTH was almost impossible. For us it was another case of 'who cares about the little guys' as a huge utility company crunched through Plymouth. Added to the chaos that has been rampant for the past year on Gadynia Way (the bit just after the Embankment) we were feeling unloved. You do have to question Plymouth Council's strategic planning perhaps.

Anyway last Sunday Frank popped down to the Barbican for a BBC Spotlight interview with Simon Alexander. That went out at teatime and again in the late evening. The following morning folk from the utility company called to see Andy Partridge (our Plymouth manager) to say all would be well.......................AND IT IS.

THE BARBICAN IS UP AND RUNNING and the way to HARBOUR SPORTS PLYMOUTH IS CLEAR........

All a coincidence probably but the outcome is lovely....

frank

The Gridlock That Is Plymouth

2011-05-18T09:26:00.000-07:00

What is happening on the Barbican at the moment is like something out of Yes Minister! Well to be truthful it would be a little too far fetched for comedy, although having said that it might work as black comedy.

So last Sunday I am in a van attempting to deliver stock to Harbour Sports on Barbican Parade. I say attempting because the road to the west is blocked by a huge hole dug to accommodate the new gas pipeline. The road to the east is blocked by another whopping great hole and the only way to reach The Parade is a jig trough the backstreets, squeezing past parked cars and worried looking pedestrians avoiding ruthless wing mirrors.

Phone calls about this roadblock to the pipe layers asking how long this is going take receive the usual response from battered call centre staff, which not only leaves Harbour Sports physically isolated but also psychologically scarred by stress.

Business has almost stopped with little hope of anything meaningful being achieved until the gas pipe laying crew eventually drift aimlessly off to a new location. Two weeks they said it would take and that is now long past with little sign of anything meaningful happening. The signs near the big hole say Barbican Business As Usual. Ha. No it’s not.

All this whilst still suffering the gymnastic road works on Gadynia Way which cause daily misery! One day traffic will run freely again to and from town perhaps or simply gridlock.

They say that the new gas pipe will last for eighty years, which is likely to be seventy years longer than the gas supply!

Meanwhile we continue to spend hundreds of thousands encouraging people to visit Plymouth – which for many will be their first and last trip after spending pointless hours in queuing static traffic.

Tapestry.

Frank

Springing.....

2011-04-04T09:06:00.000-07:00

It’s a strange old world these days and every time you turn around nothing seems quite the same. We’ve been at this game for over thirty years, teaching sailing, teaching windsurfing, yacht charter, retailing, mail order stuff and all sorts of stuff in between. In that time we’ve seen folk come and we’ve seem them go, yet nothing quite compares with the topsy-turvy world today. The Grim Reaper seems to have cut deeply into the High Street, leaving retailers bleeding on the pavement and too many shops boarded up. A whole new sad meaning to the phrase board sport! Well, we are still here and toughing it out. The thing is that we have the most fantastic staff and as we often demonstrate our people don’t just walk the walk and talk the talk, they really do live the life! We still believe that when you call and see us you take away more than something purchased, you also share in our life. At least we rather hope that is how you feel. Over the past couple of weeks we’ve had some great stuff arrive. The new ANIMAL summer clothing is a dream as is the Quiksilver and Old Guys. Perhaps that is one of the special things about Harbour Sports, the fact that we are not ‘married’ to one brand and that things constantly change. The daylight hours are longer now and already people have started splashing about, skating the streets or simply just hanging loose. Why not come and join them! frank

LIVING THE LIFE

2011-02-22T09:39:00.001-08:00

As you know we have three shops, all in wonderful places and staffed by lovely people. In these troubled time we try to make your visits to the shops as pleasurable as we can. The nice thing is that most of our customers are people with a story to tell and also generate energy as they move around. Why on earth should we walk around with a face like a slapped kipper? Yet people do and that simply isn’t fair is it?

So here is the message: come and see us and smile! Positive energy is what we all need to share, so let’s share! Don’t be beaten down by the harbingers of doom. Get up and go!!!!! Lots of new stuff arriving now and at the moment we are still offering 25% off all ladies clothing and 25% off all shoes! That should raise a smile.

The picture at the top of this blog is taken by Exeter staffer Pete Buxton and takes you to a very vibrant Harbour Sports Exeter. We’ve just sent a copy of this photograph to John Harvey, the Exeter City Centre Manager, in the hope that (a) it will show that there is life in Exeter’s Western Quarter, and (b) that he may want to use this lovely photograph for Exeter promotional stuff.

……………..and the other good news? The days are getting longer and the dawn chorus starts before six!

PARKING : FIRST HOUR FREE

2011-02-11T09:38:00.001-08:00

A headline in a local South Devon paper caught my eye this week. Traders urged: ‘Vote yes to BID scheme.’ Apparently hundreds of ballot papers have been sent to businesses in Paignton asking them to vote YES for Paignton Business Improvement District matched funding.

BID schemes have been popping up all over the place in response to the deterioration of town centres and the increasing number of boarded up empty shops. The BID schemes require businesses to contribute toward the improvements which then attracts government funding.

Two thoughts come immediately to mind.

The first is the question whether in point of fact we are all, as they say, singing from the same hymn sheet since last summer we had one part of our local council making people welcome and another part making them unwelcome. The photograph at the top of this blog partly makes the point.

The second thought seems, to me, a blindingly obvious way of attracting people back into the town centres in the hope of generating community focused local shopping. MAKE THE FIRST HOUR OF PARKING FREE. All motorists would need to do is print a one hour ticket from the parking meter which would give them a little latitude when shopping, visiting the bank, nipping into the local church for a bit of quiet meditation and generally making contact with the local population.

You can do what you like to beautify the landscape but if the town isn’t car friendly people will automatically drift the out of town cathedrals of consumerism where ample parking is provided with a convenient shopping trolley to prop visitors up as they shuffle around the aisles dazed by the lights and mindless music.

Please spread the word! Support your local community and push for FIRST HOUR FREE PARKING in Devon town centres.

frank

2011-01-19T03:21:00.000-08:00

Amelie Duvinage (20) is spending four weeks at Harbour Sports Paignton as a business intern. Amelie is studying commerce at the Lycee Carrell in Lyon, France and her placement has been arranged by the Training Partnership in Torquay. Here is what Amelie has to say..........................................

"J’ai commencé mon stage à Harbour Sports le 10 Janvier 2011, l’équipe fut tout de suite très sympa, l’ambiance y est chaleureuse. Comme en France il y a des similitudes, tous les matins c’est la meme chose. Néanmoins les clients sont plus sympa ici en Angleterre, moins renfermés sur eux, malgres le temps qui n’est pas très joyeux. Beaucoup de pluie mais on prend vite l’habitude. Mon chez moi me manque mais je suis contente d’être ici, c’est une super experience."

"I began my training course at Harbour Sports on January 10th 2011 and found a welcoming atmosphere and nice people who made me feel at home immediately. There are similarities with the start of the day in France however the customers seem much nicer here in England and much more communicative despite the difficult economic times. It has been raining much of the time but I soon got used to it. Although I miss home I am enjoying my time here and it really is a great experience."

Amelie x

2011-01-14T13:39:00.000-08:00

It is a curious thing how good intentions slip past without us really noticing. That passing of time became apparent when I looked at the date of our last blog! Well we are still bobbing along on the stormy retail waters and living the life. But goodness me these are troubled times. It’s not just the economic mess that has buffeted us. We’ve had four bad summers, a confused retail market, increasing numbers of people living their lives in a virtual world and then the cold north wind before Christmas that brought the UK to its knees.

Well having said all that we are still working to provide the best possible kit at competitive prices and at the moment have 25% off ALL shoes and ladies clothing. Some of our newer lines have been so successful and include OLD GUYS RULE and the new TUCAGUA winter ranges (warm clothing from Nepal).
We had great fun with Facebook and really enjoy daily updates plus of course the occasion tweet on Twitter.
We will be floor painting at Harbour Sports Paignton this weekend which means that we will be closed this Sunday and next.
The days are already getting longer and it really is time that hibernation stopped……come on- LIVE THE LIFE!!!

Colder days and other places

2010-11-11T08:50:00.000-08:00

New Zealand air.

Over the past few weeks we seem to have been unpacking box after box of ski clothing and accessories which means that all three of our shops are ready for action. Bolle helmets and goggles are already selling well as folk gather odds and ends together as ski Christmas presents. We've always, well almost always, kept clear of skis and boots but have loads of socks, gloves, creams, sunglasses, hats, caps, jackets etc. The photograph above is of one of our globe trotting team who is getting a little air in New Zealand.

The other thing that is worth mentioning is the new winter range of Tucagua clothing. This very warm rough looking clothing is made in Nepal and is so different from anything else around. Once you've worn one you will always been a Tucagua fan.

South Devon, like the rest of the country, has taken a battering today from the strong Atlantic winds and many ships are 'hiding' in Plymouth Sound and Torbay. The Channel is not a nice place to be and someone said that most of the ferries have remained in harbour rather than subjecting their passengers to a hammering from huge seas.

Oh well, that's enough. Off to light a fire and snuggle down for the evening.........

Cold clear days......

2010-10-16T09:14:00.001-07:00

I guess that today has been the first really cool day since the summer with a crystal clear blue sky and little or no wind. It's a time to keep warm as Esme demonstrates in the photograph! Of course as our new government reduces spending, cuts jobs and generally sucks the joy out of life it really is a time to keep warm and guard against the utility folk getting ready to yet again lift the cost of fuel. So keep the heating down and the personal insulation up with kit that doesn't just look the part but actually does the job. frank.

Guy Shepherd and paddle friends...

2010-09-23T02:07:00.001-07:00

This message arrived from Adele Matthews of the Lymphoma Association......"On behalf of the Lymphoma Association I would like to thank you for the help you gave to Guy Shepherd, Ian Travis and Dave Roberts by lending a paddle to Dave to enable him to complete his kayak challenge. The guys did brilliantly and have raised over £1000 for the Lymphoma Association which will enable us to further extend the services by those affected by Lymphoma cancer."

Guy Shepherd worked at Harbour Sports Paignton a little while ago before heading off to pastures new, which seems to include regular surf trips to foreign parts. Well done for doing this event Guy!

For more information ring Freephone 0808 808 5555 http://www.lymphomas.org.uk/

Foghorns in the mist.........

2010-06-27T03:11:00.000-07:00

It's hot today and they say that the high may reach 30! Looking at the picture taken just after 11.00hrs on Sunday 27th June, you would expect the harbour at Paignton to be packed. But it's not! Where is the long queue of boats waiting to launch on the high tide, where are the family groups heading out to sea? It's quiet. Too quiet and the only sound is the deep thundering foghorns from the many tankers at anchor and now hidden from view by a sea mist that is so typical of these sunny days where the sun beats down on cool water.

This of course is a Sunday like no other as in far away South Africa the England Soccer team ready themselves to face Germany in the World Cup! Everyone appears to be captivated by the occasion and you can taste the excitement in the air.

Needless to say all our shops will be open but all our folk will be tuned in!

Now, about those foghorns! Have you ever been in sea mist? It is the most gripping experience as the world disappears,the cold imposes a very special loneliness and a feeling of vulnerability. The sound of a big foghorn blasting not far from your position is a fantastic cure for constipation! Enjoy the sun. frank sobey

HARBOUR SPORTS AND THE KUCCIA CATWALK

2010-05-12T03:04:00.000-07:00

As part of the GREAT OUTDOORS EXHIBITION at the RIVIERA CENTRE on May 30th and 31st we will be joining forces with KUCCIA to show some of the stunning designs that make Soraya styles so very different from anything else out there! We love this stuff and it is fast becoming one of the most successful things that we play with. The energy in every garment will lift you to another place, a better place, a lovely place - where the sun shines and people smile with joy. Come and join us 'Live the Life'!!!!
frank sobey

Harbour Sports is the headline sponsor!

2010-04-21T03:07:00.000-07:00

The Great Outdoors Exhibition

Start Time:
Sunday, 30 May 2010 at 10:00
End Time:
Monday, 31 May 2010 at 17:00
Location:

Riviera International Conference Centre, Chestnut Avenue, Torquay, United Kingdom

The Great Outdoors Exhibition is a brand new interactive outdoor pursuits exhibition bringing together the very best of Devon's outdoor pursuits all under one roof! Go expo will be held from Sunday 30th May to Monday the 31st May and will feature four fantastic zones; Adrenaline, Urban, Country and Ocean activities. The exhibition promises a fantastic day out for all the family, including exhibitions, demonstrations, challenges and workshops. You will also have the opportunity to buy the latest gear and accessories and take advantage of some great discounts.The Expo will feature Andrei Burton Events will showcase a combination of displays, demonstrations and workshops that will even inspire grandparents. Demonstrations include the top Trail Bikers, professional Free-runners, Free-riders and BMX Flatland among others.Andrei Burton is one of the top elite trials riders from the UK. He is the Guinness world record holder for the most 180˚ jumps in one minute, and is spearheading the bid to make Trials riding an Olympic demonstration sport for the 2012 Olympic Games in London!

Spring.....we think!

2010-04-05T11:08:00.000-07:00

After three damp summers (the last really sunny hot period was April 2007!) this little bit of Easter sunshine has been a real joy. It's funny how we all get beaten down by grey damp weather and the effort of smiling on the world is hard work. But smile we must whether we feel battered or not!

It's been a curious Easter weekend around the shops. I did the rounds on Easter Sunday, starting after lunch at Harbour Sports Paignton where we still have a running battle with the harbour master over the use of our 'customer parking sign'. Despite the proliferation of yellow lines, no parking signs and other 'welcome to Paignton signs' YOU CAN PARK OUTSIDE THE SHOP whilst shopping!

The scene outside HARBOUR SPORTS PLYMOUTH was unbelievable! Devon and Cornwall Constabulary have closed the road around the shop on Bank Holiday Sundays, which isn't as bad as it sounds. The whole of the Barbican becomes a giant party and as I arrived Harbour Sporter Barney Davies was eating a large hog roast roll from Barney's Hog Roast (no relation it seems - the roaster that is rather than the roasting hog). Of course I had to join in!

HARBOUR SPORTS EXETER was buzzing when I arrived. Marc Wood was on duty and assisted by Charley Fawkes who is home for Easter (she is now an undergraduate at University College Falmouth) and new girl Kate Watson. Both girls have tremendous energy and keep the soon to be a dad Marc on his toes!

Do have a look at the blog on the Harbour Sports website also, which this week is written by Chris Beardsmore (www.harbour.co.uk).

Happy Easter!

frank sobey

G-SAC and the Big Sandal

2010-03-02T05:13:00.000-08:00

Tourism is of huge importance but is of course at the mercy of the weather when you live on on rocky peninsula sticking out into the Northern Atlantic Ocean. The past three summers have been damp, which is the last thing we need as the economic buffeting continues. Added to that the winters have been less than sympathetic and so we should be looking grim. BUT WE DON'T DO GRIM and so we battle on toward the summer of 2010. One good thing is that we have the ideal summer wear for a sasquatch on holiday. Harbour Sports Paignton staffer Grant Clarey (16) who knows a thing or two about watersports (we call him G-SAC because of his initials "GSAC") stands proud in his new DC tee shirt clutching a size 30 flipflop.................................

Today the sun is beaming down on South Devon and I've just been chatting to Matt Cole who is a Harbour Sports Plymouth staff member and an undergraduate at Plymouth University. He says that the historic Barbican is simply gleaming this morning and they have been outside the shop soaking up some of that spring sunshine. Do you know you can almost taste the spring air today - I love this time of year.........

Frank Sobey

A breath of fresh air!

2010-02-06T07:58:00.000-08:00

Sometimes people arrive in your life and the world is a lighter brighter place. Last summer Jess Renshaw came to work at Harbour Sports Paignton after a year in New Zealand travelling with her surfing boyfriend. Last Friday she moved on to another job and my life was immediately the poorer. Jess has tremendous zest and is much loved our customers.....and on the day she left we had a phone call from a lady in Bristol who said that because of Jess' customer service she would now become a regular Harbour Sporter! But it isn't just the customers, Viv from O'Neill Wetsuits phoned to say that he speaks to so many shops but has never had such a cheerful greeting on the phone. The Reef folk from the USA whilst visiting the shop took time to say how good the shop displays were; again all Jess' work.

So where am I going with this other than to wax lyrical about Jess? Well, the world is such a hard place just now and it's all too easy to walk about with a face like a slapped kipper which doesn't help to lift the gloom. The slapped kipper brigade simply make the day grey. People like Jess bring sunshine into the day and you if we all try a little harder then we can do the same! So the next time you catch a glimpse of yourself in the mirror just take note of whether you are in the Jess camp or the Slapped Kipper camp. Go on, give it a try and let your smile light up the world!!!!!

Frank Sobey

Fair wind from France

2010-01-20T09:08:00.000-08:00

"Fair Stood The Wind From France" - (with apologies to H E Bates!) and so we welcome Shirley Morgenroth from France who will be working at Harbour Sports Paignton for the next five weeks. I've asked Shirley to say a little about herself in English and French..............." Hello, my name is Shirley Morgenroth and I am French. My school is Carrel (a business school in Lyon) and I am here with the Training Partnership (Torquay). I had one week of English lessons and now I am working at Harbour Sports Paignton on Paignton Harbour for the next five weeks. Bonjour, je m'appel Shirley Morgenroth jes suis francaise, je vis a Lyon. Jes suis en angeleterre pour 6 semaines pour ameleiorer mois anlais. Mon ecole est Carrel (ecole de commerce a Lyon) je suis venu ici avec le Training Partnership de Torquay. J'ai eu une de cours d'anglais et maitenant je travail dans le magasin harbour sports de paignton pour le cinq semaines prochaines. J'aime skier, faire du wakeboard et j'aimerais apprendre le surf mais l'eau est vraiment trop froide pour moi!"

SNOW IN SOUTH DEVON

2010-01-16T05:36:00.000-08:00

This made me smile! Chris Beardsmore and Jess Renshaw took this clever photograph on the day we had harbour snow in Paignton for the first time in twenty odd years. The photograph was then 'tagged' on Face book with the snowman tagged as 'Frank Sobey'. You have to laugh. Please note the rather nice customer parking sign outside Harbour Sports Paignton.

We've always had lots of snow kit in all three of our shops and sales as you might imagine have been very good with this icy blast. Of course some snow kit also works in the summer. How can that be you ask? It's those 'sheepskin' style boots which work really well in the snow but also good look (Pamela Anderson set the trend) on a sunny day in the summer whilst wandering around in a skimpy bikini......

Noticed this morning that the daylight hours have already started to grow as we once again stagger toward summer. I was at Harbour Sports Plymouth last evening with Andy Partridge and Barny Davies. Andy managed to break a finger whilst sliding down a snowy hill on a bodyboard last Sunday. Bodyboards make great sledges - no sharp edges, plus of course you then have a watercraft for the summer! It's a win win. Barney is just back from a week of skiing in France with the University of Plymouth Snowboarding/ Ski Club. 120 of them on a coach - scary.

Saturday morning I was in the Exeter shop with Marc Wood, Chris Beardsmore (who is half way through his M.Sc at Exeter University), Rachel Harrison and Georgia Gold. Great team and full of energy.

This afternoon it's the Paignton shop with Guy Shepherd, Al Glenning and new man Grant Clarey. Annual floor painting tonight (back of the shop) and next Saturday evening (front of the shop). Another sign that the new season is on the way.....

Cold weather in South Devon

2009-12-30T07:56:00.001-08:00

Owen (The Owster) Smith took this rather nice photograph last week as the light started to fade over Paignton Harbour and I thought that I would share it with you. The Harbour is on the South West Footpath and is one Devon's beautiful harbours.

This last week or so has been cold and after a soggy November that is quite a change. The changing season is reflected in the sale of winter wetsuits for the pre-dawn start at Bantham and other local beaches.

What has been interesting is the number of people in the water which is due in part to the kit now available and doubtless to the dedication of those intrepid South Devon surfers! Is there a better way to start 2010 than in or on the water? I don't think so.

Happy New Year!!

frank sobey

Christmas

2009-12-21T08:26:00.000-08:00

So here we are heading toward Christmas 2009 in what can only be described as a dislocated market place in which things seem to change on a daily basis. What doesn't change is the consistent service at Harbour Sports which is delivered with a smile by our exceptional staff. That really is one of the things that I enjoy most of all: working with people who have boundless energy. Folk like AL GLENNING from Harbour Sports Paignton. Al is a second year Foundation degree student (Outdoor Education) at South Devon College and knows a thing or two about this way of living. Al is seen here clutching a pair of Manbi handwarmers on a cold harbour day.

Frank's blog 28th November 2009

2009-11-28T12:27:00.000-08:00

So here we are almost at the end of November and on the very edge of Christmas! I’ve always liked Christmas because it brings families and friends together, although these days it does rather degenerate into a pit of alcohol abuse and overeating, which is a shame. These are curious times.

It’s been a busy week at Harbour Sports with loads of deliveries including 12 big boxes of Quiksilver and Roxy summer 2010 arriving in time for Christmas 2009!!! Is this more evidence of Global Warming? However it turns out to be luggage and accessories, which make super Christmas presents.

Keeping to the Christmas theme last Thursday was the first late night shopping for Harbour Sports Exeter. Customers enjoyed the traditional chocolates on offer as well as the smiling faces of Marc Wood, James Ellis and Chris Beardsmore!

For those of you who live in Torbay the advent of parking meters will not had many folk leaping up and down for joy! During the winter people used to park on the seafront and enjoy looking out to sea. Sadly now you have to pay which has pushed people off the seafront and on to side roads. Added to that is the proliferation of prohibition notices around the harbour, HOWEVER, we now have customer parking outside the shop designated in front of a rather nice HARBOUR SPORTS CUSTOMER PARKING sign! How’s that for service. Drop in and try it out.

Harbour Sports Plymouth had adopted an ‘Old School’ theme this Christmas and the shop looks stunningly beautiful amongst the cobbled streets of Plymouth’s historic Barbican. A walk around the Barbican during the afternoon with its quaint and quirky shops, refreshingly different eateries and timeless buildings will take you back to a time when Christmas sent a joyous shiver through the ghosts of Christmas past!

YOU CAN PARK ON PAIGNTON HARBOUR!!

2009-11-20T22:44:00.000-08:00

You can park outside HARBOUR SPORTS PAIGNTON whilst shopping!!! Despite the proliferation of signs, yellow lines and other painted areas YOU CAN PARK outside the Paignton shop whilst shopping. We live in an age of over regulation where we seem to be increasingly treated like lemmings – or complete idiots! So come and visit, smell the sea air, visit the beautiful Paignton Harbour, watch the boats bobbing on the water and spend time in a shop that is like no other in Torbay. Harbour Sports Paignton has been described as an Aladdin’s Cave where the most unexpected display of watersports, boardsports lifestyle goodies will make your head spin! Big brand names like Quiksilver, Oakley, Animal link hands with interesting new stuff like Tucagua, Kuccia, DC and many more. Come and make Hannah, Jess, Esme,Al, Jordan and The Owster make your day better!

Hannah's Holiday Blog

2009-11-15T04:04:00.000-08:00

Hannah's quick holiday blog 2nd November 2009I've recently returned home from a holiday in Portugal. I was lucky enough to take advantage of the swell that arrived the week I was there! A group of us went out and surfed at Praia da Marete, which is usually a sheltered beach, but was the only place where the waves weren't totally blown out! The West coast of Portugal was battered by 9ft swells, but I was more than happy with this 3-4ft shore break. Hannah Gorman Harbour Sports Paignton.