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The club was started in late 1992/Early '93 in the Students' Union/
Guild of Students by myself Mike('Stretchy') and another Psychology
Student, Chris('Skip'). We grabbed a table, borrowed a couple of
boards and got people to 'sign up'. The first member to signup was
Rob who became one of the core three members till be all left in '94.
I think I was captain & skip was 2 I/C.
Not officially affiliated we had no funding other than our paultry student loans etc or any kit whatsoever, so we had to Borrow the kit. To do this we marched down to the Polytechnic (John Moore's) and 'Borrowed' their kit from their ailing surf club and a van (declaring we were Poly students - no ID check required!!). The first trip lasted only 6 miles to the "Rocket" pub just prior to the M62 before the timing belt snapped and the van was wrecked. Van deposited back to Poly, Kit held in 'safe keeping'.... Next trip was more successful to S Wales (still with poly van). Subsequently we'd head to Hellsmouth in hired wagons (The Poly were out looking for us) and we'd kip in Bivvy bags on the dunes or in the car park. No facilites. Whatsoever. No insurance, training and many students had never done this before, so to take them to a choppy 7' Whistling sands or blown-out Hellsmouth in mid-winter is something I shudder to think about now! At some Stage in '92 we got approved by the Athletic Union and some funds which went on new suits (still using the 'Borrowed' Poly boards..). We got our 1/2 Colours at the Annual dinner for setting up the club which went down well with the more established clubs - not! We took delight in wearing the Training Tops with Liverpool University Surf Squad printed on the back! Sometime after that we all went down to the Nationals at Newquay and consequently got our full colours for representing the Uni at a National Level (The results weren't impressive!) which sent the Rugby Club into overdrive! At one time we had more members than any other club in the Athletic Union (Point Break had just been released!). We'd meetup every wednesday in the Cambridge(?) near the Psych dept and we'd have plenty of people offering to pay us money to join up. I'll say no more on that matter.... We left in '94 and I gather a couple of years later a couple of 'heavies' came round to the Captain's house demanding all the old kit we returned. There's loads more but I think you get the general idea on just what a shambles the whole thing was. The main aim was achieved though: we all had a great time, did lots of surfing, met new friends and actually at times there was some grown up work going on under cover too!! I'm so glad the club is still in existence. Rob says he still sends you an xmas card each year! All the best and see you in the water, Mike |
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