{"id":30731,"title":"Meet Tai Jackson","description":"We always get a tad excited in the UK when we hear whispers of a new grom amongst the ranks. Not to punish the poor kid and put them through initiation like many other surf cultures though. Instead we\u2019re eager to see what they are capable of and if they\u2019ll ever make it to international competition","content":"

We always get a tad excited in the UK when we hear whispers of a new grom amongst the ranks. Not to punish the poor kid and put them through initiation like many other surf cultures though. Instead we\u2019re eager to see what they are capable of and if they\u2019ll ever make it to international competition. With even fewer bodyboarders in Wales, they go even more crazy of the idea that there\u2019s some fresh blood coming through. Although not quite still a grom\u2019 enter Tai Jackson.\u00a0<\/p>

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Images by Seasidehues and The Man They Call Moog<\/strong><\/p>

Give everyone an introduction. Where are you from and how long have you been boogin\u2019?<\/strong><\/p>

Hey , I\u2019m Tai Jackson, a bodyboarder from South Pembrokeshire, Wales. For work I lifeguard on the beautiful Pembrokeshire beaches for the RNLI during the summer months. I\u2019ve been bodyboarding for a little over 2 years now and have loved every minute.<\/p>

How did you get into bodyboarding?<\/strong><\/p>

I would bodyboard occasionally when I was younger, only ever on the cheap polystyrene boards in the summer. I started attempting to learn stand up surfing in the winter of 2019 and in the 4 months I never saw a bodyboarder here in Wales, so I didn\u2019t really know the sport existed further than just catching the white water.<\/p>

This was until I went on a family holiday to Tenerife. The local reef near to where we were staying had a large crew of bodyboarders ripping. After being exposed to what bodyboarding truly was I decided to buy a bodyboard and a pair of fins rather than rent a surfboard each day. Since then I\u2019ve been hooked on riding the boogie and don\u2019t plan on switching back.\u00a0<\/p>

There seems to be a solid presence of bodyboarders emerging in Wales. The Welsh Bodyboard Club appears to be making the right steps. How do you see the community there in Wales?<\/strong><\/p>

Yes. Even in the short period I\u2019ve been boogin\u2019 I\u2019m seeing new faces consistently when I paddle out at my local spots. The Welsh Bodyboard Club has been great for Wales and the bodyboard community as a whole here. It has brought bodyboarders from all around Wales together to share the stoke they have for the Boog\u2019.\u00a0<\/p>

The Welsh Bodyboard Club is continuing to promote and get more people involved in the sport through their social media and monthly meet-ups. The Welsh Surfing Federation is resposible for the National Competition every year. With the input from the Welsh Bodyboard Club there will be a Bodyboard Category which is a step in the right direction to bring back a competitive scene to Wales.\u00a0<\/p>

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The boys tell us you\u2019ve been progressing rather fast. How have you achieved this and where do you plan on taking this progression to?<\/strong><\/p>

Thanks, I appreciate it. I mainly owe it to the local crew of bodyboarders Rich Livock , Phil Wensley, Alex Clark and others for mentoring me on how to improve my tricks, style and showing me around the local secret spots. Also just putting as many hours as I can in the water and spending more time at spots that most bodyboarders seek like wedges, shorey\u2019s and slabby reefs. I would like to continue this progression to keep enjoying riding, improving my style and\u00a0manoeuvres. I also have plans on entering the Welsh Nationals and the Cornish Bodyboard Series competitions this year.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

The competitive scene has been slow of late in the UK. Do you see this improving?<\/strong><\/p>

Yes. With COVID-19 and a lack of bodyboarders especially in Wales, it caused Wales to lose its competitive scene. The rest of the UK has been slow too, with only the Cornish Bodyboard Series running competitions. Now with the bodyboard category being added to the Welsh Nationals it will increase the awareness of bodyboarding in Wales and hopefully get the spectators to give Boogin\u2019 a go. The Welsh Bodyboard Club also plan to hold a couple of other events this year which I\u2019m looking forward to. The Cornish Bodyboard Series held a successful comp last year and plan on continuing that this year which will promote the sport especially in the under 18\u2019s and under 14\u2019s division to encourage the younger crew to get involved.\u00a0<\/p>

How important is competition to you? Do you plan on breaking into the international scene?<\/strong><\/p>

Personally, competition is super important to me. I found after competing in the Cornish Bodyboard Series late last year I was able to take away skills which have improved my bodyboarding and met loads of other bodyboarders in the community. I haven\u2019t had much experience competing and have so much more to learn but I would be well keen to break into the international scene if the opportunity arises.<\/p>

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What kind of waves do you like surfing?<\/strong><\/p>

Anything hollow, haha. Here in Pembrokeshire we\u2019re fortunate to have a range of wedges, shoreys, beachy\u2019s , reefs along with a few slabs. My favourite wave has to be the local Wedge which is most popular with bodyboarders and the only spot where we out number the stand-ups on most sessions.<\/p>

You\u2019ve been clear on where you\u2019re heading, tell us what your next step is to making this happen\u2026<\/strong><\/p>

Just to continue bodyboarding ready for the Welsh Nationals and the Cornish Bodyboard Series comps. Have plans to do some traveling this winter to Scotland or Ireland, then make a trip to France & Portugal to enjoy some slightly warmer pits to those here in the depths of winter in Wales.\u00a0<\/p>

Is there anyone you\u2019d like to give a shout out to?<\/strong><\/p>

I would like to give a shout out to Tafia and Severn who have supported me with awesome clothing and given me a boost in support. It\u2019s good to feel recognised and certainly makes me want to push my riding further. I\u2019d also like to give a shout out to Rich Livock, Phil Wensley and Alex Clark for mentoring me over the past 2 years.<\/p>

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