Rhys goes on a surfing roll!
Rhys Evans is one of a group of talented young surfers emerging in Pembrokeshire and he faces a super-exciting challenge of a trip to California in October as a representative of the Welsh Junior Surfing team for the ISA World Junior Championships.
He will be joined by fellow local surfers in Niamh and Jack Mathias for two weeks at Ocean Side, about half hour south of Los Angeles and one of the real plusses about the trip is that as well as competing he will also be able to travel to other nearby top surfing beaches to widen his experience even further.
Fitting reward – and more coaching!
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It is fitting reward for Rhys's commitment to training as part of the Welsh Junior Squad for the past two years at places like Porthcawl, plus fewer visits to Langland Bay (on the Gower Coast) and Freshwater West nearer home.
But it was still a great thrill when the e-mail came from head coach Ingemar Cressey, Sam Moore and Pete Bounds inviting him to represent his country in the under 18 category, even though he still qualifies at under 16 level.
It meant further individual sessions with Sam Moore and Gwen Spurlock at Langland bay and Llangennech, which Rhys says has been a great help in his recent development.
"I took some time out to focus on my GCSE's at Ysgol y Preseli so those sessions since have been amazing and I've also gained more competition time in August and September in competitions in Croyde and Newquay which have helped with my focus."
Terrific family support
As usual it has meant considerable travel for training and competition but Rhys would be the first to say that he is lucky in that respect.
"My parents, Judith and Robert, plus younger brother Tom (who enjoys football at Camrose and golf at Haverfordwest and Rosemarket und
er the guidance of Matthew Rees (are very supportive - and I can't thank them enough.
"Mum and dad also give up so much time taking me to local beaches, when I am sometimes in the water for hours, videoing my performances and taking pictures, and generally giving me all the help they possibly can - they are brilliant."
Already an Octopush international!
Outside of his surfing, Rhys is also a Welsh international in Octopush (or underwater hockey), playing as a forward at Haverfordwest on Friday evenings and catching the eye of the selectors so he represented his country against North and South England, Scotland and Ireland before receiving his special Welsh Octopush cap from coach Andrew Davies.
His involvement in the water continues because he regularly attends the 'Rookie's Life-Saving
Classes' run by Darryl Sable at Haverfordwest Leisure Centre and is a qualified surf coach as an added bonus.
Started at junior school
Rhys started his surfing when he was he pupil at Ysgol Glan Cleddau, initially because school friends were already involved.
"Niamh and Jack Mathias, Iago Henry, Callum Walton and Tomos Edmonds were there at the same time in sessions held by Pete Bounds, who has been great with his encouragement of us all.
"We did very basic stuff at first like just lying on a board, which was loaned to us, but I was able to stand up in the waves pretty soon after that - and it was an amazing feeling.
"I went to 'Master Class of Coaching' at Broad Haven and Newgale and after six months I had my own fibre-glass board for the first time, which cost about £140, and was nice because I could please myself when and where I surfed.
Successful start
"Within a year I had really improved and so I entered my first Welsh Surfing Championships in the under 12s section at Freshwater West and I felt a mixture of nervousness and excitement - and I won my heat against three others before just missing out in the semi-finals.
"Since that first board I have added several boards to my collection, starting with a Spider Board, the more modern type, and now I am lucky to have them custom-made by JP Surfboards of Penclawdd, one of my brilliant sponsors alongside Proteas Clothing, Conrad's Surf Co and Nectar Sunglasses."
Raising his profile
Since that first competition Rhys has gradually raised his surfing profile and he joined Niamh and Jack as the school team which came fifth out of 29 in the British Schools' team event, fourth in the UK ProSurf Tour event in Porthcawl and he was thrilled to reach the final of the 2013 Welsh Championships before being placed fourth.
"I also came third in the Pembrokeshire Surf Riders Cup competition in the under 16 and under 18 categories at Broad Haven South and Manorbier, and gained more practice at venues like Bude, Newquay, Croyde, Porthcawl, Gower and Llantwit Major - which means more travelling for the family!"
"In that time I have made loads of new friends, none more so than Niamh and Jack, plus Seth Morris (Broad Haven) and Alex Morris (Tenby).
Widening experience
Rhys also went to watch the World Pro Championships in Portugal some time ago and surfed at some beaches where the surf was renowned for its raw power.
"The waves created 'super tubes' and I actually experienced 'barrelling', where I was inside the wave and I could hear my breath echoing in the silence. But I got thrown about and hurt my shoulder - but I went straight back in once I had my shoulder checked.
"I also had the chance to surf alongside Mark Fanning (the Australian bitten by a shark) and will never forget the raw power of nature in those waves."
Format explained
But now it's all systems go for California and we asked Rhys how the format works.
"Heats take place with four competitors having five minutes to swim out to the waves, followed by 15 to 20 minutes of showing off as wide a range of skills as possible.
"There are four judges on the beach and each gives a mark out of ten for everyone's best two waves.
"The results are either announced or placed on a board and the highest mark sees that surfer moving on to the next round.
"The judges are looking for success in moves like 'Cut Backs', 'Snaps', '360s' and a range of aerial manoeuvres.
And finally . . .
Before he sets off he will continue to get in as many hours as possible off the coast of Pembrokeshire, sometimes surfing the tide in, then back out, then in again, as well as working in the gym so that he is as fit as possible.
And before he knows it he will be jetting off to California and we wish Rhys Evans every success in the World Junior Surfing Championships as he flies the Pembrokeshire Sporting Flag with real distinction!