Ben Haworth Surfplugs Rider

Surfplugs at Brighton Paddle Around the Pier 2011

The Brighton Paddle Around the Pier event grows each year. This year Surfplugs are there too. Come down and get your ears checked, pick up FREE surfers ear advice and even get yourself hooked up with a pair of Surfplugs. See you there!

Who is Mr. Surfplugs?

Well I suppose at some point you need to know who Mr. Surfplugs actually is? - this is me, Devon boy, Surfer, Surfers Ear Sufferer, Previous NHS Audiologist and Surfplugs developer. The problems with developing a Surfplug for surfing and watersports is finding a product that stays in. There are many products out there in Surf Shops but most end up falling out of your ears, clogging up the oceans or spending eternity rotting in the bottom of your wetsuit bin. It took me years of experiementing until I was happy with a product that worked for me, Surfplugs was accidently born out of the success of that initial Surfplug that I made back in 2003. Surfplugs are different - they do stay in and much of that is my experience with ear shape, the bulking process that we use and the feel of the lacquer against the ear... We do fit a leash as standard but this is reluctantly fitted as people felt they needed a leash rather than actually needing one - I think that makes sense? Well I would say that the Surfplugs is the best protection against surfers ear on the market but I suppose that when I tell you that we have over 1000 surfers wearing Surfplugs and every sale has been by word of mouth then you can make your own decision, hell, we even have Doctors recommending Surfplugs... there must be a reason why surfers and watersports enthusiasts worldwide are recommending Surfplugs for surfers ear protection - perhpas it's time you found out too! (photo courtesy of Chris Stevens)

Surfboards 4 Sri Lanka

At Surfplugs a percentage of our sales go to this great charity. We thought we would let you know what they are doing with the money... Paddle4Relief, with the assistance of Surf Relief UK and Christian Surfers UK, have successfully shipped a consignment of surf boards and surf equipment to Sri Lanka. The funding for the shipment was a joint effort by the three UK organisations that have been paramount in working towards developing the sport of surfing in Sri Lanka, following the devastating 2004 Asian tsunami. The shipment was made by means of donations from Paddle4Relief, Tiki Surf International, Constantine Bay Surf Shop, Croyde Bay Surf Life Saving Club and numerous UK surfers, to Arugam Bay Surf Club. The project was overseen by Phil Williams of the UK charity Christian Surfers UK and co-ordinated by Tim Tanton of North Devon based charity Paddle4Relief. Tim collected and packed the consignment of 36 boxes with a volume of more than six cubic metres and a weight in excess of 310kg.

The P4R Founder had seen his garage gradually fill up with surfboards from as far back as the 1970's and as new as 2010. Tim himself has selflessly purchased numerous surfboards with the enormous help of Tiki Surf International. The consignment included rescue boards, SUP's, longboards, bodyboards, shortboards, fish, mini-mals and soft-tops, along with fins, leashes, wax, rash vests, wax combs, t-shirts and skateboard parts.

Tim was fortunate to have the help of North Devon Christian Surfer Mark Dennis in loading the consignment onto the lorry for transportation to the port of departure in the UK. The surfboards etc are expected to reach the Port of Colombo, Sri Lanka, in mid-March. They left the UK on the vessel, Ever Sigma, on the 23rd February, thanks to Paul Beeson of the freight company, GBS Freight Services Ltd.

Arugam Bay Surf Club Secretary, Krishantha Ariyasena, together with West Coast Surf Club Founder, Dilsiri Welikala, will be receiving the consignment in Colombo.

The equipment will then be distributed by Arugam Bay Surf Club to other developing surf clubs around the coast of Sri Lanka. The Arugam Bay Surf Club is the first surf club to be registered in Sri Lanka by the Sri Lanka Sports Ministry. The club's Chairman, Fawas, has worked tirelessly since 2006 to achieve this important recognition. He is now working with newly established clubs in the south and west of the island for their registration as well. Both Madiha Surf Club near Matara and West Coast Surf Club based in Colombo have been a result of the 'Birth of a Surfing Nation' project which was initially established in 2010 by Peter Rob-o, an Australian based in France and P4R's Tim Tanton. The focus is to create and develop 'The Surfing Federation of Sri Lanka' by motivating, supporting, educating and empowering the young surfers in Sri Lanka to produce a surfing culture that is able to provide a sustainable lifestyle for themselves and for their families and communities.

Further donations of surfboards and surfing equipment will be gratefully received for future consignments to Sri Lanka. Please contact tim@paddle4relief.co.uk for further information.

Surf Art

A surf clinic at the Bude Parkhouse centre turned up this little gem. I liked the picture and Steve Andrew the artist wanted some Surfplugs... Both of us left happy. Check out his work HERE

6ft Urban Surf

Well, it's been a good week. We visitied London Surf Club who have a mass membership of over 250 surfers and we met just over 40 of them for Surfplugs fittings. The Urban Surf scene in London and the surrounding areas is really kicking off and driven by Ben Farwargi of 6ftoffshore.com who was massively instrumental in organising the event and is picture above modelling his brand new Banzai Surfplugs! Just got to get all those Surfplugs made now. Thanks guys..

NEW surfplugs promotional vehicle

Well good folks, for all of those that have got used to the ol' ford focus emblasoned with the 'surfplugs' logos then you are in for a shock! Drum roll please.... this is the NEW Mazda Bongo awaiting final import into the UK prior being given the Surfplugs treatment. Watch out for the Surfplugs tour coming soon... and I no longer have to kip in a tent - yeah!!

JACK BARKER - new sponsored team member

Introducing JACK BARKER, British Surf Kayak team rider. Jack is currently ranked no.1 in the Junior Long Boat and No.3 in Britain for Surf Kayak. Although Surfplugs were originally developed for Surfers and my own surfers ear problems it is good to know that other competetive and leisure activites are taking surfers ear seriously. White water Kayaks, Windsurfers, KiteSurfers, Open Water Swimmers - get serious about protecting yourself.

Outdoors Skern Lodge Instructors

Thanks to Glyn Brackenbury and all the Outdoors Adventure instructors at Skern Lodge, Bideford, Devon who invited Surfplugs down for Surfers Ear information and ear checks on all 30 of their staff! With such a range of activites and accomodation for over 200 kids on site I reckon you will be wearing the Surfplugs for more than just surfing!

The Skate Project - Bideford College

Well... planning a lesson to over 30 Year 7 to Year 11 students at Bideford College today was a new experience. The kids have been involved in 'The Skate Project' and have developed skateboards and balance boards for their own enjoyment (and their bloody good too - as I found out when I sneaked a go on one). Fortunately it went well (so I am told) and the kids really enjoyed the grusome surgery shots of surfers ear. If that wasn't enough then putting the video camera down their teachers ears to see how much wax they had really hit the mark. But eduction education and education is what we are really about at Surfplugs. We provide a solution for avoiding ear problems before they start and educting the kids at this age was a great opportunity! thanks to Paul Fordham and all the kids who turned up!

Jools writing about Surfplugs

Here is an article from painter & surfer Jools - for the article and his website click (here)

When I had a routine medical about 18 months ago the occupational health nurse had a look in my ears,"Oh that's odd" she said,"I have never seen anything like that before in someone's ear". I immediatly knew what she could see...bone growth!I have been an all year round surfer for quite a few years and was waiting for the dayall that cold water and wind would take affect and my ears would start to heal over !The Occupational Health Doctor checked them out and confirmed a small amount of growth in the right ear. Straight away I booked an appointment with the good people of Surfplugs to get myself sorted. After a thorough examination I was told a had some growth in both ears but was reassured when theytold me that if I wear the plugs the growth won't get any worse. After having the molds taken(which is painless in case you were wondering) I received my ear plugs in the post about a week later.

I have been wearing them for over a year now. The first time I wore them it did feel a little odd. After the first paddle out I realised that I could hear my heart beating. By the end of the session I had completely adjusted to them. The cord didn't last long though. The first session I wore the plugs with a hoodI tore the cord out of a plug when taking the hood off. They have since upgraded the cords they use.

So the final verdict:
I find them really comfortable to wear.
I don't find they have really reduced my hearing to the detriment of enjoying a surf.
The thing I didn't expect is that keeping the cold water out of your ears makes you feel warmer.
It is a very cheap way of avoiding a really nasty operation (which won't stop the growth anyway)
I would recommend them to any surfer!

Bits of Bone from yer SKULL!!

This is actually a REAL photograph of what is removed during surfers ear surgery - GROSS HUH?

Chisel vs THE DRILL!!!

Kevin from Leucadia CA sent us this link. It's an awsome aticle that discusses the merits of Surfers Ear surgery via the chisel method and the drilling method. Well worth a read. for the Blog and the article CLICK HERE

NEW FAQ's page on website

Ali has been busy in the office and has created a new FAQ page on the Surfplugs website. This is a collection of typical questions that we get asked and emailed on a daily basis and if you can think of any more relating to Surfplugs then let us know.

Surfplugs receives Welsh approval!

More great feedback from the Welsh crew - Lee Griffiths (Swansea):

'Thanks for my Surfplugs they're bloody awsome!!!!!!! surfed three times with them and not a drop of water near my ears. I can't speak highly enough of them, best i've ever had and i've had a fair few. Told everyone about them and will be ordering another set soon.'

Surfplugs cord receives German approval!

Some feedback on the new Surfplugs cord from one of our German riders 'Chriz Kohler':

'Good strong stuff, almost unbreakable, no problems with it'

'I like to surf more with the Surfplugs than without ... it's strange but true'

Surf Scholarship for Tassy!

We are pleased to see this picture and article of Tassy Swallow (one of our Surfplugs riders) that appeared on the BBC News website today - especially as our logo appeared in the picture! - For the full article about Tassy and her Surf Scholarship (lucky girl) visit the BBC News article here.

Surfers Ear Surgery

Thanks to Pat Cummins from NCS surfboards for sending me this picture of his ear following his recent surfers ear surgery. For full details of the surgery and NCS surfboards visit the recent article in Drift Magazine at http://www.driftsurfing.eu/index.php/archives/3893. We are fitting him up with a set of Surfplugs next week..... !

Facial paralysis & surfers ear surgery