WITH high pressure firmly in charge for the past week, it's been a wave-free and frustrating time for North Devon surfers.

Yes, it was sunny and nice, granted, but surfers tend to get twitchy and grumpy if they don't get their regular dose of blue juice — possibly because they are suddenly confronted by all those jobs and tasks they've put off because it's been pumping.

The lull enabled riders to repair, patch, replace and even clean bits of kit that have seen constant action over the winter.

So with the Solarez hardening in the first rays of spring sunshine and fresh-smelling wetsuits drying on the line, there was time to firm up plans for the upcoming season.

Croyde Surf Club members were locked in a room and were only set free once they had announced their 2010 contest line-up.

First up is the Al Rannochan Memorial Open on the weekend of March 27 and 28.

Held to celebrate the life of the former club chairman, the Al Ran is always a fiercely-contested comp.

Last year's winner Lyndon Wake could find it tough going against a pack hungry for victory, none more so than Al's son Scott.

Also kicking off their season on March 27 are the Hotdoggers Longboard Club.

The first Second Skin/Errant League contest of 2010 is bound to be a busy affair, so get your membership dues in quick — you don't want to miss out. They have also confirmed members of other North Devon surf clubs can enter any of the Saunton-based club's contests this year including the Summer League.

Hotdoggers are holding an International Surfing Association judging course at Braunton's White Lion on Saturday. Top ISA judge Bob Freshwater will be sharing his vast experience and helping to interpret the new rules. Surely the best excuse to be in a pub at 1pm on Saturday and the rumours of curry afterwards are not exaggerated.

For more info, visit the Hotdoggers' all-new fancy website at www.hotdoggers.co.uk.

The lack of swell over the weekend saw the much-anticipated season opener at Woolacombe postponed. It had been hoped to at least run the junior division but the mill-pond conditions left contest director Paul Barrington no other choice.

The Grunta League One contest, the first of the Boardriders' 10 events slated for this 2010, has been rescheduled for March 21.

Fingers crossed the Woolacombe wave dance, usually performed at kicking-out time at the Barn, will herald the arrival of a pumping spring swell.

Despite the flat conditions it's amazing how many visiting surfers placed their faith in the predictions of various surf-forecasting websites.

The stream of traffic and surfboards heading for guaranteed 2ft-plus surf certainly kept some of the locals entertained, although the novelty will soon wear off sometime about the first bank holiday — though the back-to-front wetsuit socks and trainers never fail to make me giggle.

Not sure what the surf is doing? Check with the man with the eyeball reports and all the webcams you need, surfer's friend Trev, at www.eyeball-surfcheck.co.uk.

Diary dates

Monday: Paddle4Relief meet at the Aggi and are looking for volunteers to help in this year's big paddle event, see www.paddle4relief.com or e-mail tim@paddle4relief.

March 21: Woolacombe Boardriders Grunta League One, 9am check-in at the Red Barn.

Croyde Surf Club 2010 contests — March 27/28: Al Rannochan Memorial Open.

July 10/11: Redwood Grom Contest. July 17: North Devon Interclub. October 2/3: Interclub. November 13/14: Steve McEwan Open.