A charge through the history of surfing in Cornwall.
Whether you are a born water baby, or completely adverse to getting wet, you must have noticed that surfing is a pretty big deal around here. Whilst we are all used to the surf schools splashing about in the white water, and the line-up filling up at the slightest chance of a swell, it hasn’t always been this way. A quick jaunt through the history of surfing in this county is enough to make the hardest surfer misty-eyed, so join us as we trace the journey of this lifestyle from its Hawaiian roots, through its alternative adolescence and into the mainstream sport that it’s become today.
1928- Australian Charles “Snowy” Macalister gives a surf demo on Cornish beach, blowing the minds of all who watched.
1929- Lewis Rosenberg builds a wooden board and films earliest recorded attempt at stand-up surfing in the UK at Holywell Bay.
1935- Pip Stafferi, an ice cream seller, builds a copy of a hollow Hawaiian style board and takes to the Newquay waves, making him a local superstar. Nice one, Pip!
1937- Railway companies use images of body boarding on posters advertising Newquay, and the town’s reputation as the UK’s surfing capital begins.
1939-44 WW2 halted surf scene, although there are rumours that the US servicemen stationed at RAF St Mawgan had boards shipped over and would surf Watergate Bay.
1955- The Surf Life Saving Association of Great Britain is set up in response to the large number of drownings as the public flock to the beaches of post-war Britain
Late 1950’s- Cornwall Council started employing professional lifeguards on Cornish beaches, attracting Australian and American watermen to Cornish shores. And these guys could surf…..
1963- the UK’s first surf shop, The Surfers Store, opened in St Ives, followed soon after by ones in Hayle and Newquay
1965- Bilbo is formed in Newquay. The first British surfing company to build boards and promote the unique UK sport and the lifestyle that was building around it.
1966- The British Surfing Association is formed, and competitions moved away from under the Surf Lifesaving banner.
1967- Cornish wetsuit company Gul is formed by local legend Dennis Cross. Credited with making the first one-piece wetsuit, the brand led the way in making cold-water surfing a little less daunting. Thanks to Dennis, full suits are called Steamers to this day!
1981- The first Pro-Am comp in the UK, the Newquay Surf Classic was held at Fistral on August Bank Holiday weekend, with a prize pot of £800. This comp was the beginning of the behemoth that has become Boardmasters.
1986- Newquay hosts a round on the World Tour, with Tom Curren and Brad Gerlach battling it out on Fistral Beach.
1990- Surfers Against Sewage was formed in St Agnes Church Hall. From small beginnings this strategic pressure group have become major players in the fight for our oceans and waterways. And put on a few epic parties in the meantime….
1995- The movie Blue Juice premieres in Newquay. Surfing and Cornish beach culture hit the big screen in this 90’s belter. We still love it, even if the surf scenes were filmed in Fuerteventura.
1999- Newquay’s Russell Winter becomes the first European ever to qualify for the WCT, where the top 44 riders in the world compete in a series of surf destinations.
2014- Storm Hercules brings the largest-ever waves to these shores, with 27ft waves breaking off Land’s End.
2018- Pegleg Bennett represents England in the Adapted World Championships in La Jolla, placing 6th. A familiar face around Cornwall, Pegleg still competes and coaches and continues to work to bring disabled surfing in line with the mainstream sport.
2023- The Boardmasters Foundation donates £115,000 to local Cornish charities and organisations, raised at the surf and music festival.
2024- Newquay’s Ben Skinner places 3rd in the WSL Longboard Tour, while his son Lukas wins two titles at The Boardmasters Open. What with another Newquay local, Lauren Sandland winning the Junior Girls Open, fresh from her win at the British Women’s Championship, some may say that Cornish surfing is really taking its place on the world stage. Just give me a minute while I grab my board………..