Surfing in the UK: Five Top Tips for Beginners
Nick Rees, 24, is head of operations at Surfing Great Britain, an organisation dedicated to promoting surfing in the United Kingdom.
A long-term fan of surfing, Nick has ridden the waves at many of the world’s most beautiful coastlines. He’s passionate about promoting surfing in Great Britain and getting more people involved in the sport.
With a Wetsuit the Seas are Your Playground
There’s never been a better time for surfing in Great Britain, according to Nick.
“I’d say the state of surfing in the UK at the moment is one of exciting development. It’s growing at a rate that can only be beneficial. We’ve got coaches out there teaching people in the correct way, and the competitive aspect is expanding too.”
Nick thinks the sport’s growing popularity is down to the unique experience that surfing offers and the fact that it’s a cost-effective hobby.
“One of the main reasons surfing is getting bigger is that it’s free. There are no membership fees to pay to your local leisure centre. You literally just have to own a surfboard, a wetsuit and the world’s your playground.
“Another reason surfing is getting more popular is because it’s so unpredictable. You never have two surfs that are the same. You can play any other sport and you pretty much know what’s going to happen, whereas in surfing it’s different every time because it relies on the elements completely. You also get to see some beautiful places while you do it.”
The waves at Fistral Beach in Newquay
The Unique Charm of Surfing in Britain
Nick has been to some of the world’s most famous water sports hotspots, but reserves a special place in his heart for surfing in Great Britain.
“I grew up in The Gower in South Wales, where I started surfing with mates after school when I was about ten. I’m now based in Croyde in Devon, one of the UK’s top surfing locations.
“Before relocating, I went on an extensive surf trip for a year to about 14 different countries, visiting places like Central America, Hawaii, Fiji, New Zealand, Australia, Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand. It was great to experience the sport in so many locations around the world.
“Surfing in the UK is obviously colder than many places abroad, but it’s got its own beautiful way about it. It might not take place in a tropical paradise but there’s a rawness to it, where you feel closer to nature and the elements – just don’t forget your wetsuit.
“The waves can be equally good in the UK as anywhere else in the world, but other countries are maybe a little bit more consistent. It might take a bit more effort, but the rewards are just as amazing.”
UK Surfers Competing on the World Stage
Nick and the rest of the team at Surfing GB are doing their best to promote surfing in the UK at all levels, from beginners to professionals.
“We’re a not-for-profit organisation that runs grassroots and junior surfing projects to look after the future of the sport.
“We also provide governance over surf schools so that when Joe Blogs goes surfing, we know he’s educated enough to handle himself in the water. It can be dangerous so you’ve got to know your stuff before you go in.
“We run lots of national events too, such as the Calypso British Schools Championships, the Interclub Championships, and the POSCA British Nationals.”
Nick was impressed by the performance of Britain’s top surfers in recent international competitions.
“British surfers have been doing amazingly well. The longboarder Ben Skinner came second in the World Championships last year.
“It’s a bit harder for shortboard guys to succeed at international level when the consistency of the waves isn’t always there. Sometimes they have to travel to spend time practising overseas. There are still some who make a good career out of it.
“Andrew Cotton, Tom Butler and Linden Wake are leading the charge on big wave surfing, which is a niche aspect of elite surfing that’s becoming really popular.
“People like Rubin Ash and Tom Lowe are doing a great job as well, so it’s looking positive and we’ve got some good role models in place for the future.”
Will We Ever See Olympic Surfing?
Nick would love surfing to be included in the Summer Olympics Games, but feels there is still a long way to go.
“The whole idea of the Olympics is for everyone to perform on an equal platform, but surfing isn’t necessarily equal because every wave is different and has its own scoring potential.
“Until that’s ironed out we’re unlikely to see surfing in the Olympics as it’s too subjective for judges. I think wave pools could do the trick though. I know the International Surf Association is doing a lot of work to get it in the Olympics, and sports like snowboarding being included in the Winter Olympics may also help. I think the world is generally going that way – towards action sports.”
Five Top Tips for New Surfers
When it comes to surfing, Nick really knows his stuff. Here are his top five tips for those who are new to riding the waves.
1) Look Online for Advice
“Over the past few years surfing has seen a surge in popularity both on the beaches and online. There are lots of places you can find great advice about handling your board and working on your technique. If you take a look at the Surfing Great Britain website there are loads of videos to help you get started.”
2) Join Your Local Surf School or Club
“If you’re looking for expert help, join your local surf school or club. There are many Surfing GB accredited schools around the country that offer beginner lessons, as well as intermediate and advanced tuition.
“A lot of guys teaching are former professionals, so you can learn from the people who know best.”
3) Find the Right Board
“Finding the right board is vital. There are so many options to choose from, but using the wrong sort of board won’t do your surfing any good. You need to find a board that’s the right length, width, thickness, shape, and has the right amount of fins for the type of surfing you’re doing.
“There are so many variables at play, it’s good to ask an expert what’s right for you. You’ll know when you take the right board out on the waves from how it feels and how it surfs.
“A lot of boards are designed for different waves. If you find out how the waves break at your local beach, you can buy a board that’s specific to that type of surfing.”
4) Bigger Boards for Beginners
“Beginners are better off going for bigger, longer and fatter boards. These tend to be very buoyant and allow you to catch the waves more easily, as there is more material for the water to pick up.
“Longboards are quite hard to manoeuvre, whereas shortboards are generally easy to move around, but don’t catch the wave as well.
“Usually, you start out with a long and thick board, but as you progress your board shape will change to adapt to your surfing.”
5) Get Out There and Surf
“One of the biggest challenges for most UK surfers is not being able to get out on the waves regularly. Being close to a consistent surf can be a big advantage for your development. In places like Indonesia and Australia they get really consistent waves so people can surf there most days, whereas the UK doesn’t have such good waves all the time.
“Getting better with surfing is incredibly rewarding, but you have to be persistent and keep practising. Once you’ve got everything you need, the best thing to do is just get down to your local beach as often as you can, keep surfing and keep having fun.”