Commercialisation

In adverts for everything from clothes and cars to holidays and health insurance – surfing is everywhere. The First Wave has asked surfers what they think about the commercial aspect of their sport.

Surfers

Surf spots

Tim Heyland

Tim Heyland founded Tiki Surf Shop in Wales in the 1960s before moving down to North Devon.

John Adams

John Adams helped pioneer surfing around Penzance and Sennen in West Cornwall in the early 60s. He also ran 'The Winter Gardens' a dancehall in Penzance, a hang out for local surfers and set up Three S Films which created some early British surf films.

Andy Bennetts

Andy Bennetts is one of the pioneers of Scottish surfing. Along with Bill Batten and Ian Wishart he set up the Scottish Surfing Federation in the 1970s and encouraged the development of the surfing scene in Scotland.

Roger Mansfield

Roger Mansfield was born in Newquay. He learned to surf aged 6 and was British Surfing Champion in 1970. He curated the 'Surf's Up' exhibition in 2004 and wrote 'The Surfing Tribe - A History of British Surfing' in 2009. He is Research Consultant for 'The First Wave'.

Steve Skinner

Steve Skinner grew up bellyboarding in Jersey and took to stand-up surfing in the early 70s. He set up the Jersey Longboard Club in 1991 and was President of Jersey’s surf club in 95-96 before moving to Cornwall. His son is professional surfer Ben Skinner.

Al Brooks

Al Brooks was one of the first people to sell surf equipment in London.

Ian Hill

Ian Hill was one of the first people to surf using a Malibu board in Northern Ireland. He was a pioneer of surfing in the country and went on to start one of the first surf shops in his area. His son is Andy Hill.

Robyn Davies

Brought up surfing Porthleven, Robyn Davies won numerous British titles in the 1990's and competed on the ASP Women's WCS Tour in the early 2000's

Spencer Hargraves

Former European and British champion Spencer Hargraves got into surfing in Newquay aged 12 and hasn't looked back.

Jayce Robinson

Jayce Robinson started surf lifesaving at a young age and started surfing aged 8. He won the UK pro tour in 2012 and the English Championships in 2010. He is based in St Ives.

Jayce Robinson

Jayce Robinson started surf lifesaving at a young age and started surfing aged 8. He won the UK pro tour in 2012 and the English Championships in 2010. He is based in St Ives.

Jayce Robinson

Jayce Robinson started surf lifesaving at a young age and started surfing aged 8. He won the UK pro tour in 2012 and the English Championships in 2010. He is based in St Ives.

Norman Frost

Norman Frost joined Porthtowan SLSC in the late 1950s. He founded Swell Surf Products, building surfboards that were easy to learn on. He is now a Director of Sustainable Composites, creating surfboards made of more eco-materials. He is married to Pip Frost.

Mark Bailey

A Poldu lifeguard in the 70s, Mark Bailey grew up in Sennen as a teenager and surfed Porthleven Reef early on.

Mark Bailey

A Poldu lifeguard in the 70s, Mark Bailey grew up in Sennen as a teenager and surfed Porthleven Reef early on.

Minnow Green

Robert Green joined Hayle SLSC in 1966 and got his first board in 1967. Called Minnow because he was competent in the water and was small, he was 3 times British Double Ski Champion. Now based in St Agnes, Minnow set up the British Longboarding Union in 1996.

Chris Griffiths

Chris 'Guts' Griffiths won numerous Welsh, British and European titles during the 80s and 90s. Today he and shapes boards on the Gower in Wales.

Johnny Manetta

Johnny Manetta moved to Cornwall from London in 1969/70. He has been shaping boards and part of Tris Surf Shop in Porthtowan since 1974 and organised the Cornish and Open through the 70s and 80s.

Arlene Maltman

During the summer of 1976, aged 12, Arlene Maltman borrowed boards and suits and kept practicing in the whitewater. She won the European Championships in 1984 and the British in 1984. She is President of Jersey Surf Club.