-
Captain James Cook discovers surfing in Hawaii
Captain James Cook was a British explorer and navigator within the British royal navy. When he arrived at the shores of Hawaii in 1779 his crew leapt from the boat and joined the locals on their surfboards. This is the earliest account of westerns participating in this ancient past time. -
Captain James Edward Alexander discovers surfing in West Africa
James Edward Alexander was a Scottish traveler and soldier in the British army, he discovered surfing in West Africa. It is said that surfing had developed here without the influence from the Polynesian. Within his diary he said, " They waited for a surf and then came rolling in like a cloud on top of it." -
Charles Steedman published his manual of British swimming
Charles Steedman was an English swimming champion. In 1867 he published his manual. At the end of this manual he said."A small deal board about five feet long, one foot broad, and an inch thick, termed a 'surf board', is of considerable help to a swimmer who is crossing water on which the foam is deep- for by its aid he can raise his head to breathe above the surface of the foam." -
Records of surfing in North Devon
It is said that surfing took place on north Devon as early as 1904. However it is not known how popular surf bathing was at the time. The founder of Braddick's Holiday center, Hobart braddick is pictured in what is likely to be the earliest surfing photo in Britain. (1919 or earlier). -
The illustrated London News featured a picture of surfing
In 1910, on the front cover of the illustrated London News was a picture and article about surfing." Ready to stand upon his board while it is in full forward motion- not such a difficult task after all." -
Britain's first surf club formed
Nigel Oxenden created Britain's first surf club in 1923, called the island surf club. He had traveled after the great war to Hawaii, south Africa and Australia, where he caught the bug for surfing. His picture could be the first time anyone was photographed wearing a leash. -
Country's first wave pool was opened
The pool was created in Wembley, it used hydraulic technology that created ripples in the water. The technology was not advanced enough to deem the wave ride able. -
Railways companies used surfing to advertise holidays
Railway companies noticed the desire of the public to go surfing and used some good advertising to cash in on the interest in surfing in the west. -
Second world war halts surfing in the UK
The war put a stop to the ever growing surfing scene. It was not deemed safe to go outside and many British people were now in poverty. Along with this a lot of men where sent to war and the women had to stay and provide for the family. -
End of the war
The end of the war in 1945 was when peace finally arrived. Soon after the end of the war the people flocked to the beaches in their masses. -
First British surf lifesaving club formed
The first surf lifesaving club was formed in Brighton, soon after Cornwall and Devon had surf lifesaving clubs. -
The Surf Life Saving Association of Great Britain started
The rise in post war tourism lead to a rise in the number of people drowning at UK beaches this led the council to react and start up the Surf Life Saving Association of Great Britain. -
The first fiberglass and foam surf board brought to the UK
Doug McDonnell brought what was believed to be the first fiberglass board to the UK, it was a Malibu board made by Bill Bragg in California. -
Ian Hill pioneered surfing in Ireland
Ian Hill was one of the first people to surf a Malibu board in Northern Ireland, He was a pioneer of the sport and opened the first surf shop in Ireland. -
The British Surfing Association was formed as the governing body
In 1966 The British Surfing Association was formed as the governing body. The Scottish federation was founded in 1973, the English federation was found in 1979. -
Gul started making wetsuits
Gul started making wet suits to keep surfers warm in the harsh British waters. -
The first PRO-AM event in Britian
In 1981 the Newquay Surf classic was held. this was the firs PRO-AM event in Britain and had a prize of £800. -
Surfers against Sewage is formed
Concerns about water pollution around the coast forced the environmental pressure group to be created. They wanted to change water companies attitude and get rid of the pump and dump mindset that had been created.They now help decide policies to protect our oceans. -
The British Surfing Association get liquidated
With many disputes and administrative problems, the British surfing association goes into liquidation after 44 years as the sports governing body. -
Surfing GB is started
Surfing GB is the new governing body for British surfing. The hope to shape the future of British surfing. -
Equal prize money
Men would earn £1000 per competition win and women would earn half £500 for each competition win. The English Surfing Federation decided that for the 2016 season, the women would make equal prize money to the men. Now Mainly all surfing competitions pay equal to both male and female surfers.
