Regional Report — South West England
South West England
The South West has always been the engine room of British surfing — a coastline that produces talent, community, and some decent conditions when the wind decides to play ball. Matthew Hayes, founder and host of The Insiders Podcast, has been at the centre of that scene for years, documenting the people and moments that make it tick. Here's his first dispatch for Carve.
If you needed any proof that the South West is producing talent at a rate of knots, the last few months have certainly made the case pretty obvious. Contests won, deals signed, charitable feats gathering more and more traction along with community events, it's been a busy few months down here, and it feels like we're only getting started.
Lukas Skinner Re-signs to Rip Curl
Lukas Skinner — Photo: Red Bull
One of the world's best talents puts pen to paper with one of the biggest surf companies on the planet. Lukas Skinner, who's been absolutely tearing it up on every competitive stage he's stepped onto this year, along with dropping mind-blowing free surf clips and working on some film parts to come, has officially put pen to paper with Rip Curl. It's a signing that makes perfect sense: the brand that labels them The Ultimate Surf Company, backing one of the most exciting prospects not to come out of the South West, but anywhere on the globe. Congratulations to Rip Curl & Lukas.
Lukas Skinner: WSL Pro Junior Morocco
Lukas Skinner — Photo: WSL
If you missed it, go and find the clip. In the final of the WSL Pro Junior in Morocco, Lukas Skinner produced a wave that stopped people mid-scroll, a legitimate 10-point ride in the final that sealed the win and sent a very clear message to every other junior on tour. A perfect ten. In a final. Abroad. The guy is something else. This is the kind of result that grabs the surfing world's attention and puts down a marker for what is to come, and it won't be the last time we see the name L.Skinner next to a 10-point ride, that's for sure.
"A perfect ten. In a final. Abroad."
Billabong Back Fynn Gillespie
Fynn Gillespie — Photo: Osker Carmichael
Hot on the heels of Lukas's news, Fynn Gillespie has joined the Billabong team. Given the surfing Fynn has showcased in the last year or more, hearing a giant brand like Billabong have put a sticker on the nose of his board was far from surprising. Fynn is a trailblazing signing for Billabong as their only UK rider on the 'Bong team. The day after signing, Fynn repaid the faith instantly when he won the UK Nationals, which we have more on too.
National Champions: Fynn Gillespie & Belle Betteridge
Photo: Surfing England
The nationals delivered in style this year, and the South West had its fingerprints all over the podium. Fynn Gillespie took the men's title in strong fashion, continuing a run of form that's made him one of the most talked-about names on the circuit. Belle Betteridge (Yes from North Devon) meanwhile did what she does, surfed with POWER, composure and no shortage of flair, to claim the women's crown. Two national champions crowned in cooking waves at Fistral Beach. Perfect conditions to crown the new national champions and leave no questions on what ifs.
Surfing England Pro Junior: Skinner and Hicks Lead the Way
The Surfing England Pro Junior Under 21s event took place in boiling hot weather at Watergate Bay and you guessed… Lukas Skinner once again standing at the top of the podium. On the women's side, Georgie-May Hicks delivered a performance that was every bit as impressive. Controlled, powerful, and exactly what you'd expect from someone who belongs at the sharp end of a draw. The added bonus? Runners-up from both draws pocketed Boardmasters wildcards, meaning the ramifications of the result will be felt well into the summer. Those two runners up… Cornwall's own, Fynn Gillespie and Willow Smith.
Rip Curl GromSearch
Photo: @robtibbles
The weekend before the Surfing England Pro Junior Under 21s was held, we welcomed another competition to North Fistral Beach, this time it was the Rip Curl GromSearch who rolled into the South West and delivered everything you'd want from a grassroots event done properly. The standard was high, the energy was higher, and the future of surfing in this region showed up ready to compete. Rip Curl's GromSearch has always had a knack for creating moments, and this one was no different. Events like this are the lifeblood of the next generation, and I applaud Rip Curl and all else involved in pushing our sport forward.
U16 Girls: 1st Coco Arthur · 2nd Lila Skinner · 3rd Callie Cruickshank · 4th Josie Hawke
U16 Boys: 1st Aleks Blampied · 2nd Jensen Martin · 3rd Jack Strutt · 4th Cairo Garcia Plartus
U14 Girls: 1st Betsie Reay · 2nd Bella Llewellyn · 3rd Ellie Hickie · 4th Summer Marie Moore
U14 Boys: 1st Cassius Woudberg · 2nd Albie Gould · 3rd Teijo Boletta · 4th Ollie Philips
U12 Girls: 1st Katarina Roth Gale · 2nd Kaleia Peres · 3rd Maisie Le Moignon · 4th Sophie Busby
U12 Boys: 1st Monty Cole · 2nd Xavier Le Moignon · 3rd Casper Kershaw · 4th Rogan Sharp
Every single one of those names is worth remembering. The depth across every age group was something to behold — this region's pipeline is very much open.
Jensen Martin: Surfing the Swiss Alps with Hurley x WSO
Jensen Martin — Photo: Hurley
Speaking of Jensen, while the GromSearch result was impressive enough on its own, the bigger story came off the back of it. Hurley and Wetsuit Outlet sent the young South West talent on a trip to Alaïa Bay in the Swiss Alps, a wavepool in continental Europe, tucked away at the foot of the Alps, a backdrop that makes every other surf trip look a bit ordinary. Not bad for someone still in the U16 category. Jensen made a mark with Hurley from his surfing performances in the last 2 years and on his first "brand" trip, the performance backed up why he has support of one of surfing's biggest brands. Combining major manoeuvres with airs, barrels and smiles. A once-in-a-lifetime trip but we are sure after his performance, more Hurley trips will be in the diary for Jensen.
Surf Girl Launch Party
Photo: Osker Carmichael
On the 6th of May, Surf Girl threw a launch party that was exactly what it needed to be, and then some. Surfing is all about community and events like this are needed more than ever. Surf Girl delivered.
An evening built around the screening of Undercurrents, live panels with some genuine industry voices, a raffle, first access to the new magazine, goodie bags and boutique finds. More than anything though, it was a proper celebration of a community and a publication that's been championing women in surfing long before it was fashionable to do so. The energy in the room said it all. Big things ahead.
Isaac Friend: 365 Days in the Water for Children in Need
Isaac Friend — Photo: BBC
Sometimes a story comes along that puts contest results in perspective. Isaac Friend set himself a mission at the start of 2026: surf every single day of the year, create a daily edit documenting the journey, and raise money for BBC Children in Need in the process. He's now past the halfway mark.
Rain, flat spells, travel, life, none of it has stopped him. The large majority of his sessions have been in the ocean around Cornwall, but he's taken it to surf camps and wave pools too. On the days when the ocean genuinely won't play ball, he's pulled out the surf skate. The boy will not be stopped.
Follow the journey on Instagram and TikTok at @isaacfriendsurfer, and if you can spare anything, his GoFundMe is live now: gofundme.com/f/surfing-for-children-in-need. Every bit counts.
The waves have been firing, the sun has been out, and Cornwall has been doing what Cornwall does best when everything aligns and that is delivering. The lineups have been pumping, the weather has been scorching, and the mood in the water has matched it. After a season already packed with results, titles and trips worth talking about, there's a real buzz about what the rest of the summer holds. More swell, more events, more of the South West doing its thing. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else.
