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27th Jesus Surf Series 2019

With just over one week to go and just over 100 registrations already, plans are moving at pace for this very popular surf Festival weekend in North Devon
Christian Surfers UK are pleased to be hosting the 27th running of the Jesus Surf Classic, with around £2000 in prize money, taking place at its traditional venue of Croyde Bay, North Devon over the weekend of September 14th and 15th 2019. Traditionally, this event attracts over 130 of the UK's top surfers, who compete in its eight categories starting with the under 12s right through to the over 35s division. Weather permitting, the event will also include the very popular Big Move skate contest on the mobile skate park. As always, a big thank you goes to Parkdean for allowing us to run the event on their beach.
Places are rapidly filling up, so if you haven't booked make sure you do as the last few years we had to cap the number of entries. Click through to the entry portal link here:

This year the event clashes with the British team at the ISA world surfing games in Japan (all the best to the GB competitors) which means there are more opportunities for fresh winners in the main categories at this event.
As well as the contest itself, there is always a great vibe around the marquee with refreshments, BBQ, live music and surf movies. Check out the edit from last years event.

This year we are also linking up with the ‘Wave project’ and if competitors or spectators have old surf gear (Boards, wetsuits, leashes or good condition clothing, that they want to donate they can bring along and we will ensure that the local wave project team collect them and make good use of them, to help support their work.

Check-in for all those competitors who will have registered will be 8 am at the Parkdene Beach carpark (North end of Croyde), for what we hope will be a fantastic weekend of surfing.

In addition for your diaries Polzeath in North Cornwall will host the 12th Jesus Longboard Classic which grew out of the Jesus Surf Classic when its popularity made it impossible to run the event over one weekend, will be held over the weekend of October 12th and 13th. As usual, first-class hospitality and a warm welcome from our partners the Tubestation await all surfers and supporters. With over £1000 worth of prizes, competition levels will be high within an event that has a great community spirit. More details will follow in the next few weeks.

As always, Christian Surfers wants to thank in advance their partners who help to organise these events, and obviously a huge thanks goes to all the Christian Surfers volunteers who run them, and the fantastic support that the events get from the competitors and support crew.

For more information on the work of Christian Surfers, and all the latest news on events, either log on to the Facebook page – Jesus Surf Series CSUK, or the website christiansurfers.co.uk or e-mail [email protected]

Rip Curl GromSearch UK series kick off at Great Western.

Lukas Skinner set the early tone with this massive boost in Heat 1 Day 1

Great Western Beach in Newquay provided the amphitheatre for the first stop of the GromSearch UK Series.

Surfing England made the decision to switch from the main location of Watergate Bay due to the large end of summer swell and what a great move it turned out to be. The swell rolled in, the sun popped its head out and the Slope Beach Bar provided great hospitality.

Reen Bowden boosting with Newquay as the perfect backdrop

Action was hot from the very first heat to the last and the 75 entrants displayed the depth of talent in the UK juniors right now. Lukas Skinner lit up the beach with several crowd inspiring airs in the first heat of competition and throughout the event but still was pushed into 2nd place by a rapidly improving and solid display by Reen Bowden.

In the 12’s girls it was great to see surfers travelling from as far as Wales and Newcastle to compete but in the end it was local Newquay surfer Eva Blackford who took the win. Another local Megan Webb took the U14’s girls title and in the U16’s Welsh sensation Alys Barton proved she is simply unstoppable in the GromSearch. Last years’ series winner still has fresh memories of competing in the World Finals in Costa Rica and is again in the hot seat for a qualifying spot this year.

Welsh sensation Alys Barton continued her total domninance of the Grom Search with yet another win

The boys U14’s was a particularly strong field and in the final it was Max Miller-Cooley who selected the best waves and executed them well for a solid win over Guernseys Tom Hook, a resurgent Gabe Llewellyn and a ripping Jed Wood. Stanley Norman came into the event as top ranked U16 and his intentions were clear with the win firmly in his sights from heat 1. With a big air reverse in the final he sealed the deal over an impressive Sam Hearn, Kieron Smith and Alex Townsend. His move also delivered him the Smith Optics Move of the Event award. Stan now sits in prime position for the golden ticket for the World Final Qualification.

U16 Winner Stan Norman also took out the Smith MOve of the Event with this big rotation

All attention is now towards the final deciding event in Jersey scheduled for 7/8th September where the series champions will be crowned. The U16 Boys and Girls overall winner gets the golden ticket to the World Final. In addition the 2,3,4,5th placed U16’s Boys and Girls qualify for the European Final.

U16 Boys

1- Stan Norman

2- Sam Hearn

3- Kieron Smith

4- Alex Townsend

U16 Girls

1- Alys Barton

2- Belle Betteridge

3- Tegan Blackford

4- Lauren Sandland

U14 Boys

1- Max Miller Cooley

2- Tom Hook

3- Gabe Llewellyn

4- Jed Wood

U14 Girls

1- Meghan Webb

U12 Boys

1- Reen Bowden

2- Lukas Skinner

3 - Heath Gillespie

4- Nikita Petrov

U12 GIRLS

1- Eva Blackford

2- Willow Harlyn-Smith

3- Ava Perry

4- Kaja Millward

Smith Optics Move Of The Event

Stan Norman

Lauren Sandland lining one up in the Girls 16s final

Jed Smith part of a stoked and solid bunch of Welsh entrants

GromSearch Division Winners Alys Barton, Eva Blackford, Megan Webb, Stan Norman, Max Miller Cooley

Grom Search selfie session

Grom came from all over the UK including youngest competitor Summer Marie Moore from Wales

Great Western tucked right in Newquay Bay provided a great venue to kick off the Grom Search series in the UK

Dylan Leo Robinson showing the stoke that Grom Search is now famous for

Bethan Davies made the long trip from Newcastle to be part of the stoked competition

Drunk history – How Eddie Aikau became legend

How Eddie Aikau became legend. Waimea lifeguard, arbitrator between the Aussies and Black Shorts, and the man who paddled into legend gets the hilarious, yet respectful drunk history treatment.

Birmingham makes waves after plans unveiled for landlocked £25 million surf park

Brum joins the wave tub race with plans for a WaveGarden. Press release below.

Planning application for £25 million Birmingham wave park lodged
Park to feature a 5.4-acre Wavegarden Cove^® surf lagoon, outdoor heated swimming pool and hub building
Estimated to create 100 full-time equivalent jobs and attract 250,000 visitors p.a.
Project has backing of top surfers, Olympian and National Governing Body – Surfing England

Birmingham is set to become home to the UK’s most landlocked wave park after plans for a new £25 million facility were revealed today (30 August).

The planning application lodged by Emerge Surf is for a 15-acre site, approximately seven miles to the east of Birmingham’s city centre at Coleshill. Features include a 5.4-acre surf lagoon, powered by Wavegarden’s Cove technology, an outdoor heated swimming pool, a perimeter track for Onewheel self-balancing electric skateboards and a 1,600 sq metre hub building.

The park will be named Emerge Surf Birmingham and will also be home to a surf school, surf shop, café and restaurant, multi-purpose fitness studio, physio and massage room and children’s play area.

With the closest surfable ocean waves more than 100 miles away, this new facility will be a haven for landlocked surfers and those keen to try the sport for the first time.

Situated in North Warwickshire, described by the Chief Executive of North Warwickshire Borough Council, Steve Maxey, as “one of the most dynamic economies in the country,” the wave park will be easily accessible from the M6 and M42 motorways with more than 7.6 million people within a one hour drive of the venue and 27 million within two hours. It is also close to Birmingham Airport, Birmingham International Railway Station and the future HS2 Interchange Station, making it an extremely exciting destination for local, national and international visitors.

Emerge Surf Birmingham is expected to create 100 full-time equivalent jobs, attract around 250,000 visitors a year and deliver an annual economic boost of between £18 million-£21 million to the region.

Current World Surf League Big Wave World Champion Grant ‘Twiggy’ Baker is on board as an ambassador for Emerge Surf, alongside the UK’s top professional surfers Peony Knight and Luke Dillon. Olympic gold medallist Tessa Sanderson CBE is the park’s non-surfing ambassador.

Initial plans, subject to planning approval, show construction commencing late this year and the park opening in spring 2021.

Steve Price, Founder and CEO of Emerge Surf, said:

“It’s an incredibly exciting time in the development of surfing. The mental and physical benefits of the sport are increasingly understood and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics will hugely increase levels of interest and participation. In parallel, the significant strides made in wave pool technologies have the potential to make the sport accessible to all.

“Our vision is to not only provide a world class surfing experience for surfers of all levels, but also a wide range of complementary activities. We are proud to be developing the UK’s most landlocked wave park with the support of our partners, Wavegarden, Surfing England, Surf Life Saving Great Britain, The Wave Project, Future Motion Inc and Seaholm.

“We’re confident that bringing a little slice of the ocean to Birmingham will deliver a positive social impact and boost mental and physical wellbeing. In addition, we’re very keen to work with local schools not only to teach children to surf, but also to offer swimming lessons and instruction in water safety.”

Emerge Surf Birmingham will work in partnership with national governing body Surfing England to deliver certificated surfing tuition and with registered charity Surf Life Saving Great Britain on a wide range of courses for water safety. It is also partnering with The Wave Project to deliver therapy through surfing to local children suffering with a range of mental health issues.

Ben Powis, Operations Director at Surfing England, said:

“There has never been a more exciting time to be involved in surfing. We are in the midst of an artificial wave revolution which will bring our sport and our passion to a whole new audience. Emerge Surf Birmingham is absolutely part of the revolution and we are stoked to be supporting them as their plans develop to bring a world class facility to the Midlands.”

Fernando Odriozola, Co-Founder and Chief Commercial Officer of Wavegarden, said:

“We are extremely excited about Emerge Surf’s plans for Birmingham. As a landlocked city with one of the largest market catchments in the UK, there is a great opportunity to introduce the thrill of surfing perfect waves to a whole new generation of surf enthusiasts.”

Olivers Board raffle to raise money for Bristol Childrens Hospital

Oliver Brown, just 11 years old, made national headlines after he was diagnosed with an extremely rare disease called Myelodysplastic Syndrome - a blood cancer affecting four children per million worldwide.

Over the last 3 years Oliver has undergone two bone marrow transplants, and when Luke Young kindly offered to shape this custom surfboard in support of The Grand Appeal, Oliver was at home with his family making a full recovery.

Unfortunately in May Oliver and his family heard the news that the cancer had returned and that there are no further curative options available. It's now about making sure Oliver's life is filled with as much happiness as possible, in the weeks he has left.

So now Olivers board is being raffled and the money from the tickets you buy will go to the Wallace & Gromit Grand Appeal. This amazing charity supports all areas of Bristol Children’s Hospital by funding pioneering, life-saving equipment and research, including ventilators, a cardiac hybrid theatre and an inter-operative MRI scanner, so patients have access to the best possible healthcare and equipment.

Oliver personally approved the design and helped with parts of the build before signing the board along with Luke Young.

Every year, on average 130 children are diagnosed with a form of cancer within the South West, and the unit in Bristol receives patients from across the UK, and cares for over 370 day patients and around 300 inpatients every year.

Thank you for entering, good luck!

ENTER HERE

SM2K19 Presented by Sharps #OffshorePilsner & TCSS

The South West’s premiere exhibition of traditional surfing and untraditional culture is back for a 3rd year - Welcome to SM2k19

THE SURFING - coming at you across 4 divisions:

'LOG'

'LAYDEEZ'

'BATTERED FISH'

'SEND IT FOR SUMMER' expression session

THE PARTY / art / general shenanigans / food presented to you from The Hell's Mouth Kitchen And Bar.

You’ll need a ticket for this part get one here.

THE FINER DETAILS

FRIDAY

For those who fancy, we’ll have a competitors / social dinner on the Friday night at the Hells Mouth Kitchen and Bar most likely followed by a few #OffshorePilsner’s. Fine art, light tunes and a really good time.

SATURDAY

We’ll formally kick off the surfing from 0700 at Godrevy beach, next to THE HUNGRY HORSEBOX, breakfast, lunch, coffee very good surfing, yes, please.

The Sharp's Brewery #OffshorePilsner pick-up will be on hand for the day also to provide some comfort for competitors and spectators alike.

We’ll run all 4 divisions LOG, Battered Fish, Laydeez & Send it for Summer expression session in the one day. This is the finest display of traditional surfing in Europe. A spectacle to behold.

We’ll be hosting our own after-party this year with the bar opening from 1800. You’ll need a ticket for this years afterparty 1800 - 0300 / Last entry 10pm

1800 doors open with ALFIE
2000 Tyler Crewes(FULL BAND)
2100 - 0300
ALFIE
TOM CHAPMAN
ELPAC
DANCE ARMSTRONG B2B KING LOUIE

OVER 18’S ONLY / ZERO TOLERANCE DRUGS POLICY // CHALLENGE 25 ->
IF YOU ARE LUCKY ENOUGH TO LOOK UNDER 25YRS OLD. PLEASE BRING ID WITH YOU.