27th Jesus surf classic

27th Jesus surf classic

Saturday 14th of September saw a busy action-packed day with over 60 under 16’s surfers involved in the very popular 27th Jesus Surf Classic (Part 1) taking place at its traditional home of Croyde beach North Devon. Unfortunately, with the swell forecast not looking good for Sunday organisers took the early decision to only run three of the eight divisions on this weekend in order to try to make the best of the waves on offer. This turned out to be the right call with great surf for the groms on Saturday, and as predicted flat conditions on Sunday.

Organisers Christian Surfers UK created a great little contest tented venue, and at 8 am on Saturday morning the car park was full of many of the U.K.’s top under 16 surfers.
The sun shone throughout and with light offshore winds and 2 to 3-foot surf on offer for most of the day the surfing performances were top class, although there was still a really great vibe throughout.
With regards to the results themselves, it was a great weekend for Perranporths Lucas Skinner, winning two categories. He took the U12’s title (For the 2nd year running) in a hotly contested final ahead of Fynn Gillespie and brother Heath, with Nikita Petrov in fourth.

In the under 14’s division Lucas again triumphed in a tight heat , ahead of Fynn Gillespie, who surfed really strongly throughout the event . Newquay’s Gabe Llewellyn took third ahead of Welsh surfer Eli Perrin-Davies (Ogmore)
In a hotly contested under 16’s final Brauntons Alex Townsend pipped Jerseys Max Bennett (2nd) and Bertie Norman (3rd), with Jed Wood also surfing well getting into the final. With both of the girls events being postponed until the next date, it was great to have some of the young ladies mixing it up with the boys and performing very well.

The presentation took place in bright sunshine at around 4:30 PM where the champions were crowned, and thanks given out, as well as Christian Surfers member Josh Cole sharing a little about his faith and the importance of it in his life.
The presentation platform was also shared with BBC presenter Geeta Pendse, who along with her team had been capturing the event for an upcoming edition of BBC Sunday live. Contest director Phil Williams turned the tables on Geeta by asking her a few questions, presenting commemorative T-shirts to the BBC team and thanked them for their hard work during the day. Phil Williams (Head of Christian Surfers UK) also thanked all those involved in making this event such a great community day, competitors, spectators, families and friends, the 50+ volunteers from Christian Surfers throughout the UK, and God for providing waves which enabled the competition on Saturday to be completed.

Please make a note of next year’s dates September 19 and 20th 2020.

In addition to all those mentioned above the Jesus Surf Classic team would like to thank amongst others Parkdean holidays for the use of the beach and car park, the local RNLI team for water safety, the local churches as well as Nailsea churches for the BBQ, and cakes etc. Big thanks also to media team Andy Holter (Photography) and Si Cotter video(Ruwac Productions)

In addition to all those mentioned above the Jesus Surf Classic team would like to thank amongst others Parkdean holidays for the use of the beach and car park, the local RNLI team for water safety, the local churches as well as Nailsea churches for the BBQ, and cakes etc. Big thanks also to media team Andy Holter (Photography) and Si Cotter video(Ruwac Productions)

A fantastic Saturday had by all, and as soon as a new date has been confirmed for the remaining five categories this will be communicated widely to those that have previously entered, and through social media platforms.
The next in the Jesus Surf Series will be the 12th Jesus Longboard Classic, which will be held at Polzeath (North Cornwall) over the weekend of 12th-13th October with great hospitality from the Tubestation.

The registration portal is now open here.

For any further information on the work of Christian Surfers UK log onto christiansurfers.co.uk or contact [email protected]

Photos: Andy Holter

27th Jesus Surf Series 2019

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]

Will Bailey takes the win at Jesus Surf Classic

Conditions for this years 25th Anniversary Jesus Surf Classic from a week away always looked as though they would be challenging, and so it proved, but despite that it was a hugely successful event.

Organisers Christian Surfers UK have been putting on this event at Croyde bay, North Devon, on an annual basis, attracting many of the UK finest surfers. This year was no different, with over 150 places filled to compete in the 8 categories. In an attempt to encourage the reduction of plastic use at the event, every competitor got a commemorative mug, with drinks discounts if they used them for tea, coffee or water refills.

Due to the stormy conditions predicted, especially on Sunday afternoon it was evident that the 63 scheduled heats could not be completed, so contest organiser and head of Christian Surfers UK Phil Williams, made a decision along with his team on Wednesday to omit the U12’s, U14’s Boys/Girls and U18 Girls from this weekend, a wise decision !!

Instead those categories will be held, conditions permitting on 30th September, at the same venue.

Conditions on Saturday morning started off in blustery 3-4ft North Westerly winds, and first heats for the 100+ competitors got underway at 08.30. Double peaks were the order of the day for the first few hours, to ensure the event was completed by midday on the Sunday.

Quality of the competitors was outstanding with many of Britain’s top surfers competing in all categories, and with £300 for the winner in both men’s and women’s there was lots to compete for.

For those not in the water, the big marquee was an ideal shelter from the wind, with refreshments, home made cakes, BBQ, live music and Crepe, and the great community spirit of the contest continued all day until 4pm, with only the 11 heats to run on the Sunday left.

The stacked Open Semi finals, witnessed some amazing surfing in a building swell, losing previous winners Joss Ash, Jobe Harris, as well as Kit Innes & wales Logan Nicol.

DAY 1 ended, with far less rain than predicted and lots of smiles, even from those that were sadly knocked out.

Sunday morning dawned with the storm predicted to kick in just after lunch, wind had switches to South Westerly, surf in the 3ft range but both Surf and swell predicted to increase rapidly.

11 heats later, the final hooter sounded and the rains came down, Gods timing or co-incidence?
In a packed marquee the five categories were announced, as well as a speciality ‘Phil Pechonis’ memorial trophy awarded to Jo Morris.

Christian Surfers member and Ex Aussie Dave Kemeny, now living in West Wales shared about his faith briefly and why he has served this event for so many years, before Phil announced the winners.

It was a North Devon double victory in the Open Divisions, with Peony Knight taking the ladies division, ahead of Emily Currie with two solid scores, and Will Bailey retaining his Men’s title in a tight head against Stu Campbell making a rare return to the UK after spending the last few years in Australia.

In the Junior divisions, competition was equally tight, and in the U18 Men’s, South Coast Noah Capps, just took the title by 0.10 ahead of Kit Innis, and in the U16, normal business was resumed with Stan Norman taking yet another title, in preparation of his trip to Tokyo representing England in the Junior World Surfing Games. In the always hotly contested Masters division (Over 35’s), there was a new name on the trophy with Rob Watson, taking the title, trophy and cheque ahead of Welsh, South African import Ingemar Cressey.

For a full list of the results, and photo gallery head to www.christiansurfers.co.uk or Facebook Page Jesus Surf Series CSUK.

Christian Surfers would like to thank so many people for making this event and previous years, such a huge success, and these include RNLI, Parkdene, Hotdoggers, the huge army of Christian Surfers volunteers from around the country, Si Cotter (Video edit), Andy Holter (Photographer), the cake makers, and local church, Chris Clark (Daily bread surfboards, for some amazing trophies, and a special thanks to the competitors, and spectators, and obviously a big thanks to God for waves and the ocean that we can play in.

One hour later and the storm had really hit, 40+ mph winds and an out of control Croyde …. Phew

Part 2 of the JSC 2017 will be held on 30th Sep, the 10th Jesus Longboard Classic will be at Polzeath on Oct 7th and 8th, and the 26th Jesus Surf Classic is scheduled for Sep 8th and 9th 2018

For more details on the event or the work of Christian Surfers check out www.christiansurfers.co.uk or e-mail [email protected]