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Surfing in the United Kingdom
Surfers at Pentreath Beach
CountryUnited Kingdom
Governing bodyBritish Surfing
National team(s)Great Britain Olympics team
International competitions

Surfing was first introduced to the United Kingdom in 1890 and has since become a popular pastime, particularly in Cornwall, North Devon, and South Wales.[1] With approximately 500,000 people participating per year, it contributes over £1.8 billion to the UK economy annually.[2] GB Surfing is the primary governing body for the sport of surfing in the United Kingdom.

History

The Museum of British Surfing opened in 2012 in Braunton, Devon.[3] English Surfing Federation is the official board in the United Kingdom for surfing.[4][5] For Wales it is the Welsh Surfing Federation. Surfing in Scotland is a minor sport.[6] There are also a number of popular surfing locations in Northern Ireland.

Russell Winter was the first British surfer to make the World Surfing Championship tour in surfing.[7]

Demographics

Women make up 20% of surfers in the country.[8] 250,000 people participate each year in surfing.[7] Surfing in the UK tends to be a sport participated by the more affluent classes in the society and generates £2billion per year.[9]

National board

In 2019, following on from a collaboration agreement between the Home Nations' surfing federations, British Surfing was established. The organisation describes itself as being "responsible for managing a British Team at selected ISA events which are seen as qualification opportunities for the Olympic games and responsible for managing matters related to elite athlete development at British level by liaising with UK Sport and the British Olympic Association".[10]

Surfing culture in the UK

There are surfing waves all over the United Kingdom from as far south as Sennen Cove in Cornwall right up to Thurso on the North coast of Scotland. Some famous UK surf beaches include Fistral beach, Pease bay, Llangennith beach and Boscombe pier.[11]

See also

Bibliography

References

  1. ^ "Two Hawaiian Princes and their English tutor surf Bridlington - Museum of British Surfing". 23 March 2019.
  2. ^ https://www.surfertoday.com/surfing/surfing-in-the-uk-is-worth-1-8-billion
  3. ^ "Museum of British Surfing". Culture 24. Retrieved 13 August 2016.
  4. ^ Steve England (2 August 2016). "Surfing GB and English Surfing Federation to merge". Carve Surfing Magazine. Retrieved 17 August 2016.
  5. ^ "Surfing GB & English Surfing Federation Announce Merger Plans". Surfing Great Britain. 2 August 2016. Retrieved 17 August 2016.
  6. ^ "North Scotland's Surfers Are Harder Than You". Vice. Retrieved 24 March 2016.
  7. ^ a b "Surfing: Get on board to get fit". Independent.co.uk. 18 October 2010. Archived from the original on 25 May 2022. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
  8. ^ "Surfing: Making waves in the magazine market". Independent.co.uk. 28 November 2005. Archived from the original on 25 May 2022. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
  9. ^ "The economic impact of domestic surfing on the United Kingdom" (PDF). Sas.org.uk. Retrieved 5 November 2018.
  10. ^ "The History of British Surfing". British Surfing.
  11. ^ "Top 5 Beginner Surf Spots UK". Renegades of Surf. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
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