Sport in Jersey in the 1960s: Surfing

I have put below, from "Jersey Topic", in 1966, an article on surfing which shows how it was a major sport and tourism attraction in the mid-1960s.

The wesbite http://surfsverige.se/index.php/artiklar/658-surfing-in-jersey is also worth a view. It notes how:

"The Island Surf School of Jersey was set up in 1923 by Nigel Oxenden, who learnt to surf in South Africa, Australia and Hawaii. It was arguably Europe’s oldest surf club and although it no longer exists, surfing has kept its base around the Watersplash in St Ouen’s Bay where the club was originally started."

Jeremy Oxenden who is Nigel's grandson, also has a good Q&A with vintage photos here:
http://mypaipoboards.org/interviews/JeremyOxenden/JeremyOxenden_2011-0822.shtml

More history of surfing in Jersey is here:
http://jerzzy.co.uk/history-surfing-jersey/

It notes that: "During the 1990’s Jersey as an Island struggled to keep up with the emerging European surfing nations."

However perhaps while not as high profile as the past, now that other nations have got in on the act, some international competitions are still held. The Jersey Open Surfing Championships were held at St Ouen's Bay on Saturday 10th of October 2015 in clean one to three foot waves generated by ex hurricane Joaquin. And while local surfer Ben Skinner is currently the only Island athlete who comes high in international competitions across the world, he can claim to have been number two in the world in 2013. Jersey is still there!

Jersey Topic 1966: Surfing

Surfing is booming in Jersey. The sport that is weeping the world is here to stay. Started in 1958 by South African Life Guards, surfing progressed rather quietly until the introduction of the light-weight, highly manoeuvrable Malibu board five years ago.

Now surfboards are not an uncommon sight in the Island and the once quiet bay of St. Ouen is fast becoming the home of British surf riding.

Surfing takes place throughout the year. However, the welcome visitor should be warned to check his temperature charts, because for at least eight months of the year wet suits are very necessary.

The winter surf brings out the true enthusiast and often the surf is excellent and glassy. The warm current of the Gulf Stream keeps the water warm enough to surf without wet suits from the late spring until the end of October. It is from August until December that surf is at its best in Jersey and swells of six to ten feet are possible.

The birthplace of surf riding was at the Watersplash, and it is in front of this night spot that the best surfing is possible. Fanned by an East wind, a good swell can be whipped into offering the surfer one of the best shore breaks in the world.

Naturally, with the number of riders on the increase, the old hands are tending to spread their wings and seek new surf spots around the coast. La Corbiere will no doubt become popular with the more adventurous, and late last summer an exciting new wave was found a mile away from the Watersplash. Affectionately called "secret" it is quite the finest spot in St. Ouen holding a first-class beautifully-shaped wave.

Without doubt the credit for the fantastic popularity of the sport must go to the Jersey Surfboard Club, whose contests have thrilled thousands.

The first Championship contest was held in 1963, from which Gordon Burgis came out the well-deserved winner, and was subsequently invited to represent Great Britain at the 1st World Surfboard Titles held at Manly, Australia.

The summer of 1964 saw for the first time national titles competed for at St. Ouen, and last year the National and International Titles of Great Britain were organised by the club. The top riders in Britain and Europe competed for the titles and it was unfortunate that "on shore" winds ruined what had promised to be an excellent two day event. In spite of dreadful conditions, a tremendous performance by Rodney Sumpter acquired for him not only the National Title, but also the International.

This August, the club are once again staging the National and International Titles. Rodney Sumpter will be back from his home in Australia to defend his titles, and the best riders from the U.K. and the Channel Islands are eager to demonstrate their improved form.

Adding flavour to the championship will be the International event. First class Australian riders will be competing together with American and French surfers, eager to wrench the crown from young Rodney Sumpter. Given the right conditions the contest will prove to be a first-rate sporting spectacle.

Unfortunately, neither the Surf Club nor their sponsors can organise the weather.

The promotion of contests, the showing of spectacular surf movies, and the arrival of surfing magazines, have all helped to improve the overall standard of our best riders, but it was undoubtedly last year's contest that gave riders the necessary fillip to improve style and the enthusiasts who have braved the winter temperatures have improved tremendously. Competition to in the honour as top local rider is keen and the present holder, Steve Harewood, is being hard-pressed by much improved David Mead. Ian Harewood, recently home after four years in Australia, will also to giving his brother a strong challenge.

The proximity of Jersey to the French Coast enables local riders to match their prowess and ability against the waves of Biarritz. Biarritz is quite rightly described as possessing some of the finest surf beaches in the world, and local riders are frequent visitors, tasting the thrill of riding a crisp ten foot 'La Barre' nave or the excitement of an 18 foot day at famous Guethary. Strong ties of friendship exist between French and Jersey surfers and French surfers are regular visitors to our shores.

To the outsiders, surfers must appear a peculiar bunch, chasing along the length of St. Ouen's Bay, cars laden with surfboards in search of waves. What is it about surfing then, which produces the utter involvement of people? Like motor-racing and skiing, excitement is at the base of it.

Taking off at the top of a green wall of water and the experience of the sudden stomach churning descent down the face, produces a tremendous thrill. The sport demands versatility and control, control of the board to avoid the tons of water which crash down when a wave break

The penalty for a single mistake can be a painful "wipe out"-what happens when the wave traps the rider, burying him for seconds in the foaming water. Recent years have seen the development of a modern style of riding known as "hot dogging." a spectacular style which concentrates on fast slides across the face of the wave, rapid: turns, and cutbacks, and a host of riding stances.

By "walking" toward, the front of his board, the rider can accelerate his speed - experts have developed this into a critical "hanging ten"-when the rider actually speeds across the wave with his ten toes hanging over the nose of his surfboard.

Surfing then, offers the rider the chance of excitement, a chance to put himself closer to the limit of his ability, to match his skill and knowledge against the sea.