History
In 1923, Nigel Oxenden formed the Island Surf Club of Jersey after learning to surf in South Africa, Australia and Hawaii, after the first world war. Nigel made his own wooden boards complete with rope leashes. Today, Nigel's grandsons still surf and actually still have the boards their grandfather made. Nigel once wrote, refering to the equipment available at the time, "Round these shores there is no hope of learning to stand up, as is done by the Hawaiian Islanders".
Many years later, South African lifeguards were brought over to patrol the area of beach in front of the Watersplash. The lifeguards brought over huge heavy surfboards and were to become the Islands first stand-up surfers. .It wasn't long before this new form of wave riding caught on with the locals, and just a year later in 1959 the Jersey Surfboard Club (JSC) was formed, with Dr. Peter Lea being elected as first club President.
The first surfing Championships actually took place at the Watersplash in 1963, and within a few years with Dave Beaugeard taking over at the helm of the club, the JSC soon became one of the most successful clubs in Europe. In 1968, 5 out of 6 of the British surf team, which travelled to Peurto Rico for the world championships were Jerseymen. During the next two years the club staged the first two European Championships, both being won by Jersey's Gordon Burgis.
The 'Beginning of the Jersey Surfboard Club' by Gordon Burgis
Stand up Longboard surfing activity started in Jersey in 1958.
After making contact and subsequent conversations with several of the early surfers in the the classic John Houlebecq picture taken in 1959. Peter Lea,Charlie Maine, Mike Wilkinson, Robin Stevens, Willy Williams and other connected people, Jackie Rumball, Pete Gould, Dave Swanson Beaugie and surfing pioneer, Bobby Burdon in South Africa, as you know part of an exciting three way call with Grimo. From the information and Knowledge gained, there is no doubt that there was group stand up surfing activity in St Ouens bay in 1958.
South Africans Bobby Burdon, Cliff Honeysett and Shorty Bronkhurst introduced the sport to the locals that year. They were employed at Pontins Holiday camp, Plemont from April where Bobby and Cliff made the first surfboards, from floorboards and any off cuts of they could lay their hands on. The trio caught their first waves at plemont beach and then St Ouens, where shortly after Peter Lea bought Cliff's board and the Williams brothers were the first locals to copy, build and surf similar boards along with Brian Rolland mid to late Summer '58.
After discussions at the popular poker dice sessins at the 'Lilly Langtry' during that winter, the Jersey Surfboard Club was inaugurated in May/June 1959 with Peter Lea the driving force. By popular opinion the pic of the new clubs members on the beach was taken mid/ end June. Everything points to and establishes the fact, including the anecdotal evidence, that the early surfers were up and riding waves in St. Ouens bay in 1958.
POINTS OF INTEREST.
1. Cliff, Bobby and Shorty arrived in London in Jan. '58. Whilst visiting the Cinema one evening they watched a short promotional on Jersey and saw the surf breaking in St. Ouen's Bay. The rest is history. They arrived in the Island the beginning of March, stayed at a Guest House in St.Helier, the owner suggested they should go up to Pontins, they did, met the manager who happened to be South African and landed themselves jobs. After meeting Harry Swanson whilst surfing at the 'Splash' they officially started on the beach. Other South African Beach Guard/ surfers including Denis Everett, Bull Lavarack and Chuky Salzman
came and worked at the Watersplash from '59 on.
2. Willy Williams and his brother Tom were the first Jerseymen to build boards of the type in the picture. Willie was recognised generally amongst his peers as the best ability Surfer and paddler of the group.
3. Surfers to be, Pete Gould and Mike Forrest, as part of the Victoria College swimming team competed against the South Africans at Pontins in 1958.
4. Jackie Rumball went out with Denis Everett in the summer of '59. Their names are on the top of Denis's ski ( pic ) She was sixteen at the time.
5. Bobby and Cliff who built the first boards, were the most influential in terms of surfing activity of all the South Africans and stayed the longest, returning regularly each year with new ideas and board designs. Bobby participated in the first C.I. contest, placing second.
6. Graham Sutton at 20 yrs of age was one of the youngest of the group in the photo. He was one of the few who carried on surfing through to the '80's from the original Club members. He travelled extensively with Denis E. and lived and worked in S.A. before coming back to the Island. Tragically passing away recently, he is remembered with much fondness, as a great friend and character by us all.
7. Bobby Burdon is 71yrs young, has a longboard which he surfs occasionally, and only last month finished shaping and glassing a couple of mini mals.
The Jersey Surfboard Club, a club with an early beginning and no ending.....
Gordon '07
The club continued to thrive during the 70's and 80's with Dave Grimshaw as President. During this time the Club continued to produce both British and European Champions. By 1986, Dave became the first ever Vice Honoury President of the European Surfing Federation.
In recent years the club has enjoyed a period of major growth. The size of its events has significantly increased, with the formation of a Channel Island Surfing Federation, including the neighbouring island of Guernsey, has increased competition amongst the younger surfers. In 2000 the club played host to its largest event ever, the Junior European Surfing Championships which attracted national teams from 9 European Nations.
During 2001, the club staged contests for surfers as young as 6 years of age. The future of the club is positive with the Island experiencing record numbers of juniors competing in club events. Excellent surf schools and an enthusiastic committee will see Jersey surfers once again challenging for European honours in the not to distant future. Financial support has been awarded from Allied Irish Bank (AIB) Jersey to help in this quest.
The club continues to maintain its strong European links, with the Executive Committee of the European Surfing Federation (ESF) and the British Surfing Association (BSA). Doug Creedon, former president of the (ESF) still maintains a rapport with the current committee of the (ESF).
In 2007 the Channel Island team reached 5th place, their highest place in a Eurosurf contest for some years. Added to the team succes their was individual success for Clayton Lidster who became European Masters Champion joining the ranks of former European champions, Gordon Burgis, Renny Gould and Dave Ward.
The Juniors have been accepted as part of the Jeux des Isles Games. The games gather together all sports, surfing being one of them, from French speaking Islands and compete yearly. Islands such as Reunion, French Polanesia, French Carribean and the Canaries take part..The Juniors also enjoys the benefits of the AIB Junior Programme. This has been set up in order for younger surfers to compete at a British and European level.
The Channel Island Championships corporate sponsor is Deloite, a leading international Accountancy Firm.
There are approximately 500 members of the Jersey Surfboard Club with over half being junior. There is other events laid on during the year[see events]. The club also relies on volunteer support during the year and without their help none of these events would happen..
