Jersey Surfing History a personal view. . . by Jeremy Oxenden

Jersey Surfing History as far as I know...

Surfing started in Jersey in the early 1920's, Nigel Oxenden travelled to South Africa , Australia and Hawaii just after WW1 and picked up surfing along the way , as well as reading Jack London's account of learning to surf in Hawaii .

Nigel with friends Messrs Martin and Gordon from the Jersey Swimming Club started surfing on 5 feet long home made wooden boards, these were made from two pieces of floor boards one inch thick joined with cleats.

In 1923 there were enough people surfing to form The Island Surf Club of Jersey , the club was formed to educate people about the sea and surf to help stop people from drowning, and as far as I know it was a social club not a competitive club .

Most of the surfing was done lying down on surf boards , but Archie Mayne at some time in the 20's made an 8 foot board and surfed standing up occasionally.

Many people surfed in Jersey between the wars, there were beach huts all along St Ouens bay and in the summer time families used to spend the weekend at there beach huts .

After WW2 prone surfing started up again.

A 10 foot Waikiki Pacific Homes surf board has been found in Jersey we think it came here in the late 40's or early 50's a Dr who lived in California brought her over here .

In about !957 or 58 some South African lifeguards were employed at the Water Splash by Harry Swanson , they brought there surf boards with them , they had hollow ply wood surf boards 12 to 14 feet long .

The lifeguards had the plans to construct these boards and wood try to sell the plans to any one how was interested .

Tommy and Richard Bates used to make these boards for surfing on and for paddle racing , there were ply wood rescue sky's made as well . The Jersey Surf Board Club was formed in 1959 .

The Bates brothers started making fibre glass surfboards in the 1960's also Silver Yates surf board started up in the 60's and Wheels Williams shaped surf boards there . Many Jersey surfers started regular surf trips to Biarritz in the 60's .

Freedom Surfboards started in the early 1970's .
In the 1980's there was a Surf Sky Club with about 40 or 50 members but it faded way .

The Jersey Surf Kayak club is still going and is very successful on the world stage .

In 1990 the Jersey Long Board Riders Association was formed because long board surfing had made a big come back .

The Jersey Body Boarders {club} started up in 2004 and is a fun and competitive organisation .

Jeremy Oxenden on the left

Article by Jeremy Oxenden exclusively for Freaksurfmag.com

Photos Courtesy : Jeremy Oxenden Family Archives