When you think of surfing, you might think of Bondi Beach, Hawaii, or the coastline of Mexico.
However, the UK is home to many incredibly beautiful beaches and the sport is becoming more and more popular across the country.
How popular is surfing in the UK?
Surfing has grown in popularity in recent years: in 2021, Lifestyle Daily reported that surfing was named the UK’s most common action sport, making up more than a quarter of all UK-based activities surveyed.
According to Dossier 2023, 189,000 people in the UK took part in activities such as surfing, bodysurfing, bodyboarding and kitesurfing in recent years, showing how many people are involved in the sport.
In fact, surfing is so popular that it is set to be included in the 2024 Paris Olympics. This could boost surfing’s popularity across Europe, as it has only been included once before.
Commenting on this increase, Nick Hounsfield, founder of The Wave and director of Surf England, said in an interview with Elle magazine, “We know there’s an Olympic effect, with interest in new sports and guest events increasing especially during the Olympics. We currently welcome around 70,000 surfers a year, but we’re hoping that this year’s Olympics will lead to an increase in demand from people wanting to learn to surf.”
Where are the UK’s surfing hotspots?
Britain has thousands of miles of coastline and many beaches are famous among surfers, with some of the most popular areas including Cornwall, Devon and Wales.
Beaches such as Fistral Beach, Polzeath, Porthlevel, Croyde and Woolacombe are famous amongst those looking to enjoy wave riding.
For those who can stand the cold, Scottish hotspots like the Hebrides also attract surfers, although wetsuits are recommended to keep warm.
Startup Surfing
Given surfing’s growing popularity, it’s no surprise that startups are popping up all over the world to serve this growing community.
Let’s take a look at some…
Predonsurf Co., Ltd.
Predn is on a mission to make surfing more sustainable with custom surfboards. The company focuses on building boards that don’t impact performance and have less of a negative impact on the environment than other options.
The company uses wood, flax and cork, uses 100% renewable energy in its production and is committed to developing environmentally friendly boards that perform just as well as conventional boards.
Surfpreneurs Club
Surfpreneurs Club is at the forefront of building a global community of entrepreneurs in the surfing sector.
Connecting over 700 members, users can collaborate with others and build partnerships to grow their business.
Surfland
The Surfland app allows surfers to track the weather, buy equipment and find others in the community.
Not only that, but the app also allows surfing enthusiasts to find the best spots to explore and the best hotspots, helping you plan the perfect trip.
Surfmapper
Originally from Brazil, Surfmappers allows surfing enthusiasts to discover and share surfing images.
Photographers can use the site as a marketplace to sell their photos, surfers can purchase popular images for their own personal use, and surfers can browse photos of popular hotspots to help plan future trips.
JUC Surf
Australian-based JUC Surf develops recycled carbon fibre surfboards made from materials that would otherwise end up in landfill.
The company is focused on producing recyclable, high-performance boards, helping people make more sustainable surfboard choices.
Surf Line
Not a startup, but definitely a useful tool, Surfline provides live surf reports and weather tracking across the United States.
The company also offers surfing photos, videos, and articles, making it the perfect app for wave enthusiasts.
