Alex Wade

by Leo Wallace

Alex Wade, Times columnist and author of Surf Nation, talks to us about the joys of surfing in the UK, and shares his favourite camping spots for beginners who don't yet know their Backdoor from their Backside Air.

BCUK : So how did you first get into surfing?

AW: In my teens I used to be a windsurfer off Exmouth, south Devon, but one of my friends insisted surfing was better. Eventually he wore me down and we made the traditional trek to Saunton, Croyde, Puttsborough etc - most of the North Devon spots. It didn't take long for me to realise that my friend was right.

BCUK: Your book is a wonderful celebration of surfing in the UK, and a testament to all those making the most of what mother nature in this country has to offer. What would you say to those people who don't consider UK beaches as a serious alternative to their foreign counterparts?

AW: Come over here and come for a surf! We have an incredible array of surf spots, from mainly beach breaks in Cornwall and Devon to the reef and point set-ups of Wales, the North-East, Scotland and Ireland. We're an island in the Atlantic, so we're never short of swell. You can live here and surf 200+ times a year, easily. Sure, it's cold in the winter, but the hardiness entailed in being a UK surfer makes us one of the most stoked surfing nations on earth.

BCUK: Where are some of your favourite breaks in the UK?

AW: My local breaks - Sennen Cove and Gwenver. The former is fickle but the latter, on its day, is one of the best waves in the country. I've also got a soft spot for Saunton, which is where I rode my first wave, and even though it is almost always a close-out, I love Porthcurno, too.

BCUK: Could you recommend any beaches for those campers wanting to try surfing for the first time?

AW: Saunton Sands in North Devon would have to be my first choice. There's miles of golden sand and the waves are nice, easy and mellow - perfect for beginners. There are also some great campsites in my neck of the woods, around Sennen Cove and Treen, which is above Porthcurno. Beginners shouldn't paddle out at Porthcurno, though - head along the coast to Sennen Cove instead. Another truly beautiful spot is Bantham in south Devon.

BCUK: For many beach camping enthusiasts, the traditional romantic image of a VW camper van with surf boards lovingly attached will seem like an unbeatable combination. Do you have any fond memories of camping by the beach in the UK?

AW: I've got some great memories of camping at Hollywell Bay, near Newquay, when I was 18, and surfing and skating my brains out so much every day that I was too tired to go to the pub in the evenings. I didn't have a van but I did have a Mini (which did some shredding of the old Hollywell skate park itself...). How much better would the experience have been with a van and all mod cons? A lot, as I found out during a month's camping and surfing in France the same year. It might be a cliche, but it's a rite of passage.

Surf Nation is a critically acclaimed and truly seminal snap-shot of surfing culture in the UK, providing an absolutely fascinating insight for all those interested in the sport. We highly recommend that you get it read soon. Buy it now from Amazon or any other major book shops.

Pictures: alexwade.com and Ocean Image