Surfers ask for more cash support

Some surfers get commercial sponsorship

The Cornwall-based English Surfing Federation has called for more funding for the sport.

About 250,000 people learn to surf each year, but despite the sport's popularity it does not receive any cash from bodies such as Sport England.

The only funding for full time-training comes from the federation's school in Newquay. It says extra money would help nurture young talent.

Sport England said it had invested in some specific surfing projects.

The only thing keeping them back is a lack of funding Lee Bartlett, British Surfing Champion

Surfers said other countries offered government funding for the sport and a lack of cash in the UK was putting British surfers at a disadvantage.

Many professional surfers are subsidised by parents and a few get sponsorship from commercial companies.

Rob Barber, head coach of the English Surfing Federation, said: "If you look at football or rugby or all the other mainstream sports, it is much easier for them to get grants.

"Surfing, even though we have got this massive participation, it doesn't seem to happen."

The federation is hoping to persuade Sport England to release money, saying it would help young talent substantially.

Grants review

Four times British Champion Lee Bartlett said: "The only thing keeping them back is a lack of funding.

"If they had funding to go away to go away and do surf camps in Australia and South Africa, their careers would come along in leaps and bounds."

Jim Clarke of Sport England South West said: "Whilst nationally we don't invest directly in surfing through its governing body; regionally, we have invested in specific projects such as the North Cornwall District Council's CREST project.

"About £122,000 of Active England funding has been awarded to develop progressive opportunities for talented individuals within surfing and other watersports."

A paper will be submitted to Sport England by the federation this year to review the criteria against which sports are considered.