Surfers get £94,000 for coaching

Young surfers will benefit as the sport becomes more professional

A sum of £94,000 is being given to the Newquay-based British Surfing Association (BSA) to pay for a full-time coach.

The new position is being funded by Sport England for three years.

The BSA also wants to build a surf club structure to support the sport in the South West.

The BSA said the grant, the first significant government funding for 10 years, was a major boost for the organisation and for British surfing.

The sport is getting very professional and you need coaching Alan Stokes

For years the top surfers have been self-taught, but one of the local elite surfers, Alan Stokes, thinks a coach will help youngsters.

The two-times British champion said: "When I started there wasn't any coaching. But the sport is getting very professional and you need coaching.

"I think this is a great turn of events for British surfing. I think we shall see some talent coming through that we would never have seen. I'm stoked for them."

Tony Good, of the Newquay Boardriders Club, said: "It's a great starting point.

"We have a major industry here in the South West and it's good to see the government recognising that."