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| Silver Surfers: the old boys still ruling the waves |
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Page 1 of 2 Chris Handy looks at the old school of surfing who still have a few tricks to teach the youngsters. For many a mention of surfing conjures up images of bronzed Adonis-like figures wildly riding the surf in pursuit of an adrenaline-fuelled lifestyle.  However, in Cornwall the original home of surfing in Britain, many of the surfers from the ’60s are still riding high. These are the fishermen, miners and farmers who surfed as a way of fun, exercise and relaxation, and are refusing to let the passing years force them into hanging up their wetsuits to dry for good. Here is the story of one Cornish village where the silver surfers of yesteryear and still carving it up, passionate as ever about the sport that has come as second nature to Cornish people all over the world. Less than two-and-a-half miles off the Chiverton Cross roundabout lies the seemingly sleepy village of St Agnes. Far from the maddening crowds of Truro, St Agnes rests with the Beacon for a pillow, leaving its feet dabbling in the mighty Atlantic ocean swells, with the heart of the village nestling comfortably in the bracken like an old mythical ogre. Founded on tin mining but now a coastal resort, its dual character is reflected in its history and fine vernacular buildings. Miner’s cottages and mine owner’s houses appear to cling to the steep slopes of the valley sides, with the higher moorland forming a wild backdrop beyond. The sea captain’s cottages of Stippy Stappy, grand engine houses and old mine buildings; the old market standings of Churchtown and the legendary lost harbours of Trevuance Cove evoke times when values and fortunes were far from today’s fast-paced attitude. Standing guard 200 feet on the jagged cliff-tops, the Wheal Coates tin mine still captures the imagination as one of the best-known and most picturesque groups of cliff-top buildings in Cornwall, reflecting the essence of the Poldark novels. These magnificent monuments have stood the test of time and pay homage to an industry that not only shaped its surrounding landscapes, but also the economy of Cornwall. St Agnes ceased to be an industrial settlement by definition by the start of the early 1930s with mining operations and development existing only on a smaller scale by the end of the 1950s. With its mighty economic status dwindling, St Agnes had no other alternative but to flaunt its historical heritage and ethereal beauty through tourism incorporating attractions such as tin streaming that was undertaken at Blue Hills. At present St Agnes has an abundance of holiday accommodation within its boundaries and in the surrounding parish, and basks in the knowledge that it remains an important asset as the centre of one of the principal tourism areas in Cornwall, for which it acts as a major service and marketing centre. In addition the settlement continues to provide a service role for the surrounding agricultural communities. Yet once the historical layers of St Agnes are peeled back it becomes apparent that there is an undercurrent culture that runs silently through the community. Among the bed and breakfasts and quaint village shops there resides an almost invisible industry that has had a profound effect on St Agnes over the last decade. Surfing has passed through many evolutionary design styles and fashion phases, which over the years has created an industry and generic look that has been adopted by surfers and non-surfers alike, resulting in a £200 million a year sport, half of which is generated in the south west of Britain. According to data available from the Maritime Museum it was in 1918 that surfing arrived on British shores in its most basic form in the shape of wooden belly-boards. The sport instantly became popular in Cornwall. Surfing’s history can be dated back to the early sightings recorded by Captain James Cook in 1778, when he witnessed a number of indigenous people of Hawaii ‘wavesliding’ on solid boards. |
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