More than 80 surfers paddled out at Compton today to say goodbye to Dave Gray with many others lining the cliff tops to give him a really great send off
Feb 11, 2017 | Categories: The Noughties | Tags: archive, beach, blog, compton, Compton Bay, Dave 'Digger' Gray, Dave Gray, David Gray, Digger, history, IOW, IOW Surf Club, Isle of Wight, Isle of Wight Surf Club, people, photo, photographs, portrait, stoked, surf, Surf Trip, surfboard, Surfer, surfing, swell, The Noughties, waves, wetsuit, wightsurfhistory | Comments Off on Farewell Dave Gray
I asked Dave Gray if he would let me interview him for Wight Surf History and eventually he sent me this. We actually planned to do a proper interview and he was going to dig out some old photos but sadly it never happened. A history of surfing on the I.O.W. by David Gray aged […]
Jan 23, 2017 | Categories: Surfer Profiles, The Noughties | Tags: 1970's, 70's, archive, B&W, beach, blackley, blog, compton, Compton Bay, Cornwall, Dave 'Digger' Gray, Dave Gray, Dave Grey, David Gray, david Grey, Digger, Freshwater, freshwater bay, history, IOW, IOW Surf Club, Isle of Wight, Isle of Wight Surf Club, longboard, paul blackley, people, photo, photographs, portrait, stoked, surf, Surf Trip, surfboard, Surfer, surfing, swell, The Noughties, wetsuit, wightsurfhistory | Comments Off on Dave Gray R.I.P.
Wight Surf History has donated two framed photographs from it’s exhibitions which were on show at Dimbola, Sandpipers Hotel and The Waterfront Restaurant and Bar to the Big Art Auction. The Big Art Auction is the start of Wight Trash Skateboards and Ventnor Skate Park Association 12 month plan to raise £50,000 to finally make […]
Mar 28, 2015 | Categories: The Noughties | Tags: Freshwater, freshwater bay, IOW, Isle of Wight, paul blackley, people, photo, photographs, stoked, surf, surfboard, Surfer, surfing, The Big Art Auction, The Noughties, Ventnor Skate Park, waves, Wight Trash, wightsurfhistory | Comments Off on Wight Surf History Prints part of the Big Art Auction
Sid Pitman sadly passed away while on holiday in the Mediterranean last week. Sid will be greatly missed by the whole Isle of Wight Surfing Community. Are thoughts at this time are with Sid’s wife Jan. Sid started body boarding during the early sixties with a homemade plywood board, curved at the front and painted […]
Jul 20, 2014 | Categories: Surfer Profiles, The Noughties | Tags: 1960's, 1970's, 60's, 70's, archive, B&W, beach, Ben Kelly, blackley, blog, Bob Booth, Colin Burgess, Colin Hickey, compton, Compton Bay, Cornwall, Dave Bottrell, Derek Thompson, Doug Saunders, Freshwater, freshwater bay, Geoff (Ned) Gardner, Glynn Kernick, history, Ian Vallender, IOW, IOW Surf Club, Isle of Wight, Isle of Wight Surf Club, Jon Jon Ainsworth, Keith Williams, longboard, Mary Hughes, Mr Cosmic, paul blackley, people, photo, photographs, portrait, Rob Eldridge Dave Saleroe, Roger Backhouse, roger cooper, Rory Angus, Rusty Long, Sid Pitman, Steve Brown, stoked, Sue Ellis, surf, Surf Trip, surfboard, Surfer, surfing, swell, The Noughties, Ventnor, waves, wetsuit, wightsurfhistory | Comments Off on Sid Pitman R.I.P.
Will Rome took on the lumps at Freshwater Bay this morning getting a couple of nice waves.
Dec 19, 2013 | Categories: The Noughties | Tags: archive, beach, blackley, blog, Freshwater, freshwater bay, history, IOW, Isle of Wight, longboard, people, photo, photographs, stoked, surf, Surf Trip, surfboard, Surfer, surfing, swell, The Noughties, waves, wetsuit, wightsurfhistory, Will Rome, William Rome | Comments Off on Lone Surfer at Freshwater Bay
Wight Surf History have been given some great pics taken by Rog Powley of the 1978 South Coast Contest, including shots of Dave Gray, Keith Williams and Sid Pitman. The winner of the competition was Guy Penwarden from Wessex Surf Club. In 1976 surfing for Shore Surf Club, ex English Champion and Honorary President of […]
Dec 18, 2013 | Categories: The Seventies | Tags: 1970's, 1978, 70's, archive, B&W, beach, blog, comp, Competition, compton, Compton Bay, contest, Dave Gray, David Gray, Digger, history, IOW, IOW Surf Club, Isle of Wight, Isle of Wight Surf Club, Keith Williams, longboard, people, photo, photographs, Rog Powley, Roger Powley, Sid Pitman, South Coast, stoked, surf, Surf Trip, surfboard, Surfer, surfing, swell, waves, wetsuit, wightsurfhistory | Comments Off on 1978 South Coast Contest
The Noble Art of Varp Lighting – From a 1977 edition of the Isle of Wight Surf Club’s magazine ‘Wight Water’. (Or the quickest known way of clearing a Crantock Pub of locals) You may have been fortunate or unfortunate enough to have taken part in one of the IOWSC’s trips to the West Country. […]
Dec 18, 2013 | Categories: The Seventies | Tags: 1970's, 70's, archive, B&W, blog, compton, Compton Bay, history, IOW, IOW Surf Club, Isle of Wight, Isle of Wight Surf Club, longboard, Sid Pitman, stoked, surf, Surf Trip, surfboard, Surfer, surfing, swell, Varp lighting, waves, wetsuit, wightsurfhistory | Comments Off on The Noble Art of Varp Lighting
Russell ‘Rusty’ Long was one of the first to ever surf on the Island and became one of the original members of the Isle of Wight Surf Club. Here are selection of images of Rusty given to Wight Surf History. Rusty was friends with the Roger Backhouse, Sue Ellis, John Ainsworth, Kevin Digweed, Geoff ‘Ned’ […]
Dec 13, 2013 | Categories: The Sixties | Tags: 1960's, 60's, archive, B&W, Colin Burgess, Colin Hicks, Geoff ‘Ned’ Garner, history, IOW, IOW Surf Club, Isle of Wight, Isle of Wight Surf Club, John Ainsworth, Kevin Digweed, longboard, photo, photographs, Roger Backhouse, Rusty, Rusty Long, stoked, Sue Ellis, surf, surfboard, Surfer, surfing, swell, waves, wightsurfhistory | Comments Off on Rusty Long
Jason swain and Chris Court enjoy a pre Christmas surf at Freshwater Bay yesterday.
Dec 13, 2013 | Categories: The Noughties | Tags: "jason swain", 2013, archive, beach, blackley, blog, Chris Court, Christmas, Freshwater, freshwater bay, IOW, Isle of Wight, longboard, paul blackley, photo, photographs, stoked, surf, surfboard, Surfer, surfing, swell, The Noughties, waves, wetsuit, wightsurfhistory, Winter, Xmas | Comments Off on Pre Christmas Surf
I have been very kindly lent the IOW Surf Club’s 1983 guide to ‘Starting Surfing’ by Keith Williams. The guide was put together by Dave Phillips and Rog Butler with cover by Clive Richardson. Part 1: Isle of Wight Surf Club Guide – Learning to Surf Learning to Surf There is only one way to […]
Dec 13, 2013 | Categories: The Eighties | Tags: 190's, 1983, 80's, archive, blog, Clive Richardson, compton, Compton Bay, Dave Phillips, duck diving, guide, history, IOW, IOW Surf Club, Isle of Wight, Isle of Wight Surf Club, Keith Williams, Learn, Learning, paddle, Paddling, prone, purling, Rof Butler, Roger Butler, Starting, stoked, surf, Surf Trip, surfboard, Surfer, surfing, swell, waves, wetsuit, White water, wightsurfhistory | Comments Off on IOW Surf Club Guide to Learning to Surf
A postcard found on ebay by Len Parker (now in Florida) titled ‘Surfer’s and Dogs Delight, Compton Bay’ The surfer is Martin ‘Bert’ Spencer sometime during the early 90’s carrying a Custard Point longboard at Compton Bay, Isle of Wight. Len Parker and Ray Hutchings had a couple of these boards on the Island around […]
Dec 12, 2013 | Categories: The Nineties | Tags: archive, beach, Bert, compton, Compton Bay, Custard Point, dog, history, IOW, Isle of Wight, longboard, Martin 'Bert' Spencer, Martin Spencer, people, photo, photographs, portrait, stoked, surf, Surf Trip, surfboard, Surfer, surfing, swell, waves, wetsuit, wightsurfhistory | Comments Off on Surfer’s and Dogs Delight
Keith Williams finds a little barrel on the inside at Compton during a lovely little swell in the 1980’s.
Dec 11, 2013 | Categories: The Eighties | Tags: archive, blog, compton, Compton Bay, history, IOW, IOW Surf Club, Isle of Wight, Isle of Wight Surf Club, Keith Williams, longboard, photo, stoked, surf, surfboard, Surfer, surfing, swell, waves, wetsuit, wightsurfhistory | Comments Off on Keith Williams
Issue No 2 of the Isle of Wight Surf Clubs magazine ‘Wight Water’ came out in the autumn of 1976. It included a write up on the IOW Surf Club longboard competition won by Tad Ciastula, 2nd Dave Jacobs, 3rd Keith Williams, Pete Brown and Dave Grey. It also covers the IOW Surf Club Darts […]
Nov 27, 2013 | Categories: The Seventies | Tags: 1970's, 1976, 70's, archive, B&W, B.H.C., Biarittz, Biarritz, blog, Canaries, Colin Graham, compton, Compton Bay, Darts, Dave Grey, Dave Jacobs, Freshwater, freshwater bay, history, IOW, IOW Surf Club, Isle of Wight, Isle of Wight Surf Club, Keith Williams, La Fitenia, longboard, Lyn Powley, people, Pete Brown, photo, photographs, portrait, Rog Powley, Roger Powley, Sid Pitman, stoked, surf, Surf Trip, surfboard, Surfer, surfing, swell, Tad Ciastula, waves, wetsuit, wightsurfhistory | Comments Off on Wight Water – Issue No 2
Colin Williams remembers all of his family holidays spent on the isle of Wight where he learn’t surf during the 60’s and 70’s. The Isle of Wight was and probably still is my favorite place in the world. I must say that Australia, for me,is the one of the greatest places on earth; however, a […]
Nov 25, 2013 | Categories: The Sixties | Tags: 1960's, 1970's, 60's, 70's, archive, Atlantic, Atlantic surfboard, blog, Colin Williams, compton, Compton Bay, history, IOW, Isle of Wight, people, Phil Jays, Phil Jays Surf shop, photo, photographs, portrait, stoked, surf, Surf Trip, surfboard, Surfer, surfing, swell, waves, wetsuit, wightsurfhistory | Comments Off on Colin Williams
Colin Graham became the Isle Of Wight Surf Club Chairman in 1976, with Mike Smith and Dave Jacobs also on the committee. Roger Powley was given the job of putting together the IOW Surf Club’s 1st magazine. Wight Water Magazine was born, Rog edited the magazine with help from Colin, Mike, and his wife Lyn […]
Nov 22, 2013 | Categories: The Seventies | Tags: 1970's, 70's, archive, blog, compton, Compton Bay, Cornwall, Dave Jacobs, Freshwater, freshwater bay, history, IOW, IOW Surf Club, Isle of Wight, Isle of Wight Surf Club, Lyn, Mike Smith, newsletter, Powley, Rog Powley, Roger Powley, stoked, surf, Surf Trip, surfboard, Surfer, surfing, swell, waves, wetsuit, Wight Water, Wight Water Magazine, wightsurfhistory | Comments Off on Wight Water Magazine
Isle of Wight featured in issue number 4 of what is thought to be the one of the first ever British Surfing magazines. British Surfer magazine no1 came out in March 1969. Surfing UK magazine published by Lindsay Morgan in Porthcawl in Jan 1969 pipped it to the post by a few months to be […]
Nov 21, 2013 | Categories: The Seventies | Tags: 1960's, 1970's, 60's, 70's, archive, blog, British Surfer, British Surfer magazine, compton, Compton Bay, Freshwater, freshwater bay, history, IOW, IOW Surf Club, Isle of Wight, Isle of Wight Surf Club, Keith Williams, longboard, Magazine, niton, No 4, Number 4, Rod Sumpter, Roger Backhouse, stoked, surf, Surf Trip, surfboard, Surfer, surfing, swell, The Noughties, Ventnor, Vol 1, waves, wetsuit, wightsurfhistory | Comments Off on Island Surf – British Style
Isle of Wight surfers join Movember and grow some sick moustaches raising vital funds and awareness for men’s health…. follow the link to donate to such a great cause uk.movember.com/team/1301269 Here are some of the Isle of Wight Team half way through Movember
Nov 19, 2013 | Categories: The Noughties | Tags: Chris Mannion, history, IOW, Isle of Wight, Jamie Currie, lee sheaff, movember, people, photo, photographs, portrait, sheaffy, stoked, Surfer, The Noughties, wightsurfhistory | Comments Off on Movember in Memory of Lee Sheaff
The Isle of Wight Surf club were very lucky to be given use of one of the huts owned by the National Trust at Compton. The club paid a donation every year to the NT which gave them use of the hut and free parking at Compton. The original hut was used to store surfboards […]
Nov 11, 2013 | Categories: The Seventies | Tags: 1970's, 70's, archive, B&W, beach, blog, Cheek Bros, Cheek Brothers, Clive Richardson, compton, Compton Bay, crane, Dave Downer, Dave Phillips, Graham Skelley, history, Hut, IOW, IOW Surf Club, Isle of Wight, Isle of Wight Surf Club, Keith Williams, longboard, National Trust, people, photo, photographs, Rex Haines, Roger Butler, Sid Pitman, steve williams, stoked, surf, surfboard, Surfer, surfing, swell, waves, wetsuit, wightsurfhistory | Comments Off on Isle of Wight Surf Club Hut Moved
With 2 metre swell predicted and northerly winds the early risers got some good waves at Freshwater Bay this morning. I got down late but what a glorious morning. With huge tides it was starting to get pretty bumpy when I got there but a few nice ones were to be found.
Nov 04, 2013 | Categories: The Noughties | Tags: archive, beach, blackley, blog, Freshwater, freshwater bay, history, IOW, Isle of Wight, paul blackley, people, photo, photographs, portrait, stoked, surf, Surf Trip, surfboard, Surfer, surfing, swell, The Noughties, waves, wetsuit, wightsurfhistory | Comments Off on Freshwater Bay 4 November 2013
In May 1992 there was a mother and daughter swept out to sea off Compton. It was at the end of a day surfing and about tea time and Isle of Wight surfer Andrew Plenty was just off home. The mother and daughter were hanging onto a rubber ring but panicked and let go of […]
Oct 31, 2013 | Categories: The Nineties | Tags: 1993, 999, Aaron Rogers, Andrew Plenty, archive, B&W, Baywatch, BBC, BBC 1, BBC1, beach, blog, Britain, Chicky babes, compton, Compton Bay, Cornwall, Girl, Hawaii, history, hunky, IOW, Isle of Wight, J17, Jamie Isaac, John, June, Just 17, Just Seventeen, Kelly Slater, Magazine, model, Neighbours, people, photo, photographs, portrait, programme, rescue, SAS, Scott Michaelson, stoked, surf, surf culture, Surf Trip, surfboard, Surfer, Surfers Against Sewage, surfing, swell, Sydney, teen, teen girl, tv, waves, wetsuit, wightsurfhistory | Comments Off on ‘Do the Wight thing’ – Just Seventeen magazine
Wight Surf History has been given a surfboard originally thought to shaped by Dave Gray as part of a school project Dave passed the board onto Russell Farrel during the 1980’s and then passed to his brother Steve who has kindly given the board to Wight Surf History. Dave we would love to know a […]
Oct 22, 2013 | Categories: The Eighties | Tags: archive, Dave Gray, Dave Grey, history, homework, IOW, Isle of Wight, people, photo, photographs, portrait, project, School, Shape, shaper, shapes, stoked, surf, surfboard, Surfer, surfing, topic, waves, wightsurfhistory | Comments Off on Dave Gray shapes a board as a school project
In March 1920 Lord Louis Mountbatten was posted to the battlecruiser HMS Renown and accompanied Edward, Prince of Wales, on a royal tour of Australia in her. After Australia the Renown went on to Fiji, Samoa, Honolulu, and then to Colon via the Panama Canal. During September 1920 they stopped on Oahu, Hawaii, staying for a […]
Oct 18, 2013 | Categories: Surfer Profiles | Tags: 1920, archive, blog, David Kahanamoku, Governor, history, HMS Renown, Honolulu, IOW, Isle of Wight, Kalakaua Kawananakoa, Kanaka surf rider, longboard, Lord Louis Mountbatten, Moana Hotel, Mountbatten, Oahu, people, photo, photographs, portrait, Prince Edward, Prince of Wales, royal tour, stoked, surf, Surf Trip, surfboard, Surfer, surfing, swell, Waikiki, waves, wightsurfhistory | Comments Off on Lord Louis Mountbatten surfing in 1920
‘Fantasy: The Art of Riding Tubes’ (F.A.R.T.S. for short) by Dave Gray A piece in a 1979 copy of ‘Wight Water’, the Isle of Wight Surf club’s magazine In addition to his undeniable talents as a malibu surf rider, Dave Gray has submitted the following piece for inclusion in this August periodical. An ostentatious little […]
Oct 17, 2013 | Categories: The Seventies | Tags: 1970's, 70's, archive, blog, compton, Compton Bay, Dave Gray, Fart, farts, history, IOW, IOW Surf Club, Isle of Wight, Isle of Wight Surf Club, stoked, surf, Surf Trip, surfboard, Surfer, surfing, swell, waves, wetsuit, wightsurfhistory | Comments Off on F.A.R.T.S. by Dave Gray
Tad Ciastula started shaping boards with fellow British Hovercraft Corporation (B.H.C.) apprentice Dougie Clarke, spending their spare time out in the old tin shed at the training centre near Osborne House designing and shaping a knee board like the one George Greenough rides in Crystal Voyager with a scooped deck. Surfing became a big part of […]
Oct 16, 2013 | Categories: Surfer Profiles, The Eighties | Tags: 1970's, 70's, Alex Williams, archive, B&W, BHC, British Hovercraft Corporation, Bronzed Aussies, Cheyne Horan, Chops Lascelles, Chris Jones, CJ, deck, Fistral, France, Fuerteventura, Guv, history, IOW, Isle of Wight, Lazor Zap, Mark Richards, No WORK TEAM, Osborne House, rails, rocker, shaper, Shaping, Spain, Spencer Hargreaves, stoked, surf, Surf Trip, surfboard, Surfboards, Surfer, surfing, swell, Tad, Tad Ciastula, Tarifa, Thailand, Vit Sea, Vitamin Sea, Wavelength, waves, wightsurfhistory, Wind & Surf Show, Wind and Surf Show, Wittering | Comments Off on Tad Ciastula