Celebrating 45 Years of Christian Surfers

CSUK 1990 National Conference

“When I turned 18 in 1989, I went for a grand adventure to New Zealand, and bumped into some Christian Surfers. I had never met young vubrany Christians who were like me. They even had a major surf contest called the Jesus Surf Classic. I was so impacted and thought to myself, ‘“We could do this back in Croyde!’” Simone returned to the UK with a calling to start CS UK, the response however was less than impressive. Simon belonged to a conservative church and his vision and zeal was just too radical. Nevertheless, he and a handful of others formed the Croyde Christian Surfers and even launched the first Jesus Surf Classic in 1993. As good as it was to have this Croyde handful, outside eyes were needed. Enter Phil Williams. 

“My first contact with CS was an advert in Surf Scene magazine in April 1992 asking, ‘“Are you passionate about surfing and God?’”Even though I was passionate about both, I did nothing about it. I finally went along on a surf camp to St, Georges House with 20 others. As an outsider I could see both the potential and the limitations of the insular Croyde-based group. I was invited to become the national coordinator in 1996.”

1995 CSUK Pro Am

Phil has the drive, the leadership skills and connections to help CSUK become a true national movement. By 2000, he took the step of faith to go full-time with CSUK and grew the volunteer base to start supporting events. First they served at teh Rip Curl Boardmasters in 2004 before expanding to serve at all the UK Pro Surf Tour events - some of which they even opened in prayer.

CSUK developed a positive reputation and won many hearts for serving well without any hidden agendas. In time, CSUK would become a catalyst for other European nations.

Mike Scott CSUK