Here come the surfer girls

Meet the UKs brightest waveriders

More women are taking up surfing in the UK than ever before but a depressed economy has meant greater competition for sponsorship. This means Britain's best women surfers are having to up their game. WideWorld caught up with five of the country's top young athletes, Laura Crane, Gwen Spurlock, Sophie Hellyer, Beth Mason and Zoe Sheath, to talk water, waves, and why Britain's best are just about to get even better.

Laura Crane (nickname: Loopy)

Best result: Third in the British Under-14s.

My dad used to surf at Croyde, Woolacombe and Saunton Sands and he taught me when I was eight years old. We had a holiday home down in Devon and whenever we were down there for the weekend I didn't want to go home. Then, in 2005 my family moved down to Devon for good from Bristol.

This week I surfed about 10 times in four days. Sometimes I go out before school and after school if the swell is really good. I get up about quarter to six, so I'm on the beach by six. There are a few people there at that time of day – most of the time I see the same faces. Yesterday I went with my family to Spekes Mill near Bude. There was really good surf there, but I usually surf at Croyde. It's best in the mornings and evenings because all the holidaymakers are there during the day.

I still compete in the Under-14s category. A few people have lost their sponsors this year [due to the economy] so everyone is trying to get good competition results.

They haven't chosen the British team yet this year. This happens in September when the British Nationals take place. The winners go to the world games. This year you've got to compete for it a bit more. I did the RipCurl GromSearch in Wales recently and I came first in the under 14s and second in the under 16s. I'm still going to be competing when I'm 18 - I'm getting better and better and I'd love to go to the worlds.

I think the standard of surfing is getting better here in Britain. And loads more girls are getting into the sport. If you're thinking about getting into surfing, Saunton is a good place to start – a slow wave that's good for learning on. I'd also recommend lessons and you can rent gear if you're just starting out.

Sophie Hellyer (nickname: Hell Yeah)

Best result: 1st in the Under-18s Ladies English Nationals; 1st in the Under-18s Ladies British Schools; 2nd in the Ladies Open English Nationals 2008-2010.

I’ve been surfing since I was about 13, and I’m 21 now. I grew up at the beach and was always comfortable in the ocean. My dad and sisters surfed so it was natural for me to follow – my dad used to surf heaps but not so much anymore; he still paddles out on his longboard if the conditions are good.

Living at the coast is pretty essential if you want to be a pro-surfer: I wake up in the morning, look out the window and then plan my day according to the waves, wind and tide. I try to surf every day and if the waves are good I might surf three times a day. I’ll either drive down the coast to Bude and surf with my boyfriend Reubyn Ash [UK surfer who got a wildcard to enter last year's WCT World Tour event in Spain], or up the coast to Croyde and surf with the girls depending on the conditions and who's around. Sometimes (like now) it goes flat for a week and I don’t get to surf at all.

I don’t have a coach, but Reubyn has been helping me with technique and style. I’ve never had coaching before and can’t believe how rapidly I improve with a little advice. This year I’m hoping to be in the top three on the BPSA (British Professional Surf Association) tour. I was hoping for the English title but just missed out in the final. I want to travel and surf new places, and just always have a smile on my face.

Although we're still behind France if you look at the results of the World Qualifying Series and Pro Junior competition – surely to be expected with worse waves and a colder climate – British surfing is catching up with other countries. Reubyn had a wild card into the Mundaka World Championship Tour last year and competed against Kelly Slater and Bede Durbidge, and although he didn’t beat them it shows Billabong have faith in his surfing to put him in that situation. Fingers crossed he’ll have another chance to kick Kelly's ass this year.

Every year is important to push the standard of the previous year and move things forward. This year I'll enter the British Nationals, BPSA events and the Atlantic Watersports games in Portugal.

British women's surfing is definitely growing and is a really fashionable lifestyle sport at the moment. This year I think there are more events on the BPSA for girls and there are some cash prizes, though they are smaller than the men’s. The standard is definitely rising too; the girls are all surfing really well this year. Right now Brighton has the biggest girls surf club in the UK. I instruct at my local surf school and I'm waiting to stumble across a super-keen little girl to be my protégé and coach her so she will be ripping by the time she is my age.

My advice for any women wanting to get into surfing is do it, but go and have a lesson first as it's safer and you can try it without having to spend out on a board and wetsuit. If you enjoy it, stick with it. The only way you’ll improve is practice practice practice!

Beth Mason

Best result: 1st in the Welsh Nationals in March; 2nd in the European championships in the Under-18 girls category

I grew up by the beach and used to watch everyone surfing. I belonged to the local lifesaving club and after training sessions I used to stay behind and play on the boards. Then I decided I wanted to have lessons and learn how to do it properly. After that I never stopped.

I surf as often as I can. When I'm abroad on surf trips I'll surf everyday; at home in Swansea the surf isn't as consistent but whenever there are waves I'll be in. Joel Gray at Surf Solutions coaches me and he has helped me loads. He pushes me to surf bigger waves and helps a lot with my technique. I start university in September and I want to travel as much as I can this summer beforehand. I'd love to go to the Euros and the Worlds. I'd like to get in the top ten in the European championships, and as long as I beat my ranking from last year at the Worlds I'll be happy.

There are some competitors in Britain that are pushing the level higher and are at a lot better standard, and I think they are going to push everyone else to surf better. I think there are a lot of world class waves in the UK. I mainly surf at home in Wales – there are a lot of waves on the Gower Peninsula ranging from beach breaks to reef breaks.

There is lack of funding this year due to the recession and so it will be harder for teams to travel and train, which could have a negative effect but hopefully it won't. Women's surfing in Britain is improving. There are a few at a high standard, able to compete at an international level, and there are a lot of youngsters that are surfing well and are keen. So I think in a few years there will be a lot more of us competing at the international level.

When I first started competing you'd struggle to get enough girls to make two semi-final heats, Now there are loads of girls, making the competition harder.

Zoe Sheath

Best result: Twice English Women's champion; UK Pro Surf Tour girls' champ.

I first gave surfing a go when I was six years old, but I really got into it when I turned 11. My mum has been surfing since the 1970s and was one of the top surfers in her area. My grandmother was taught to surf at Watergate Bay by some of the first visiting Aussie surfers in the 1940s so surfing has always been in the family.

Right now I’m living in Newquay so I surf everyday, however when I lived on the Isle of Wight it was more like twice a month since the swells never really got up there too much. I'm coached by Mike Young who is the top UK surf coach at Escape Surf School and he is also the head coach for the British team.

A typical day involves checking the surf, eating breakfast, going surfing, hanging out with friends, going for another surf, eating dinner, then doing some yoga and core strength exercises for an hour before bed.

This year I hope to win the English girls' championships and I'd like to place in the top 20 on the European junior tour. I think with better coaching and sponsorship Britain can step up its game. Russell Winter was competing on the World Championship Tour and now the guys like Reubyn Ash and Jayce Robinson are doing well on the junior tour and World Qualifying Series. Our women are yet to show everyone we are as good as the French and the Americans but maybe with the new generation coming up we can make an impact on the world tour.

When I first started surfing there were loads of female surfers on the Isle of Wight – my mum runs the IOW surf club – but it's in the South West that there is a lot more promotion of women’s surfing, with female-only surf schools and trips abroad, so women’s surfing is getting a lot bigger  down there at the beginner's level. Dave Reed runs the UK Pro Surf tour and puts on some amazing events all around the UK.

I hope to make an impact on the world tour and show the world that British women surfers can surf well. My goals are to win the British women’s nationals and to be selected for the Junior and Senior teams to represent the country.  Surfing can change your life. It’s the best way to live.

Gwen Spurlock (nickname: G-Unit)

Best result: British Junior Champion 2005, 2007. UKPST Women and Girls' champion 2007.

I moved here from America, started playing on swell boards and moved on from there. I've been surfing for eight years now.

Depending on school work, exams and what the waves are like, I try to surf as much as possible. I am lucky enough to have a coach, Simon Tucker, who I train with regularly in Porthcawl. British surfing is developing, but could do with more regular and professional coaching and more government funding. Surfing as a sport is growing rapidly in Wales and the amount of people I see in the water is growing.

This year I'll be entering all of the main British contests and UK Pro Surf Tour events, also maybe the European Championships in Jersey if I'm picked for the Welsh team. I'd love to win the British Junior title.

British Women’s surfing is on the up and there have definitely been more girls competing on the circuit over the past couple of years. The standard is improving also and the prize money is slowly getting larger too. More girls are getting involved which is extremely positive for the sport. And the key to success? Perseverance. Keep pushing yourself. Try harder. And it will come. The most important thing is to have fun.

To follow the action, visit the UK Pro Surf Tour website.