Celebrating Cornwall’s surf scene with major new exhibition, SURF!
07 April 2025
A brand-new exhibition that explores the history and cultural impact of surfing in Cornwall has now opened at Falmouth’s National Maritime Museum Cornwall. Curated by Falmouth's Sustainable Tourism Management BA lecturer Dr Sam Bleakley, the exhibit documents a century of wave riding, celebrating the culture, craft, art, and activism of Cornwall’s surf scene.
The object-rich exhibition offers a deep-dive into how Cornwall has evolved into a breeding ground for world champion surfers, featuring artefacts that tell the hidden histories and surf stories of 100 years of wave riding. It showcases some of the world’s most valuable surfboards; from the wooden surfboards of the 1920s to the world’s biggest surfboard that can hold 15 people, in addition to other iconic items. SURF! is a celebration of the unique pastime that has transformed Cornwall into a place of aspiration, art, and the buzz of the new.
Curator of the exhibition, and lecturer for Falmouth’s Sustainable Tourism Management BA(Hons) course, Dr Sam Bleakley, said: “I had a great deal of creative freedom when designing the narrative, and I wanted to home in on Cornwall. It involved collaborating with the local surf community, photographers, filmmakers, and the amazing team at the museum – to reflect on the long history of surfing in Cornwall. It’s been a big - and at times overwhelming - project, but extremely rewarding, exciting and inspiring.”
As shared within the exhibition, surfing is at the beating heart of life in Cornwall for many residents. For students at Falmouth, the surf lifestyle can be intertwined with the student experience. From the ten-minute walk between campus and the beach, to Falmouth’s prime location in Cornwall, to the various surfing opportunities available with Fal Surf society, Falmouth University is a hub for feeling connected to the sea.
Just last month, student surfers went head-to-head with nine other university surf teams from across the southwest at The Wave, Bristol and came out on top across the board. They were crowned the overall champs after finishing with an impressive first and second place nationally for the two teams.
Vice President of student society, Fal Surf, Florence Job, said: “the encouragement for all surfing abilities to join in created a welcoming and friendly atmosphere which is what surfing is all about! In addition to the more advanced competitions, Waikiki sessions, which is more of a beginner friendly wave, encouraged everyone to get in the water.
“We already can't wait for next year, and to celebrate the positivity and talent within our surfing community!”
The surf culture at Falmouth is not just a lifestyle, but something that inspires innovation. Kate Richards, an Entrepreneurship & Innovation Management MSc student, has launched her own sustainable surf product, Radical Wax.
“It’s one thing developing a formula for a sustainable product but launching it into a completely new market was something I needed help with.” Kate said, as she reflected on why she chose to study at Falmouth. “I wanted to study something in Cornwall, and I love how I can put the things I learn into practice, such as product ideation and sustainable approaches.”
The surf lifestyle and connection to the sea is an academic inspiration, too. Dr Greg Borne, course leader for International Business Management MSc, has authored numerous journal articles and four books on the relationship between sustainability and surfing. Reflecting on his academic work, he said “being immersed in the ocean is my passion. I started talking to people around the world to try and understand what sustainability meant within and beyond the surfing industry – the result led to the book Sustainable Stoke: Transitions to Sustainability in the Surfing World.”
SURF! is an exhibition culminating a lifetime of passion for wave riding, ocean activism and the way we interact with our oceans.
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