Geurnsey in the Channel Islands...

szrbloke · Post by **szrbloke** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 3:15 pm

Looks like I'm going there for a family holiday in September. Does anyone have any experience of surfing there?? Theres a bit of limited information about, but I'd rather hear from a fellow kneelo!!!

gumby · Post by **gumby** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 6:47 pm

Channel Islands Califorina? If so contact Surfhorh he may have the low down.

farbz · Post by **farbz** » Thu Mar 06, 2008 1:41 pm

http://www.wannasurf.com/spot/Europe/UK ... index.html

I know a bloke who met some chick on the net and married her and then moved there.

He reckons it has great waves.

Marky vee · Post by **Marky vee** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 2:23 pm

Don't think the waves are as good as Jersey, and the water quality can be suspect, as they refuse to update their treatment facilities!

Sparrow · Post by **Sparrow** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 8:30 pm

szrbloke,
I can only say I visited Guernsey, Sark & Alderney but stayed on Jersey for 5 months. In those 5 months I got about 6 good surfs in with one of them being memorable

though I will say the standards dropped whilst I was on the rock. I do remember long flat spells then every now & then a big swell would turn up & combining with a high tide it would smash into St Ouens concrete war historical walls causing anxiety to anyone wanting to take the chance about how to get in & out of the water whilst mother ocean leashed its anger against this 50ft wall with 3 or 4 stair cases to chose your exit & entry. I may have missed a swell or two with those white outs from the sea mists that would come rolling in. I looked around Guernsey but nothing in the way of surf at that time but was told it can be ok on its day

I think it will take a lot of luck to get waves of quality but I’m sure you have not chosen it for a surf destination. I loved every minute of the channel islands so even if you don’t get waves

the islands have so much to offer. Sark was cool

interesting walk up the mountain from the ferry

but not as interesting as the walk down when a fair few pints under the belt take over

Waves

Good place to holiday

surfhorn · Post by **surfhorn** » Sat Mar 08, 2008 4:16 pm

I know little about the English Channel Islands only what I learned as a biogeography major: cold hunks of rock.

Our Channel Islands, on the other hand (off of our SoCal coast) are an under explored wave feast just waiting on various swells to light 'em up. And a nice south can be surfed wearing the minimum of neoprene. And a friend with a properly stocked, ocean-going boat is required.

Mark Ramirez · Post by **Mark Ramirez** » Sun Mar 09, 2008 2:44 pm

The Channel Islands off of SoCal were being surfed since the early 60's. I used to own a boat in '85 and have surfed Catalina Island which has good summer and winter surf. Unfortunely, acess to most of the other islands are restricted by the U.S. government for defense reasons. Others are private with permission to land granted by the owners on request. Only the established harbors on Catalina are available to the public. I believe Anacapa and Santa Barbara, don't have rideable waves which have sheer cliffs on every side.

Jimbo · Post by **Jimbo** » Sun Mar 09, 2008 8:53 pm

San Miguel, Santa Rosa and Santa Cruz are all rumored to have waves....

szrbloke · Post by **szrbloke** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 11:55 am

Thanks Simon and Farbz, and well everyone who replied (even if it was about the Californian Channel Islands).

I think as you say its a family holiday really, with any surf that happens just an extra bonus. Thanks for the tips about Sark, it's definately on our list. We have a cottage in the middle of nowhere smack bang in the middle of Geurnsey, so even if theres no surf I can catch up on my reading list (Gormenghast, Dawkins, Vernon God Little) and do a lot of walking

all the best,

Scotty