WATCH: UK Surf & Skate Expo Shakes Up Industry With First Ever Event

Video shot and edited by Undertones Creative. Photos by Oli Chapman and Nathan Benham

The UK Surf & Skate Expo wrapped up yesterday, after thousands of people made their way to the Expo site for three days of celebrating the surf and skate culture.

There were more than 35 talks from industry leaders, 65 exhibitors, wellness tent, Red Bull DJ, TR7 Skate hosting an event at Concrete Waves and so much more. Legendary Dogtown and Z Boys skateboarder Tony Alva, from California, spent an hour at Concrete Waves in Newquay, putting on an expression session for more than 300 people – in his first time skating in the UK’s south west.

Yeah, that’s Tony Alva. In Newquay. Photo: Chapman.

“Loved being around Newquay, the Expo attracted a nice combination of surfers and skateboarders and I think the Expo had a really cool effect on the community and British culture, really grateful I was part of it,” said Tony.

Ethan Fox-Furnell, 14, was one of the local Newquay teenagers at Concrete Waves when Tony Alva took to the bowl on Saturday. “It was insane, surreal,” he said. “To be in the presence of a skateboarding God was mind blowing. I never thought I’d get to meet one of my idols and I’d like to thank the skate expo 25 team for making this possible. To see him skating the pool (his natural habitat) but in our own town was insane. I will remember this day for the rest of my life.”

Olympic skateboarder Lola Tambling in talks with Marc Churchill live on the Expo Stage. Photo: Chapman.

The UK Surf & Skate Expo was the first of its kind, bringing together like-minded people and brands from all over the UK and beyond. Held in Newquay, the home of UK surfing, the UK Surf & Skate Expo has been lauded as a resounding success.

“For our first year, this was really special,” said organiser Chris Thomson, CEO of DYSUJO, who put on the UK Surf & Skate Expo. “We had legendary skateboarder Tony Alva come over to be a part of it. We had packed talks from Andrew Cotton, skateboarder Stefani Nurding, Olympic skateboarder Lola Tambling, brilliant surf photographer Lucia Griggi and a Patagonia panel on Surf Activism on stage – plus some of the best surfboard shapers in the country. We had so many members of the public through the door, it was amazing to see.

“We had to close the Expo Village a day early on the Sunday due to a storm, but we then moved everyone up to the Expo Hall for more talks and presentations.”

Ben Skinner and Lukas Skinner with big wave surfer and shaper Dylan Longbottom. Photo: Chapman.

One of the highlights of the first day at Expo was the Wavelength UK Surfer Awards, which honoured the country’s favourite surfers, activists, surf school and more.

The winners were: Eco Excellence sponsored by Foam Life winner, Yvette Cave. UK Surf Photographer sponsored by XtraTuf winner, Luke gartside. UK Surf School sponsored by Moulded Earplugs winner, Newquay Activity Centre. UK Longboarder Male sponsored by Saxx Underwear, winner Ben Skinner. UK Longboarder Female sponsored by 10 Over Surf, winner Emily Currie. UK Longboard Shaper sponsored by Union of Surf winner, Skingdog Surfboards. UK Shortboard Shaper sponsored by Vissla Surf, winner Skindog Surfboards. UK Big Wave Female Surfer sponsored by Dryrobe, winner Laura Crane. UK Big Wave Male Surfer, sponsored by Dryrobe winner, Andrew Cotton. UK U18 Female Surfer sponsored by Mystic winner Callie Cruickshank. UK U18 Male Surfer sponsored by FCS Europe winner, Lukas Skinner. UK Female Surfer sponsored by Yeti, winner Zoe Smith. UK Male Surfer sponsored by Yeti winner, Lukas Skinner.  

Your UK Wavelength Surfer Awards winners 2025! Photo: Benham.

In an emotional speech, winner of the UK female surfer award Zoe Smith said: “A lot of people think a para surfer shouldn’t have been a part of this category, but we’re surfers just like the next person. This is such an amazing feeling and I hope it goes to show that para surfers have a place amongst all surfers, we’re all a part of the same thing.”

And the Skinner family took home five awards out of the 13, with Ben Skinner picking up best longboarder, his surf brand Skindog Surfboards taking home both the best longboard and shortboard shaper award and Lukas Skinner, Ben’s son, winning the best UK male surfer award.

“This is an amazing feeling,” said Lukas. “I’ve struggled with injuries and a few other things this year, so to come back and win this is incredible.”

Holly Purchase delivering yoga sessions in the Wellness Tent. Photo: Chapman.

On Saturday, Australian big wave surfer and shaper Dylan Longbottom set up in the Expo Village, before holding a talk on the Science of Surfboards in the Expo Hall. “That was so good,” he said. “Can’t believe that was the first one, the whole operation was fun, a really good time and the team are incredible. Hats off, we don’t even get that level of efficiency in Australia, and we’ve been doing it for decades.”

Talks were on all through the weekend at the Expo Hall. Photo: Chapman.

Steph Rogers, Brand Manager at Finisterre, one of the exhibitors at the Expo Village said: “It’s been amazing and so good to see so many people turn out for it.”

The DYSUJO team are currently taking some down-time, but are getting their heads together for next year’s plans. “We’ve got some ideas,” said Chris. “But we’ll take a bit of a break, then formalise and push forward.”

Cotty’s talk called ‘The Wrong Way To Make It’ was packed-out. If you missed it, you’ll have to book in to see another Mr Cotton talk in the future, because this one’s a banger. Photo: Chapman.