Jen Pen - Five minutes with the professional surfer

JEN PEN

We sat down with local surfer Jen Pen, fresh from surf comps across the globe to find out her plans for the future, how surfing is set to take the world by storm as it heads to the Olympics and what it means to come home.

When did you start surfing?

I started surfing a few years after I moved to Newquay when I was about 26. I was working at a beach side bar that allowed staff members free surf lessons with the onsite surf school. I wasn’t really that interested in surfing and was pushed into it by my friends. I was far from a natural and it took many months before I even stood up on a beginner board.

How did surfing become your career?

About a year or so after first learning to surf I went travelling for the first time and spent 8 weeks in Indonesia where I could surf every day, multiple times a day. On returning from this trip I decided I wanted to train to become a beach lifeguard as I have a competitive swimming background but I missed the deadline to apply for the RNLI so I trained as a surf instructor. I spent a year or two working as an assistant surf instructor with the surf school I learnt at and various other surf schools and activity centres in Newquay until I moved to working with Quiksilver Surf School Newquay in 2010.

What is it you love about surfing?

It’s fun and keeps you fit and outdoors, not in a gym or sports hall. It’s a good excuse to travel and a chance to socialise. It’s a constantly challenging sport that you can always improve on and learn new things.

Your tip for beginner surfers?

If you have never been surfing before go get a lesson! Find a local surf club or surf school and go out with an instructor to learn the basics. Not only will you learn the correct technique, avoid bad habits and get pointers on how to improve (rather than guessing) you will also learn about your local beach and basic sea safety. It is possible to teach yourself to surf but it will take a lot longer time and it can be dangerous for you and other people if you don’t know what you are doing. Surf lessons are only £35 at Quiksilver Surf School Newquay and include all equipment for 2 hours - it’s well worth it for the basic knowledge and skills from a professional instructor.

What does the next six months look like for you?

I will be competing at the next 2 World Surf League Events in Biarritz in June and Boardmasters in August. I’m currently in 8th place on the European Tour (same as 2017) but I would like to up my placing for 2018. I’ve never surfed in France before and I’ve been told the waves are amazing so I’m really looking forward to 5 days away before the busy summer holidays start.

I’m excited to be teaching on the Roxy Surf Camp Weekends and Roxy Surf Days at the end of June and end of August with Quiksilver Surf School Newquay. These lady only events are usually good fun and are a little bit different from normal surf lessons and teaching.

It’s getting to busy tourist season so I will be mostly found running Quiksilver Surf School Newquay until the end of September, surfing on Fistral Beach after work or training/chilling at the Fistral Beach Hotel and Spa gym.

Tell us more about Wave Slaves Youth Surf Club and your involvement

Wave Slaves is a non-profit community surf club that aims to make surfing and outdoors activities more accessible to under 18’s living in Newquay and the surrounding area. Club runs twice a week on Mondays and Thursdays from the clubhouse based at Bear Bar Newquay. I started as a volunteer instructor with the club in 2009 and I’m now Head Instructor and volunteer on the club committee. I absolutely love helping to run this club; it not only helps the members with their surfing and staying active and outdoors, it also boosts their self confidence and develops social skills and lasting friendships. It’s been great to see some of the members progress over the years, start competing on the UK Pro Tour/ British Longboard Tour, qualify to work as surf instructors, lifeguards, surf photographers and in surf media.

Who do we need to follow on Instagram when it comes to surfers?

@emilyyy_currie - Roxy Team Rider and currently at the top of both shortboarding and longboarding in the UK

@solhawkins11 - Quiksilver Team Rider and Newquay grom is definitely one to watch out for in the next few years

@psymonuk - Fellow Seduction Surf Boards (@ seductionsurfboards) Team Rider, crazy free surfing on crazy boards!

And me! @jennypensurf (haha).

How do you find the surf scene in Newquay?

The surf scene in Newquay is what you make of it. You can be as involved or as recluse as you want. There is a wide variety of the type of people who surf and wide variety of the types of surfboard they use. I work and surf at South Fistral Beach, it can be super crowded in the Summer but Autumn, Winter and Spring are the best times of the year when the crowds are smaller and the waves better. I’ve only been surfing for 10 years however I haven’t seen much change in that time! There are more ladies in the line ups - but then there are way more people in the sea all year round than there used to be in general.

Best technology to capture you catching a wave?

A friend or professional photographer on the beach, there are loads of them in Newquay - Noelia at Surfing Turfing Photography, Aqua Snaps and Duck Media Drones are my go to guys. Gopros and all these other gadgets just don’t give you good or useful images, unless you like photos of your feet or up your nose!

What are your future plans for your surfing career?

I don’t have any plans for the future! I have ideas and generally just go with the flow of where life leads me. I intend to keep competing locally and at some WSL events in Europe. I’m currently completing a Beach and Forest School Leader Course with Newquay Forest School and I’m enjoying working with Wave Slaves Youth Surf Club Newquay so who knows maybe I will become more youth work and sport focused?!

Tell us about your latest competition and how you got on.

We have just finished the first part of the 2018 competition season. The Fistral Beach British Longboard Union Classic finished off the 2017 Longboard Tour (it couldn’t be run at the end of 2017 due to continuous storm conditions). I made it to the final and finished in 3rd place, but from previous event wins it meant I regained the British Ladies Longboard Champion title for the second year in a row. The English Nationals were held the following week at Watergate Bay, I was competing in the shortboard this time and I’m now 2018 English Nationals Masters Champion.

May 2018 saw the first event of the 2018 British Longboard Tour at Saunton Sands. The surf was absolutely amazing and the sun shining for the whole weekend. I managed a final finish in 3rd place. The next leg of the British Longboard Tour is not until September back at Fistral Beach.

What have been the highlights of your surfing so far?

I have been competing since 2013 and I made a few finals over the years but highlights are definitely becoming joint British Ladies Longboard Champion 2016 and being selected as part of the English Longboard Team heading to the ISA World Championships in 2018.