Jake Powell — Photo: @ninebyfivephotography
Regional Report — Channel Islands
Channel Islands
The Channel Islands occupy a unique corner of British surf culture — Atlantic-facing, tide-driven, and fiercely proud of their own scene. Jersey in particular has built a community that punches well above its size, with a contest calendar, a cast of characters, and a lineup culture that's entirely its own. Jake Powell has been in the thick of it since before most people could find the island on a map. Here's his first dispatch.
2026 started as the first year we ever had two simultaneous GB Cup champions — and it's only got stranger from there.
GB Cup
Nathan Elms — Photo: Lawrence Chay
2026 started as the first year we ever had two simultaneous GB Cup champions in the form of Owen Graham and Naughty Nathan Elms. In annual familiar fashion, lifeguards returned from their yearly Indo "surf trip" armed with Bintang headaches, onshore clips of Ulus, and questionable tattoos — while those who stayed on island quietly scored weeks of pumping uncrowded waves.
CI Champs
Matt Chapman — Photo: Theo Cabot · Currently MIA somewhere in Holland 🇳🇱
Ironically, the wave tap turned off just in time for the CI Champs, leaving organiser old man George scratching his head after forgetting daylight savings had kicked in and being the wrong end of the tide. A few heats were run before the finals were pushed back for another day — TBC.
VIACY Torched
Josh Evans — Photo: @ninebyfivephotography
Josh Evans — Photo: Theo Cabot
May brought the long-awaited VIACY TORCHED event, only for Poseidon to smite down every bit of low pressure heading for the shoreline — this time old man George was on the money with his predictions. A last-minute tweak to the format, somewhere between tag team wrestling and a surf comp, mixed with a skate jam and secret afterparty, may have unlocked a whole new beast and meaning for the event going forward. Watch this space.
"Somewhere between tag team wrestling and a surf comp — watch this space."
Looking Ahead
Brad Ferguson — Photo: Daisy Barnard
Summer will see Albie G and the rest of the junior gang battle it out in the local series to decide who gets on the plane to the Euros in Ireland — but first, a trip to the Rip Curl GromSearch, where it would be no surprise if we had a few champs returning. Elsewhere, the older crew continue their best Peter Pan impressions — working, surfing, partying. It somehow gets harder every year.
There's plenty to look forward to in September with VIACIFIED: A Tribute to Jersey Surfing on the 12th, and BOWLACROCK: Carnival of Skate Culture. It's going to be a good month on the island, which normally sees a fair bit of swell — so if you fancy coming over, get in touch and I'm sure some local folk will help you out with a couch. And a beer.
Let's make #JerseyGreatAgain
