Surf Followers

Hawaiian surfer and lifeguard Jack Lydgate discusses the growing potential for surfing in Cornwall. In the summers of 1965 and 1966 Australian and American lifeguards were taken on because they were experienced surfers. Some like Jack gave surfing lessons and the sport was growing so safety was of paramount importance. Jack was among the first to take on the Cribbar, a reef creating big thirty feet waves at Towan Head off Newquay.

Newquay attracts surfers from around the world and holds surfing events such as the Famous Night Surf, Boardmasters Surf Championships, the National Surf Championships and the Clash of the Groms for up and coming young surfers. Newquay has four town beaches including Fistral Beach and Watergate Bay. John or Jack's nickname was Mahogany Jack and he is the grandson of Reverend John Lydgate of Kauai. Jack returned to Kauai to surf out his days but perhaps not the Pipeline anymore. He is a local historian and member of the Friends of Kamalani and Lydgate Park. For the record, the Banzai Pipeline, or simply Pipeline is a famously massive surf reef break off Ehukai Beach Park on Oahu.