Some History About Us

Early Years (1971)

Piran Surf was founded in 1971 by John Heath. John had run a successful ironmonger’s shop in Perranporth since 1946, but as surfing became increasingly popular along the Cornish coast, he expanded into selling surfboards, wetsuits and surfing equipment. The surf business quickly outgrew its origins and became a dedicated surf shop.

Growth During the Surfing Boom

Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, British surfing grew rapidly, and Piran Surf expanded alongside it. The shop became a focal point for both local surfers and visitors, offering premium surf gear.

Its location on Perranporth’s high street made it a natural meeting place for generations of surfers exploring the area’s renowned beach.

In the mid‑2000s, Mark Thorn (John’s manager) bought the shop. Mark led the way in finding new surf brands and expanding the shop’s surf offering. With the internet putting pressure on traditional surf shops, Mark and his manager Matt (now the current owner) made the call to source and develop their own brands, including Iglu wetsuits and Hot Surf 69. Owning brands helped the shop compete online, offer affordable products, and develop ideas shaped by decades of customer feedback.

Preserving Cornish Surfing Heritage

Piran Surf has long celebrated Cornwall’s unique surfing traditions, particularly the wooden bellyboard. The shop produced and later revived its own branded wooden “Piran” bellyboards, inspired by the traditional plywood boards ridden in Cornwall since the early 20th century. These heritage boards reflect Perranporth’s famous connection with “coffin lid” surfing, where simple wooden boards were used to ride waves decades before modern surfboards became common.

Today

55 years after opening, Piran Surf remains one of the original surf shops in both the UK and Europe. It continues to operate from Perranporth, serving local surfers, holidaymakers and beginners while maintaining strong links to the history and culture of Cornish surfing. The new owner and manager — both of whom started as shop groms — are keeping its heritage and service alive today.

It’s not just a surf shop; it’s a surf museum. With resin marks from the old shaping bays in the storerooms and original coffin lids hanging on the walls, it has Cornish surf heritage running through its veins.