From Cornwall to the World Stage: The Journey, Triumphs, and Influence of a Bodyboarding Icon
At Bodyboard Holidays, we’re excited to launch a new series of rider profiles, and the choice of who to feature first was clear. There’s no better place to start than at home, with one of UK bodyboarding’s most accomplished and influential figures: Damian Prisk.
To our guests, Damian is known as an exceptional coach, calm, generous with his knowledge, endlessly supportive in the water. But here’s the truth: when I think of him, it feels almost like an injustice, maybe even a crime that so many are unaware of the full story behind the coach: his bodyboarding journey, his achievements, and the adversities he overcame along the way.
I was lucky enough to catch up with Damian on a call and dive deep into his past. For me, it’s personal. Growing up, Damian set the benchmark, relentless in his work ethic, prolific in his results, and respected on a global stage. From world-level competition and international travel to magazine covers and representing UK bodyboarding at the highest level, his influence runs far deeper than most people realise.
Let’s meet the man behind the coach.
The following are selected extracts from our conversation, where Damian reflects on his journey in his own words.
The early years and inspirations
Where did it all begin?
I was born and bred in Cornwall, and I think I was about 12 when I got my first bodyboard. It was my brother, Kirstin Prisk, he’s two years older than me, who really got me into it, along with his little crew of mates. I was just the younger brother tagging along, being a bit of a pest, like younger brothers usually are. That’s how I got my first real insight into bodyboarding.
My first proper board was a yellow BZ Diamond Max with a fluro bottom. My brother had a blue Diamond Max. Bear in mind, I was 12, and it felt like the biggest board ever made. I remember thinking, I can’t wait for my arms to grow so I can actually carry this thing down the beach. From that point on, it just spurred me on. I caught the bug straight away, and from then, I didn’t really want to do anything else.
So, as you got the bug for it, who were early inspirations, both home and abroad?
Growing up around Portreath, there was Danny Catten, he’s still there, frothing as ever, riding waves all the time. He was part of a big crew of quite gnarly shortboarders, longboarders, knee boarders… and then there was me, turning up with my massive Diamond Max bodyboard, trying to get in the mix. There was also a chap called Lewi Skinner, who drew clean lines and had smooth, fluid riding. And, of course, internationally… Mike Stewart.
Was there rivalry or healthy competition between you and your brother, an accomplished dropkneer, in those early days?
No, not really. I don’t think it was ever like, “Damian’s doing really well at prone, I’ll go dropknee.” I just naturally went that way, and he stuck to dropknee and shredded it his way, and I stayed on my belly. I don’t think I’ve even gotten up dropknee for probably 20 years. I haven’t tried. It doesn’t even cross my mind, but I love watching good Jack Stance. Haha.
First Competitions and Early Results
And so, you started at 12. When did you start getting some results and thinking, “Oh, actually, I’m pretty good at this”?
Yeah, I don’t really know what inspired me to compete, because I’m not naturally competitive. If there’s a challenge going on, I’ll probably give it a go, but I’m not the type who has to win. I actually don’t even recall why I entered the comps or started doing them, it just kind of happened. But one thing I do remember: once I started, for those 15, 20 minutes, however long the heats were, I gave it everything. I thought, It’s only for 20 minutes, so I’ve got to give it my all, and that’s how I approached all the heats. And then, suddenly, I was making a lot of finals.
If I hadn’t done the contests, which is kind of a love-hate thing, you hate the whole build-up: getting nervous the night before, dealing with the day, going in multiple heats, putting on a wet wetsuit, thinking, Now I’ve got to go back in, in that slop/cold ocean. But then you get into the final, and it’s all worthwhile. And when you win, you’re driving away thinking, Wow, that was such a great day.
But I think the best achievement from doing all those comps wasn’t just the results, it was meeting fellow bodyboarders. Doing the 360 Magazine Series and the National comps meant I’d bump into people like Rob Barber, Anders Siggery, Joe Franklin, Bjorn Storey, Danny Wall, Sean Egan, Brendan Staniforth… all these guys who were regularly in the magazines back in the day, and now they’re long-term friends. That’s been the real highlight of doing those comps, not the finals I won, but the friendships I made along the way. Haha, that’s the bit that really stuck with me!
Getting Sponsored
So, you’re getting into all these finals, and then sponsorship came along. What were those first sponsors?
One of my first sponsors, and one I’m still proud to ride for today was Daniel’s Sports, originally set up by Steve Daniels and now run by his sons. They’ve always been an awesome company, bringing in some of the best products out there.
I started out riding Morey Bodyboards with them. Back in those days, I’d drive up to Plymouth and spend the whole day opening every single box to hunt down the perfect Mach 7-7. Quality control wasn’t what it is now, so you really had to sift through the boards to find the one!
These days I’m riding Science Bodyboards, using Gyroll gear, and staying warm and flexible in Xcel wetsuits. I’m genuinely stoked to be representing the best brands in the business. I love working on the Science bodyboard weekend which combines my love of coaching with working with my long time sponsor.
At that time I was also with Sola Wetsuits, another Plymouth-based company with some pretty wild colors back then, and we had an awesome team; Rob, Anders, Johnny Burt, and my brother. Then, I think, through Threesixty magazine, and because I was doing well in European competitions, Billabong approached Threesixty, who recommended me, and I ended up signing with Billabong and leaving Sola. I remember Sola saying, “We see you’re going to go – it’s a great opportunity – but if you stay with us, there’s going to be something big.” They wouldn’t tell me what it was…so yeah, I went with Billabong.
Does that ever keep you up at night wondering what that big thing was?
Not at all. No, I never looked back.Haha.
European and International Competitions
You mentioned European competitions, back then there were a lot more contests going on around Europe and internationally, right?
Yes, back in the day, it was so much better, no matter what anyone says now. There were the English and British Nationals, where you’d be competing not just against English riders, but Welsh, Scottish, and Northern Irish riders too. By becoming an English or British champ, you’d then get picked to represent your country, whether in the Europeans in France, Portugal, or the Canaries as part of the English team, or internationally, like in Brazil or California, as part of the British team. Yeah, I did a lot of those when I was younger.
I think all those competitions in the early 90s, early 2000 led to a really high standard of UK bodyboarding, recognised internationally, which included myself, Danny Wall and Bjorn Storey and Rob Barber. We were kind of keeping up, not up at the top echelons, but we were definitely holding our own when in Hawaii for example.
Winters in Hawaii: Pushing Limits
For me, you guys holding your own in Hawaii really ties back to that sense of injustice I mentioned, where our guests don’t realise that you, Danny Wall, and Rob Barber were hugely respected at the highest international level. You were appearing in Riptide, which at the time was basically the Bible of bodyboarding magazines.
Yeah, I think we were part of that generation where everyone ended up in Hawaii, every Aussie ripper, South Africans, Hawaiians, Californians, Europeans, Brazilians, you name it. You’d arrive early December and stay through February, and the stories from those months are unreal. Just being in that melting pot, riding waves like that at quite a young age, really pushed your limits.
That was also when the ARS was being invented, so you were learning that too. And then you had guys from St Ives – Mark Stevens, Johnny Wells, Martin Craven, Colin Stirling – who paved the way for UK riders, absolutely charging, fearless. With that inspiration, Danny Wall and I were able to push our own progression. Healthy competition at home, combined with winters in Hawaii, really created that high standard of UK bodyboarding. Haha, those were wild times.
Facing Adversity: A Life-Changing Diagnosis
We’ve talked about you doing well nationally, in Europe, and holding your own internationally but you also got on the GOB World Bodyboard Tour, right? And then disaster struck.
Yeah, I got the backing to do it through Billabong. I had a pot of money, it was the right age to give it a go… but then I got poorly with cancer, which completely knocked it on the head and shifted my focus entirely.
That had been the plan, though. I don’t see why it wouldn’t have worked out – or at least why I wouldn’t have had a crack at it. I probably would’ve gotten my ass kicked, but it would’ve been an incredible experience while I was in the prime of my riding.
And the cancer took you out of the game for a couple of years, if I recall.
Yeah, I first discovered a lump while I was in Hawaii. I was away for a few months and thought, “I’ll just see my GP when I get home.” Then, boom, I found out it was testicular cancer.
I had the operation quickly, followed by a fair bit of chemo. I had to travel up to Plymouth, sit in a hospital bed for a week, and deal with being quite poorly. When that didn’t fully resolve it, I needed major surgery at the Royal Marsden in London, plus a few other smaller operations. After that, it was about 10 years of checkups.
The hospital staff were amazing, giving reassurance, running blood tests and X-rays, making sure everything was okay. It’s a horrible feeling knowing something could be inside you, so that peace of mind was huge. And, you know, it’s a bit of a lottery, someone your age might be cured, the person next door might not. That was a real curveball, but it didn’t change my outlook. Afterward, I wanted to keep bodyboarding, but I became more rooted at home and focused on a steadier path. The World Tour comps didn’t seem so important anymore, I just did more freesurf trips and enjoyed bodyboarding for the love of it.
Did it make you even hungrier to surf?
Not really, I think I was just as hungry. Honestly, I’m still just as frothing now! Haha.
Learning Through Videos and Trial & Error
You mentioned that the people inspiring you in the early years were Lewi Skinner locally and Mike Stewart internationally. As the years passed, were there other strong influences at home and abroad on your bodyboarding?
Well, considering there wasn’t much footage available back then, I had a few VHS tapes of the Bud Tour that really inspired me. They travelled across the U.S. to places like Hawaii and California, and I’d do whatever I could to get hold of that footage. Watching Mike Stewart, Ben Severson, and the Kauai Classic guys riding dribbly two‑foot beach breaks was gold – it felt so relatable to the day‑to‑day conditions I was getting in Cornwall.
Then all the Tom Boyle videos influenced my riding too; Winter On The Rock, Indonesian Experience, and the Underground tapes. I’d say slow-moing footage like that really helped me progress. There wasn’t coaching back then, so everything we learned was trial and error. There wasn’t anyone in the lineup correcting your bad habits. Now, when guests come and see us, especially younger kids, it’s all there for them. Everything we learned the hard way, they can pick up much faster.
Mastering Porthleven: Cornwall’s Legendary Break
I studied at Plymouth University, and during that period, if Porthleven was on, I’d go down, and you were always there, and still are, like a sort of Mike Stewart of Porthleven, tearing it apart. Tell me about how you became so dominant out there?
Yeah, it offers world-class quality, which really suits bodyboarding. It can hold solid swell, throw proper tubes, and it’s great for all kinds of tricks. I just tried to surf it as much as I could. I like to think I earned respect over the years by surfing it in all conditions, even big, onshore, horrible days. So, when it’s bigger and crowded, I know people will give me waves if I’ve waited my turn, because they trust I won’t waste them.
UK Bodyboarding Today
How is the bodyboarding scene in the UK at the moment?
It’s definitely alive, it’s not flatline, just steady. There’s a core crew, and when certain spots are on, they get packed. At our monthly coaching events in Newquay, it’s the same. You could say it’s having a bit of a renaissance, though it’s nowhere near the heyday. That seems true worldwide, except maybe in places like the Canaries, Portugal, Chile, Peru, and Morocco.
Why Coaching is Rewarding
Speaking of coaching weekends, what drew you to work with Bodyboard Holidays, and what do you enjoy most about coaching?
Probably the same reason you do it, we get to hang out with friendly, like-minded people. There are no egos; everyone’s there for good times, supporting each other, and chasing that little bit of improvement. Giving advice in a safe, supportive way and seeing those small gains over the weekend is hugely rewarding. And that buzz is the best part, whether it’s a 14-year-old on their first weekend or a 70-year-old who’s flown in from the States. Plus, it’s just amazing meeting people from all over the world.
Signature Moves: The Cutback Reverse
Regarding coaching and progression, when I watch your riding, I think of your cutback reverses that throw so much spray. What’s the secret?
Again, studying videos when I was younger. It was the one move that I’d slow-mo for all riders from Mike Stewart, Ben Severson, the Kauai classic guys, and then with the Aussies, guys like Ryan Hardy, Mitch Rawlins, Damian King and Ben Player – all those guys were putting it all on rail. And I guess it’s one of those moves where, if you don’t have a section to hit, but you’ve got all that speed, and if you nail one, it feels so good. It’s a good flowy feeling move as well. And I think when you kind of jam one that feels really good, you know, it’s a good one.
Someone once said to me, if the spray is still in the air, once you’ve come around from the spin, you know, it’s a good one.
Yeah, exactly.
Proudest Moments
Changing gear, what is your proudest moment in bodyboarding?
Nothing specific really stands out. Probably winning a lot of contests, like my early 360 series events. Later, there were the Sick, Lame & Lazy nationals, where I walked away with £1,000 prize money – a big deal for the UK scene back then. Winning back-to-back events at my home break of Portreath always tasted sweeter too, especially in chunky, sizable surf. It’s nice going out there, riding it in the comp, in those sorts of conditions, which you usually only do with a few guys out.
Internationally, I think my proudest moments were just getting through heats, not necessarily getting the win, but just making or sharing heats against big names like Tamega and Steve McKenzie. I mean, here I was, a pasty little English lad waddling down the beach, taking on legends, and holding my own.
(Editors note: One of Damians most endearing traits is his modesty. He will always downplay achievements, that deserve huge amounts of recognition. There was a period in the late 90’s and early 2000’s when Daimian was a genuine international contender in most types of waves around the world, but particularly hollow fast right handers. Many times he shook up internationally renowned world class riders beating them or knocking them out of competitions. One such time was in the World Surfing Games in Durban South Africa when he was up against the current World Champion Palo Barcellos, they went wave for wave and Damian came out on top almost doubling Palos score.)
Front Covers and Memories
Favourite front cover and the story behind it?
There’s one of me in WA, pretty good shot, me in a barrel wearing a white and black Billabong wetsuit. It actually flared up on my Instagram the other day. Brings back great memories of surfing the box out there and some of the other slabs.
Funnily enough, my nephew Taylor lives there now. He came over for Christmas and is just riding all these spots, frothing out. It’s great hearing his tales of these cool slabs.
There’s another cover of me doing a bit of an invert at Uluwatu, probably another favourite. Best memories there were surfing with Danny Wall and Sean Egan. Those trips were just awesome!
Looking Ahead
So, to start wrapping up, what does the future look like for you?
Heading to the Maldives in July with my son Wilbur, he’s finishing his exams this year. After that, it’s mostly coaching events, nearly one a month. Some really exciting ones coming up: our Newquay sessions, coaching event at The Wave, and Dave Hubbard joining us at Lost Shore in Edinburgh. Those are definitely standout events.
I’m conscious of your time, but I really appreciate you digging a little deeper into your past. Even with your modesty, it’s clear the achievements are huge. For anyone wanting more, they can always check out the old Rampage videos, Forgotten and La Familia.
Absolutely. Tim Nunn and Roger Sharp created those videos, and Louise Searle did the Rampage series from Threesixty, can’t thank them enough. And the late Sam Buckle with his boog videos too. Magazines shared competition results, but it was really those videos that showed guys like you what the UK scene looked like back then. Hard to imagine now!
Well, on that note, I’ll let our readers dig out those old videos and let you put your boys to bed. Thanks so much for your time this evening, Damian, and hopefully see you soon in Portugal!
Yeah, I’ll message you next time I’m on a plane to Portugal. Take care, bye!
Damian Prisk’s story is a testament to dedication, resilience, and the pure joy of bodyboarding. Despite his world-class achievements, international recognition, and decades at the sharp end of competitive bodyboarding, Damian remains modest, generous, and deeply grounded in his love for the sport – qualities that shine through every coaching session. It is due to this unique skill set that Damian was handpicked by Bodyboard Holidays to be our bodyboard coaching weekend leader. Damian didn’t mention that he was a lifeguard on the north Cornwall coast and during that time conducted multiple rescues which he was recognised nationally for. It’s not just his incredible bodyboard knowledge, it’s his awareness of coastal safety that makes him the perfect man for the job.
If you want to learn from one of UK bodyboarding’s finest and experience coaching from a true master, be sure to join us on one of our Bodyboard Holidays coaching weekends with Damian Prisk- an opportunity to surf, improve, and share the line-up with a world-class rider.
And on a personal note, the grom in me, who had posters of Damian on my wall growing up, was absolutely stoked to get the chance to chat at length about his incredible bodyboarding journey, and to work with him on the events we run together.
