Jessie Tuckman

JESSIE'S STORY

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I am originally from South Manchester, Uk and currently live in Newquay, Cornwall. I am 24 years old and I compete in the Women’s Open surf category. I have green eyes and long hair which is dark to light brown depending on the sun.
 
I have been surfing since early 2008 when my cousin took me to Scarborough South Bay on a grey, wet April morning. Testing me out in the cold north sea to find out if I really wanted to surf! Turns out I did.
 
Since then I have been hooked and almost everything I do revolves around surfing. I have moved, travelled, changed career plans and scraped by to learn and grow in surfing and to achieve what I have so far.
 
A few years ago I felt my surfing stagnate and as much as I tried, I couldn't improve. I was landlocked in Manchester with limited opportunity for surfing.
Step one, I took 3 months away in Fuerteventura which introduced me to a variety of reef breaks and strong swells which made a dramatic difference. This allowed me to learn and develop quickly. When I returned to the UK I then transferred my new skills onto our more mellow swells.
Step 2, I already had a group of good friends in Newquay and moved here to enable daily surfing and regular practise.
Step three, last autumn I entered my first surfing contest. In the past I competed in horse riding and found that having goals and set dates to work to helped me push myself and stay focused. This has been working well for me so far and I find myself improving for each contest I enter in surfing. I know that my surfing is no-where near perfect or at the highest standard that I want to achieve, but each step that I take on this journey is bringing me a little closer.
 
I am now regularly competing and love every minute of it. Surfing has changed my life and introduced me to so many new people, places and experiences. I welcome more.