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'THE TEMPLE OF FRINGE' surf shop

@fringesurfshop

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CRIBBAR YARD, BANK STREET (opposite Millets)
Newquay Cornwall
Alternative surfcraft, old school brands, subculture vibes⚡️Fringe surf HQ
Run by Stevo

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IS IT POSSIBLE TO BE EVEN MORE STOKED ON SURFING, THE OLDER YOU GET?
I'd say the good news, and the shortest answer is YES!

I used to worry about 'what if you get older and get bored of it' or the buzz goes out of it.
However, I reckon I feel an even deeper love for slidin' waves, and after 45 yrs since I first took a board in the water back in my hometown of Southwick nr Brighton on an old 'popout' and felt that 'feeling' I still feel like a teenager when I'm hurtling along a wave, all the bullshit and grown up stuff forgotten in the moment, an escape, release, and way to keep fit all in one, without getting too cheesy about it.
Mixing up the surfcraft has been a game changer, too, for me. After covid times, the lineups got busier, surfing became more mainstream, and I searched for new ways to keep the fire stoked, and I found it.
I found it in the subcultures, the 'fringes' of surfing and the small communities and tweaked humans that inhabit that world, the bodysurfers, matsurfers, Kneeboarders, bellyboarders and all manner of weird and wonderful surfcraft riders.
I have always kept my eye in on the surfboard of course, but I soon realised how surfboards are often not the right tool for the job on any given day.
Low tide Newquay bay, for example, is epic for bodysurfing, hellish in a surfboard. Onshores are actually fun on a bellyboard, when most are driving away.
I have had epic surf after epic surf this last couple of weeks, in surf where others are having 'shockers'.
Whether that's mindstate or surfcraft, skill or luck, who knows🤔 but I feel I'm on the right path and I'm overstoking right now, at 56, feelin' like a 5 yr old at Xmas👌⚡️
A local surfer, Craig Runnalls, sadly died of heart attack last week. A solid lifetime surfer, old punk, lovely bloke.
I've surfed with him for years. Only a couple weeks ago,he said to me in the shop as I was moaning about the shit northerly winds junking up the surf
"fuck it, I'm going in, never know when it's over for you bey" in his thick cornish accent...and now he's gone.
Makes you think dunnit.
Life's too short for hate, find something or someone you love, and squeeze the hell out of it while you can.
Stevo⚡️⚡️⚡ by @fringesurfshop

15 YEARS TODAY
It's been 15 years to the day that my full-time carer Helene came to England to be with me after meeting on a surf trip in Costa Rica in 2009.
Helene didn't surf. We met the first night, us both arriving from such different worlds.
I was working in the Magic Bus, Newquay, and she was running her brothers bar in downtown Montreal.
Since that first night, we've been inseparable, and neither of us looking for a relationship.
Helene gave up her beautiful flat in Canada, her job and life, to move to Cornwall. She'd never even heard of it. She was blown away⚡️
I was living in a small caravan at Penvose Farm above watergate Bay. A shock to the system for a city girl, but she loved it up there, a good sign.
I taught her to surf the proper way, on a foamie, refusing to let her go smaller too soon, and it paid off, she learned quickly.
Going away for winter helped, too, surfing every day in warm waters. We spent many Winters in Mexico before it got crowded.
After 2 years, we married in Sri Lanka 🇱🇰 for £2.80!
in Hikkaduwa, at midday, in case the surf was good that morning, with 2 witnesses from the surf that became friends.
2011, and we started living 'off grid' after finding 9 acres of woodland.
We started Kook Juice bar in 2015, and my surf mag 'Real Surfing Magazine' the same year.
Living off grid meant we could save a good deposit and bought our place in Nqy in 2018, just before prices went stupid. A big 2 bed flat for £128,000🤙it needed a lot of work, though.
Life has gone so fast since meeting Helene, and she is the happiest person I know. If you know her, you know.
What scares me is that in 15 years' time, which just went by in a speed blur, I'll be 68😳 I'm 54 next week.
Anyway, not sure why I'm writing this. Sorry if it's boring, it's just nuts how life turns out.
I'm just a working class surf rat who loves to go shred on the daily, I live for it. Sometimes I wonder if it's all a big waste of time, but then I look at the state of the World and think how fortunate I am, running an epic surf shop, a beautiful wife and good community around me, so I think I'll just carry on for as long as I can🙏
Thank-you Helene for a wonderful 15 years❤
Stevo by @fringesurfshop

I've been struggling to put these photos that local photographer @adj_brown came to the shop a couple of weeks ago to take as it feels a bit vain, but thought I'd use them to introduce myself a little more to those of you that don't know me.
I was brought up in Southwick, Sussex near Brighton, and moved to Cornwall about 35 years ago.
I left for many years to go travel the world on a huge surfing adventure, living in Indo, Australia, Hawaii and all over, but came back and settled here amongst the surfy community in Newquay, and I hope I am lucky enough to live here for the rest of my life.
I wanted to start a surf shop that was reminiscent of the shops of my youth, when surf shops were run by surfers, a place to hang out and talk story, in a time when surfing was considered a subculture, and if the surf was pumping, the shop would be closed.
Maybe i'm living in the past, and maybe the past was a better place, I don't know, I guess we all see the World differently, but I am drawn to the characters of surfings history, the rebels, and the trailblazers, that just went out there and did what they loved by the seat of their pants.
I love the alternative community of surfing, too, these days.
The bellyboarders, matsurfers, bodysurfers, and kneeboarders that still retain much of that old school community feel, and in recent years, I have fully immersed myself in those too, as well as retaining my love for traditional surfing.
I want the people that make the effort to walk up my stairs, to feel the honesty, the old school vibe, perhaps learn a little about surfing or alternative ways to surf, or educate me, on the things I don't know about, as I can sometimes feel a little behind when it comes to modern day surfing, but I love the excitement and the joy on visitors faces after they've come in the shop, whether they've spent or not, knowing that I've given them a taste of what I believe a 'proper surf shop' feels like as they often tell me, and I can't ask for more than that.
Anyway, thanks for listening to me waffling.
I hope I don't come across the wrong way, and I hope to meet you soon or see you return⚡️⚡️
Stay young...Stevo..
#fringesurfshop #Newquay by @fringesurfshop

WHY WE CLOSE..
November 1st
OPEN SATURDAYS ONLY
This auspicious date means that I go from opening 7 days a week down to 1 day a week🙏
From the time we get back from our travels in March, to the 1st November, myself and my carer Helene put our heart and souls into our little businesses in Newquay and we plan to go away at the beginning of Dec for a few months travelling the world, surfing and exploring.
We use this next month to be able to spend some time catching up on the jobs we don't have the time for at home, go walking, surfing, and seeing friends, as its difficult to find that time during the busy season.
Instead of trying to squeeze a living in the cold quiet months, we save hard all year, not going out, just working and surfing, living frugally, so we can have time to reset and be together.
Its funny living in a tourist town, how you see everyone all summer being care free on their holidays, or visiting Newquay, and we get very jealous of this, but also realise how lucky we are to live and work in a place where so many customers tell us they dream of living one day.
However, the stark contrast between summer and winter, means it is barely worth opening in a seaside town, having so many days where you won't even make minimum wage for standing around in a freezing cold shop, trying to not get demoralised by days when hardly a soul walks in.
So, we prep for this all year by saving hard and having some time to ourselves, choosing to have time together over money, and with as little responsibilities as we can get away with.
Helene has closed KOOK until easter, and I am opening Saturdays only up to xmas. Condense the trade into one hopefully buzzing day.
I can't surf before or after work due to the darkness, and I just want to surf, so 6 days of surf, and 1 day of work after a hectic summer suits us, take a big breath and spend more time out and about in beautiful Cornwall.
I can still post items if you need anything 'upcountry' for now, but just wanted to post an explanation of why I'm closed 6 days now.
Thanks everyone who has made my year better than ever, and for appreciating my surfshop for what it is ya bleddy legends 🙏
Stay rad
Stevo and Helene ⚡ by @fringesurfshop

I THINK I'VE CREATED SOMETHING SPECIAL..

Judging by the reactions of the people who come into my shop lately, I feel I'm doing the right thing, putting my heart into it, making everyone feel welcome, no matter your background, if you surf or not, or what you surf, everyone is on a level footing with me.
People even come in and say "I don't surf, but I love your shop"
There are so many 'older' people who remember how it used to be. That sense of identity we had as a tribe.
The vibe of a surf shop, a sense of history, subculture, and 'surfyness'.
They tell me my shop has that in buckets, and I get a real genuine buzz from that.
I think as humans in a world that's losing its humanity, authenticity is the new currency. We seek and crave that more and more.
Hence why the kids have looked to the past, dressing like it's the 90s. Getting into the analogue world, craving real connections, and it's amazing to see and hear the genuine praise from kids who were only born knowing the Internet world.

For me, though, the shop is a culmination of my 45 yrs of living and surfing. It's a way to go surfing every day, enjoy the reason I live here, with little pressure to make money.
Tucked away off the high st like I am, I make nothing like the high St stores do, but I love what I sell,the goods I curate, and I believe in the products I get in.
Who the hell tries to pay the rent by selling burger trays, planks of wood, and blow-up bags for a livin'😂

I put a lot of time into my insta stories daily too, but I know lots of you enjoy it, cos you tell me.
I actually enjoy it, enjoy the process, the humour, the building of a surf shop that I hope will be remembered in a good way, if and when it ends..
My instagram page isn't just full of boring pics of products. It's about feelings, people, and thoughts.
My website's not up to date, I'm always behind on the grown up stuff, but I'm just blagging my way through life as a surfer, making memories, meeting epic people, and trying to tread my own path, and do right by everyone I meet.
It's not everyone's cup of tea, but who, or what is?
It'd be a boring world if we all liked the same things.
PRAY FOR SURF
We need it bad 🙏
Stevo⚡️ by @fringesurfshop

GRATEFUL
There's so much I have to be grateful for in this life as a surfshop owner/surfer and it's oftentimes the people you meet along the way that put it all into perspective who have been through hard times, or just wonderful customers, or moments at the shop.
Here's a few examples..
Yesterday,@the_blind_surfer and his crew (pic 2 and 3) came into the shop, paying pilgrimage, they said after hearing of the place in their home in the Basque country.
Thomas (with shades on) woke up one day at 10 yrs old, completely blind from a stroke in his sleep! He didn't surf before this and learned to surf.
Can you imagine? He has a guy in the water to tell him to go left or right as he takes off. What a level of commitment 👏 puts it all into perspective, doesn't it. He's now World and European adaptive champion, and more importantly, a solid, nice guy with it. Go check his surfing on his page⚡️

I'm also grateful for the people from all walks of life who love the shop and compliment me on the ethos, the vibe, and for bringing surfshops back to how they used to be, and for spending what little money they might have with me, and keeping the place open.
I don't care if folk just get a sticker or a fist bump,it keeps me going🙏

I'm grateful to be able to surf after 45 yrs of doing it. Still pop up cleanly, can ride alternative surfcraft, and be part of that rad community, too.

Also, for Mike @lovingthepronelife for looking after the shop when I go for a surf, and for Helene for being the happy, loving lady she is and supporting me in my schemes.

I love Newquay, I love Cornwall ❤️ I am grateful to have been born in such a beautiful part of the world 🌎 and it's travel that makes you realise how fortunate you are when you see real deprivation and hardships.
Sure, there's always something to moan about, from governments to the trivialities of life, but I'm stoked to have been born next to the sea and live for it.

I don't wanna come across all cheesy, but it's good to stop sometimes and realise what you do have, rather than looking at what you dont.
Pray for surf🙏😂
Love to all
Stevo⚡️⚡️⚡️ by @fringesurfshop

BEAUTY IS IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER-when the surf isn't picture perfect..

I was brought up in a small surf community nr Brighton on the south coast of England. There, we had waves that were mostly generated by howling winds, rarely groundswell, creating choppy, onshore, conditions, but it's all we had.
This did, however, create a tight-knit surf community, as passionate about riding waves as you could get.
Years later, I made the move to Newquay.
I'll never forget the sheer awe, stepping off the bus, as I gazed upon the crystal clear water and white sand, a far cry from the tar covered pebbled beaches and murky waters of the English Channel.
I still to this day some 35 odd yrs later, retain that feeling of stoke and gratefulness of the waves.
When many 'surfers' are surf checking and walking away, deeming the surf not good enough, you'll find me running down the hill, with my stomach full of butterflies, anticipation and wonder, that I'm able to 'get in' and harvest some of that stoke.
I got in everyday last week, whilst many were 'unsurfed'.
I rode my surfboard, coffin lid, bellyboard, and burger tray. One of those was in 3ft howling onshores at Fistral, and it was probably the one I took the most from strangely. I pretty much had the beach to myself, caught a bunch of good rides, long bowly faces, fast high lines upon deceptively clean walls, it's out there.
All that exercise, cardio, and movement is all credit in the health bank, and it's great to make the most of the light evenings (the hours start to go back, a week today)😫
Anyway, what im trying to say is, drop the expectations, don't worry what you look like, grab a surfcraft that allows you to go surf, stay surf fit, and stoked. Tap into it. If it's moving, make the most of it, it could go flat for ages.

We have family here from North Carolina right now, my wife's god daughter Emily and her fella Ryder. They surf luckily, so it's real fun to show them our town.
Seeing them eat their 1st pasty, visit our beaches, meet our people, they love it here.

Also, the shop's been busier than expected. So a big thank you to everyone who came in this week 🙏 🙌
Have a great week everyone
Stevo⚡️⚡️ by @fringesurfshop

TEMPLE OF FRINGE UPDATE
Captain's log mid to end May 2026
HAPPY BANK HOLIDAY

It's honestly been one hell of a week of exciting surf, rad deliveries, and humbling love for the shop🙏
The 1st half of May was just awful for surf.
A week of total flat conditions, followed by howling N winds and cold with it! Then....boooom⚡️
Offshores and sun with pumpin' surf!
We were all losing it down here in Newquay without waves, but last week, I surfed my old Glyder surfboard a few times and really enjoyed it.
I had an 11 out of 10 bodysurf at N Fistral on Thursday, one of the best of the year so far, but by Saturday, I had to rest and not go in, utterly broken!
But it's the best broken, isn't it? That special 'surfed out' feeling, but at 56, I was feeling it after 6 days in a row, surfing for hours each session🤙
Thing is, I'm always scared the swell will go again, so harvest while it's here. In the words of Greenough "you never know when it's your last go out"

Took delivery of that incredible red 'Flextail edge Spoon' made by Master craftsman @jaysurfboards
up in Edinburgh. I rate him in the top teir of shapers in the UK and Europe, and you are welcome to come see this board. It's stunning.
Big thanks to Innes and Grace for safely delivering it to me at the Temple, you are both legends, and to Craig for storing it in Bristol 🙏

Also, I am incredibly humbled by an article from The Museum of British Surfing (pic 14) about my shop keeping it old school🙏thankyou guys
The surf is pumpin' today, the sun is out, it's 🔥
Hopefully, I'll see u in the surf this week. It's set to be a fantastic start to the week, and I couldn't be happier.
P.S If u are specifically coming to see me at the shop, best time to catch me is 10am to 2pm as I am likely to go surfing late afternoons. The shop stays open until 5pm though. Mike, the grom covers me🔥🤙
Get in the water.
Stay rad
Stevo⚡️
Shop open 7 days a week
Opens at 10am everyday by @fringesurfshop

THIS WEEK..
I love the months of May and June in Newquay.
The days are long, the surf's usually pretty good, the neoprene starts to get shed, gloves , boots and hood gone, and the town's kinda quiet and chilled before the summer season kicks in here in Cornwall.
Shop owners are out painting and tidying their shop fronts, taking in deliveries, and hoping for a busy summer ahead.
Locals like @guyleverton pop by the shop for a catch-up. If you haven't seen his little surfy edits on YouTube go take a look if you like positive, stoke fuelled edits that really capture the essence of what it's like to live in Newquay as a lifelong surfer.
There's a ton of new shops opened up this year down here, cafés and food places, and I think the town's looking pretty good, feels like there's hardly any empty shops despite the struggle on high streets, and with the sun out, the white sand and crystal blue water has been good for the soul, despite it being flat for a week now! I'm starting to get twitchy, missing the surf big time.
My new range of boards have sold out. I'm getting some more in this week hopefully from the local Ocean Magic crew. It's so bleddy humbling and exciting to see the surf community in the lineups on my boards.
They are a culmination of 42 years of surfing here, listening to what and how people surf, and what is going to work, but on a small scale, dripping out lovely boards to lovely people that want to support rootsy, independent surf shops rather than trusting in corporate mass production 😀 it's so rad.
Talking of small businesses. Just had those portable showers in from @newflowuk, also the @wetsuitwrench to help people out of those bloody chest zip wetsuits, and this year's Yucca fins delivery has arrived at last.

My 1st batch of microgreens are ready (youtube 'Microgreens' so easy to grow yourself, and I am again humbled to be included in a new book about the pioneers of Brighton graffiti. A blast from the past and another lifetime ago in the 80s, but it's pretty rad to be remembered in the subculture.
Anyway, that's it, no more buying boards, please, until this flat spell lifts😂
Shop's open every day
STAY RAD
STEVO⚡️⚡️ by @fringesurfshop

56 TODAY!! ...GULP
It's just mad how quickly a year just went by.
You talk to anyone older, and they'll tell you, "The older you get, the quicker time flies by," and it's so true.
There's nothing you can do about it, but enjoy the time you have.
Growing older is a privilege, lots of us don't make it, and I'm really aware of that.
So I'm super grateful for being allowed to still be here, still surfing, still popping to my feet, be able to surf, and be fit enough to do most things I want, but ever aware as I look at the generation ahead of me and how they move, surf and live, so I'm gonna carry on having a good time, surf as much as I damn well can and hope the surf gods are kind to me as I hurtle toward 60.

Last night I was gonna go out with Helene, my beautiful carer, but the weather was minging, so I wanted one more soul warming log fire, some melted cheese and bits, a few beers by the fire, reflecting on the last year at home, with good tunes in the background with my soul mate, perfect 👌
It's been a good year for me all in all.
Just had an epic winter trip away in California and Peru, the shop's looking great and making me a living,

I'm meeting stoked, supportive people that make up the surfing community, people that understand how important little shops like mine are in a town. Not just my shop, but all the shop's that give soul, heart, and a place that make people go into town and mooch about, have a bit of banter and a laugh.
I love Newquay. Lot's of people in Cornwall try and look down on it, don't understand why.
But I love the buzz of it. The eclectic mix of people, the open-mindedness.
People smile here and say hello, with a shared desire to live a good life, feel safe, content and if able, go shred a few waves in one of the most beautiful parts of the world, I'll take that, and I'm grateful for it too.

Anyway.
Thanks for any bday wishes, and thanks too for following me on my life journey in the surfyverse as an old school surfer and lucky git ⚡️⚡️
Stevo by @fringesurfshop

SUNDAY APRIL 26TH
Captain's log
It's been a beautiful week down here in paradise, or 'Newquay' as some call it.
The town is quiet, the sun is out, and the surfy gods have been blessing us with small fun groundswell in impossibly blue crystal clear water.
It's epic seeing people shedding the winter coats and getting their legs and tee shirts out.
Everyone is so happy 😊
Despite town being quiet this week, I met some amazing people at the Temple, and got to surf some super fun waves on my Temple longboard, testing it out at Watergate on my day off and chuffed to bits with it.
Rode my surfmat and coffin lid this week too with a few of the local fringe crew, which I saw as a bonus as the report was looking dodgy, but those strong offshores were perfect for the prone surfcraft.
Sold a few boards, got a bunch of grown up stuff done, unpacked a bunch of new products coming in from all over the world and ate pasties, all in all, a simple but satisfying week.
It's May bank holidays next weekend, so hopefully, I'll be seeing a bunch of you down (I'll order some tasty waves for you)🙏🙏🙏
I'll be open every day
Mon to Saturday 10am to 5pm
Sundays 11am to 3pm
Open bank Holiday Monday too..
I hope you are enjoying the good weather and hopefully got some waves this week, if not, ask yaself why not😂😁
Happy Sunday everyone
Stevo ⚡️⚡️⚡️ by @fringesurfshop

NEW STUFF⚡️⚡️
Easter has been kinda good to me at the Temple 🛕
Had just the best folk visiting over the holidays from all over, stoked that I'm back open for the season and we've had a fair bit of decent surf too, albeit a bit friken cold for my taste, but I'm steadily acclimatising 👀 I've had a few super fun bodysurfs in the last week in powerful surf with the epic friendly local Fringe crew. It's so good to be home and see familiar faces around in the lineups.
I've also started my own range of boards. A Temple surfcraft Longboard that is light to medium weight, available in 9'2ft and 9'4ft at the mo, resin tinted, singlefin only and 22" wide which allows more women and people that struggle to carry longboards and get a deeper paddle.
These are locally made of course, and I'm super chuffed with them. Shaped by Nigel Semmens, glassed by Jack Day at Day Surfboards, they will be the perfect summertime board. Rrp around £875 so super affordable compared to some of the crazy prices going about⚡️⚡️
Also, a 7ft and 7'2ft classic singlefin Temple surfcraft model. A cruisy rounded pintail to highline into walled up waves and draw long smooth turns. Super simple these 1st ones in plain white. Around £650
Also, I got a bunch of new shop tees and hoodies arrived and the quality is he usually long lasting you'd expect..💪
Also, I just restocked the new Science 7-7 boogs, too, and a ton of boog accessories, socks, leashes, bags etc from Thrash.
I'm open 7 days a week now.
Mon to Sat 10am to 5pm and Sunday 11am to 3pm so if u are about in Newquay, come say hi 👋
The evenings are getting longer, good for after work surfs, the anticipation is high for a good summer, and the town is coming alive🤙🤙
Hope you guys had a good weekend
Stay rad
Stevo⚡️⚡️ by @fringesurfshop