28th May 2009
UK’s top surfers and lifesavers unite for this summer's best free day out on the beach: Surf Relief Festival at Watergate Bay.
UK charity Surf Relief have unveiled a packed schedule for this summer’s best day out on the beach: the Surf Relief Festival at Watergate Bay, Cornwall, on Saturday 18th July.
The free beach festival combines a host of family activities with two exciting beach sports competitions featuring the UK’s top professional surfers and surf lifesavers. To round off a perfect day, the sound of pounding waves will give way to live music in the Sunset Sessions: a mini music festival right on the beach.
As well as a great day out, this year’s Surf Relief Festival will also raise money for the charity’s SurfAble project which introduces youngsters with disabilities to surfing - an experience which for many proves to be life-changing.
“The Surf Relief Festival raised over £30,000 for the charity last year, which was fantastic,” said Surf Relief UK’s Chairman Dave Manley. “This money has allowed us to purchase specialised surfboards and equipment, and guarantees funding for the SurfAble project for the next three years which will give more than 1,200 disabled children and young people the chance to try surfing.
“We’ve got so much going on this year. The event has grown again and there really will be something for everyone on the beach, whether it’s cheering on the next generation of surf lifesavers in the Nippers Carnival or enjoying some of the region’s best new bands. And best of all, the event is completely free to attend.”
Britain’s top pro surfers take to the water on Friday 17th July for two days of competition in round three of the UK Pro Surf Tour. Surfers will compete in five divisions - Open, Women’s, Under 16 Boys, Under 16 Girls and Under 12 Open - with finals running on the afternoon of Saturday 18th July. The event invariably attracts a high quality field of entrants: last year’s Open division was won by Britain’s best ever competitive surfer, Russell Winter, a former member of the Association of Surfing Professionals’ elite world tour.
Joining the surfers on Friday 17th will be over 200 children from secondary schools in Cornwall, all taking part in an Ocean and Beach Day. Working with the Cornwall Sports Partnership, fully qualified coaches will run taster sessions of rugby, volleyball, surfing and lifeguard skills for both disabled and able-bodied young people.
The Iron Men and Women of the future will be honing their skills on the morning of Saturday 18th in the Nippers Carnival. This competition allows the youngest junior lifeguards the opportunity to compete on the same patch as the pros, in team-based relay races. Clubs from Cornwall will be contacted by organisers Legacy Events and invited to bring teams to compete.
Then it’s over to the experts for the Legacy Events Elite Ironman and Diamond Lady competitions. This invitation-only event will feature the 24 best male and top 24 female competitors in the country. Fitness, stamina and endurance are all crucial in this event, which sees the athletes complete a swim, paddle board and surf ski leg - with a 400 metre run in between each - to qualify for the final.
Children’s events run throughout the day from 11.30am, including dance workshops and face painting for younger children. Newquay’s Blue Reef Aquarium will hold a Rockpool Roadshow, bringing a selection of giant lobsters, starfish and their amazing walnut-cracking crab to the beach.
Rounding the day off will be the Sunset Sessions, Watergate Bay’s own music festival on the beach. Featuring a bill of four upcoming new bands, the Sunset Sessions will be the perfect end to a great day on the beach.
More information about the 2009 Surf Relief Festival can be found on the event mini-site at www.watergatebay.co.uk/surfrelief
Event Programme
Friday 17th July - Ocean and beach day
9.00 am UK Pro Surf Tour competition begins
All day Ocean and beach activities for local secondary school children
Saturday 18th July - Surf Relief Festival
9.00 am Nipper’s carnival registration
9.00 am UK Pro Surf Tour - Round 3 - First heats
10.30 am Nipper’s carnival
11.30 am Children’s beach events
1.00 pm Legacy Events Elite Ironman/Diamond Lady competition begins
2.15 pm Legacy Events Elite Ironman/Diamond Lady competition finals
2.30 pm Blue Reef Rockpool Road Show
3.00 pm UK Pro Surf Tour - Round 3 - Junior U16 final
3.20 pm UK Pro Surf Tour - Round 3 - Women’s final
3.40 pm UK Pro Surf Tour - Round 3 - Open final
4.15 pm Presentations: UK Pro Surf Tour and Legacy Events Elite Ironman/Diamond Lady
4.45 pm Sunset Sessions
9.00 pm Festival ends
(Times subject to change depending on weather conditions)
ENDS
Images
High resolution print-quality images can be downloaded here.
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| Surf Relief Festival at Watergate Bay. Photo: Jason Feast. |
Russell Winter competing at the Surf Relief Festival. Photo: Jason Feast. |
Skydiver parachutes onto the beach at Watergate Bay. Photo: Jason Feast. |
Surf lesson for deaf children at the 2007 White Stuff Surf Relief Festival. Photo: Jason Feast. |
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| Surfing lesson at the SurfAble day out for autistic children. Photo: Surf Relief UK. |
Surfing lesson at the SurfAble day out for autistic children. Photo: Surf Relief UK. |
Skydiver parachutes onto the beach at Watergate Bay. Photo: Jason Feast. |
Ironman competitor at the Surf Relief Festival. Photo: Jason Feast. |
Notes to Editors
Surf Relief UK was set up to help co-ordinate the UK surfing community’s response to the Asian tsunami of Boxing Day 2004. Having experienced the generosity of the surfing community, organisers realised that there was potential to raise further funds for other projects by acting as the UK’s surfing charity. The SurfAble project introduces disabled young people to the sport of surfing - for many a life changing experience - at a series of one-day events run in partnership with the charity Lifeworks and a network of established surf schools around the country.
www.surfable.co.uk
The Extreme Academy, Watergate Bay is one of Britain’s leading venues for beach sports and events. Founded in 1999, the Extreme Academy comprises specialist schools for surfing, kitesurfing, waveski, stand-up paddlesurf and mountainboarding; technical equipment hire; and the Extreme Store, stocking a wide range of clothing and technical equipment. The Beach Hut, located on the ground floor of the Extreme Academy, is well known as Cornwall’s coolest beach hangout, and a great place to eat. www.watergatebay.co.uk
The Hotel, Watergate Bay has emerged from a £2 million programme of investment as a must-visit beach destination. With the public areas and bedrooms all refurbished in the past three years, the décor is beach house chic throughout. The contemporary modern look, award-winning dining and relaxed atmosphere are only topped by The Hotel’s unbeatable location right on the beach. www.watergatebay.co.uk
Media Contact - PR on behalf of The Extreme Academy, Watergate Bay
For more information and images contact: Jim Michell at Barefoot Media.
Telephone: +44 (0)1208 895089 Email: jim@barefootmedia.co.uk |
