Above: Surf boat racing returns to Watergate Bay on Saturday 10th July 2010.
Video: myCornwall.tv
Cornwall’s leading beach sports venue has unveiled an adrenalin-charged calendar of events for 2010.
The Extreme Academy, Watergate Bay have already confirmed six events, including a brand new kitesurfing race and the return of the award-winning Polo on the Beach.
The beach will also entertain some of the country’s best surfers, longboarders and surf boat rowers in a series of events taking place in the powerful waves of the Atlantic Ocean.
For Will Ashworth, Managing Director of The Hotel & Extreme Academy, Watergate Bay, the events are becoming an increasingly important aspect of life at the beach.
He said: “Each year our events seem to attract people to Watergate Bay in ever larger numbers - it’s great to be able to offer something different and we’re really proud to build on our history of introducing new sports to the region. Over the years we have held Europe’s first professional kitesurfing competition, and Polo on the Beach was the first event of its kind in the UK, so we’re really pleased to have to a new kitesurfing event for 2010.”
And first to hit the water is the new course racing competition run by the British Kite Surfing Association (BKSA) from 16 to 18 April. Up to 30 competitors will take part in each heat, which, similar to windsurfing races,sees kitesurfers navigate a course marked by buoys.
Westcountry kitesufers will be well-represented at the event: Cornishman Denzil Williams, from Par, is the current British course racing champion and no stranger to kitesurfing at Watergate Bay; while Exmouth’s Steph Bridge will be a strong favourite in the women’s event as the reigning world course racing champion.
National champions will be decided in the 38th English National Surfing Championships, held over the May Bank Holiday weekend (1 and 2 May). The event is one of the biggest draws on the domestic surfing circuit, with plenty at stake: the winners will qualify for the national team travelling to Peru in October to compete in the World Surfing Games.
As the water temperature rises, Britain’s best longboard surfers will be showing the style and poise of their graceful art in the Extreme Academy BLU Midsummer Classic (26 and 27 June) - the third of five legs in the British Longboard Union series. British longboarding currently boasts several world-class competitors amongst its ranks, not least the 2009 BLU Open division champion Ben Skinner, who is expected to defend his title.
Crews from all over the country will be taking part in Round 3 of the UK Surf Rowers League Summer Series on Saturday 10 July. Not for the faint hearted, surfboat racing is a tough sport to take part in but much less demanding on the spectator who can enjoy watching the crews race out to sea through breaking waves, turn around a marker buoy, before trying to surf a wave in to the beach.
Then, as the first autumn swells begin to pound the beach, surfers will give way to ponies for the fourth edition of Polo on the Beach on 16 September.
Founded on the premise of bringing the exciting sport of arena polo to a new audience, Polo on the Beach has transcended its original remit to become an established highlight on the calendar, with the 2009 edition attracting over 3000 people to the beach and winning Silver in the “Best Event” category at the South West Tourism Awards.
Still free to attend, Polo on the Beach features an exhibition match between two teams of top international players, supported by sponsors Veuve Clicquot and Midas Construction.
The final event of the year will see British champions crowned in the deciding round of the British Stand-Up Paddlesurf Association (BSUPA) Championships. Held on the weekend of the 16 -17 October, the Extreme Academy BSUPA competition will showcase the skills of leading Briitsh exponents of this burgeoning sport which has its origins in the beaches of Hawaii.
16 to 18 April British Kite Surfing Association National Course Racing and Wave Jam
Kitesurf course racing comes to Watergate Bay for the first time.
1 & 2 May Protest English National Surfing Championships
The country’s best surfers compete for national team berths.
26 & 27 June Extreme Academy BLU Midsummer Classic
The mid-way point of the British Longboard Union’s series of surfing competitions.
10 July UK Surf Rowers League Summer Series: Round 3
Surfboat racing at one of the country’s best surfing beaches.
16 September Polo on the Beach
Surf meets turf in a reprise of one of the most spectacular beach events ever held.
16 & 17 October Extreme Academy BSUPA Championships
British stand-up paddlesurf champions decided.
ENDS
Images High resolution print-ready images can be downloaded here.
Notes to Editors
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
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
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
