12th March 2008
White Stuff Surf Relief Festival is back.
Bigger and better event will raise significant funds for Surf Relief UK to give disabled and disadvantaged young people the chance to experience surfing.
The country’s only beach music and surfing event, the White Stuff Surf Relief Festival, will return to Watergate Bay on Saturday 26th July with even more going on.
Organisers hope to raise significant funds for charity Surf Relief UK’s ‘Surfable’ project, which provides subsidised surfing lessons for disabled and disadvantaged young people.
Skydivers will parachute onto the beach to officially start the festival at 2.00 pm on Saturday 26th July, triggering a packed programme of beach games, surfing and lifesaving competitions, and family activities.
In the afternoon the Sunset Sessions will get underway with a live music festival on the sand. Organisers are close to confirming a well-known headline band for the event, with further details to be released as soon as arrangements are finalised.
“White Stuff is proud to be working with Surf Relief UK on this fantastic event at Watergate Bay for a second year,” said Susan Crawford, Marketing Manager at White Stuff. “The festival will be a unique experience combining pro surfing, family activities and music from top bands, all in a stunning location right on the beach.
“At White Stuff we have been amazed by the impact of the ‘Surfable’ project. So far over 500 disabled and disadvantaged young people have benefitted from subsidised surf lessons thanks to Surf Relief UK, and we are hoping that the money raised at this year’s event will extend these opportunities to many more.”
For the first time, Watergate Bay will host a round of the UK Pro Surf Tour, with many of the country’s top professional surfers competing in five divisions. And over 100 competitors will swim, paddle and ski through the waves in the Surf Lifesaving Association of Great Britain’s races culminating in the Iron Man and Diamond Lady races.
Demonstration surfing lessons for disabled young people will be run throughout the day, providing a unique opportunity for people affected by physical and learning disabilities to experience the potentially life-changing thrill of surfing.
“The White Stuff Surf Relief Festival 2008 is a key vehicle for raising funds for the charity and in increasing the profile of the our organisation,” said Dave Manley, Chairman of Surf Relief UK. “The strong partnership between Surf Relief UK, White Stuff and Watergate Bay provides the opportunity to make a real difference to the lives of many disadvantaged and disabled children and young people across the country.
“Every £15 raised for Surf Relief UK will give a disabled child or young person a one-to-one surfing lesson with an experienced instructor from our surf school network - an experience that, for many, will stay with them for ever.”
As well as raising funds for the ‘Surfable’ project, the White Stuff Surf Relief Festival will see Surf Relief UK work with the Jamie Oliver-inspired restaurant Fifteen Cornwall, to jointly host a fundraising charity dinner and auction on the evening of Friday 25th July.
Fifteen Cornwall’s Executive Chef Neil Haydock will create a special six-course tasting menu for the evening, with each course served with matching wines. Following dinner, guests will be able to bid on an outstanding portfolio of experiences and items which usually money cannot buy.
Opportunities still exist for companies and organisations who would like to get involved with the White Stuff Surf Relief Festival through associate sponsorship and on-site marketing. For more information please contact Caroline Jones on 020 7351 2111, or email caroline@missjonesandco.com.
Event Programme
Friday 25th July
9.00 am UK Pro Surf Tour surfing competition begins. Professional surfers compete in five different
divisions in the third round of the UK’s highest profile domestic surfing competition.
7.00 pm Surf Relief UK & Fifteen Cornwall charity dinner and auction.
Saturday 26th July
8.00 am UK Pro Surf Tour surfing competition begins. Concluding day of the event.
11.00 am Disabled surf lessons start (ongoing throughout the day until 4pm).
1.00 pm Surf Lifesaving/Iron Man and Diamond Lady competition begins. Up to 100 competitors
expected to enter the competition, which runs until 4.00 pm.
2.00 pm Skydivers parachute onto the beach to officially open the White Stuff Surf Relief Festival.
2.00 pm Children’s activities begin, including a rock pool roadshow by Blue Reef Aquarium; T-
shirt
painting competition; and circus workshops.
3.00 pm Sunset Sessions begin - live music festival on the beach.
4.00 pm Finals of UK Pro Surf Tour and Surf Lifesaving competitions.
4.15 pm Trophy presentations.
8.00 pm Sunset Sessions - headline band on stage.
ENDS
Images
High resolution print-ready images can be downloaded here.
Notes For 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. Project ‘Surfable’ introduces disabled young people to the sport of surfing - for many a life changing experience - by funding subsidised lessons through a network of established surf schools around the country.
White Stuff, the fashion lifestyle clothing label, are sponsors of the Extreme Academy and supply staff uniforms for The Hotel & Extreme Academy, Watergate Bay, and Fifteen Cornwall. Founded in 1985, the company have 45 White Stuff shops and over 100 wholesale outlets throughout the UK, as well as a website and mail order business. The brand is definitely fashion for lovers not victims – and this is reflected in the relaxed styling, lovely detailing and discreet branding on their quality clothing.
Fifteen Cornwall opened on 18th May 2006. The restaurant offers an innovative menu of the best seasonal and local produce, a relaxed atmosphere, talented chefs and an incredible view over a beautiful two-mile beach. Fifteen Cornwall is dedicated to the same inspirational social enterprise goals set out by Jamie Oliver and the team at Fifteen London. Each year the restaurant gives up to 20 trainee chefs a unique opportunity to turn their lives around. All profits from Fifteen Cornwall go to the registered charity the Cornwall Foundation of Promise.
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.
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.
Media Contact - PR on behalf of the White Stuff Surf Relief Festival.
Jim Michell at Barefoot Media -
Telephone: +44 (0)1208 895089 Email: jim@barefootmedia.co.uk
Sam Pow - Telephone: 07957 231314 Email: sampow@mac.com
|
