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 Watergatebay.co.uk/surfrelief.