Newsletter join now Keep in touch with all the latest surf news, green scene and partner info by joining the Drift weekly update. SIGN UP NOW
What are we made of? Drift Magazine is made from ECF (Elemental Chlorine Free) FSC Certified pulp and low VOC vegetable inks. Studio power by Ecotricity and delivery made using Biopower V100 waste oil.
White Stuff Surf Relief Festival returns to Watergate Bay
by George Mojo
13/03/2008:// The UK’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.
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.
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.
The 2008 Beachley Classic got underway this morning, completing Rounds 1 and 2 as well as the opening two heats of Round 3 at nearby Freshwater Beach in clean two-to-three foot (1 metre) waves
Layne Beachley (AUS), 36, has officially announced her retirement from full-time competition, effective at the end of the year
Former Exeter University student Josh Lewin first heat at the Ocean and Earth Pro in the Canary Islands has been delayed because the 2ft surf was deemed uncontestable
Skype us
.jpg)
.jpg)
Surf art 
Surf environment