UK SURF COMMUNITY’S BIG CHANCE TO SHOW HOW MUCH IT CARES

Call for surfers, sponsors and volunteers for Surf Relief Day 2006

It has just been confirmed that Surf Relief Day 2006 will take place on the 8th of April and organizers, Surf Relief UK, are working on exciting plans that offer a multitude of ways for everyone to get involved. The weekend will see a first-of-its-kind surf auction contest, the first ever UK Surf and Boardsports Car Boot Sale, a nail-biting Bodyboarding Duel and huge surf clothing sale at Fistral Beach in Newquay. A range events are also expected across the country as local groups organise their own activities.

Last year’s Surf Relief Day witnessed the surf community getting together to run events on beaches throughout the UK, raising over £10,000 in the process. Throughout 2005, willing teams and individuals organised surf contests, surf and art auctions, t-shirt painting stands, scratchcards and film shows and the resulting proceeds have totalled over £36,000.

Working in collaboration with a number of networks and organisations on the ground in Sri Lanka, Surf Relief UK has provided invaluable resources, created major support programmes and helped rebuild the daily lives of hundreds of people who were devastated by the Boxing Day Tsunami Tragedy in 2004. The cause has now been extended to help struggling surf communities elsewhere on the planet including the UK where disadvantaged children will be given support so they can learn to surf. For this reason the charity has changed its name to Surf Relief UK to reflect its wider aims.

A team of Surf Relief Day 2006 organisers are creating a raft of innovative activities that will ensure surfers, surf clubs, schools, the surf industry and supportive locals and businesses can have a great time and raise money for the cause at the same time.

Dave Reed, Head of the BPSA, has created a first-of-its-kind, innovative, surf team contest, The Bid for a Surfer Charity Challenge. The contest format, similar to the FA Cup draw, will challenge and delight those both in and out of the water. The competition will kick-off on the Friday night in Newquay’s Koola Bar where a draw will take place to pick the teams who will be sponsored by surf shops, bars, restaurants and local companies. All of the competing surfers will then be offered up to the crowds to bid for. The highest bid will effectively “back” the chosen surfer. The next day, these teams will take to the waves for the ultimate fun surf battle. The winning surfer and bidder each receive 25 percent of the whole prize pot, the remaining going to the Surf Relief UK cause.

The Saturday morning will dawn with bacon butties and hot coffees as crowds congregate in the Fistral Beach Car Park for the first ever Surf & Boardsports Car Boot Sale. People are invited to clear out their attics, garages and spare rooms and bring all that unused kit to be sold onto others. You won’t find any of granny’s old china here – only board based kit is needed for this sale and traders will be invited to donate a percentage of the takings to the cause. And following the success of last year’s event, another huge surf clothing sale will then kick off, with bargains galore from top brands.

Alongside the surfers, the bodyboarders will take to take the waves and impress the gathered crowds. Steve Berriman has created yet another first-of-its-kind scenario and the Bodyboarders Duel will see teams doing all they can to keep their competitors from scoring waves. Expect some serious bodyboarding competition like you’ve never seen before as they really go for it!

Dave Manley said, “As a community we all get so much personal pleasure or professional profit out of the sport and Surf Relief Day is about us all giving something back. So we’re calling for everyone in the surf industry, local companies, retailers, publicans and restaurateurs, to do their bit. Over a hundred sponsors are required for all the different events and every single bit of help will be very much appreciated.”

Dave continues, “Last year over 120 individual volunteers took part in the day itself, selflessly giving their time and energy for the cause and this year many more will be required. We’re urging people to get in touch and come along. The contests and events will be stunning, the atmosphere will be amazing and people will get so much out of having a great time and raising money for such an important cause at the same time.”

Interested sponsors and volunteers should contact Elaine Stockman on 01637 839155 or [email protected] to get involved.