Surf Features

Llewellyn Whittaker from Newquay is renowned for drawing radical lines at Watergate Bay, and even though the event is not a ranking contest, will be eager to leave his mark on the blank canvas just ahead of the breaking white-water.

Newquay's Alan Stokes, British team rider Johnny Fryer and Women's Longboard English Champion Sophie Skinner will also feature at the event.

Sponsors, organisers and volunteers are currently in the process of finalising all the last minute details for this year's event, which promises to be one of the best beach events of the summer for all the family.

Surf Relief Day is a free beach festival and is supported by The Hotel and Extreme Academy, Watergate Bay. 

A whole day and night bursting full of fun events for people of all ages is planned and a host of beach activities will be on tap.

Set against the backdrop of the annual surf contest will be a Premier Sixes Beach Football tournament, a sand castle building contest, ultimate frisbee, circus workshops, face painting, and a rock pool road-show with the Blue Reef Aquarium.

Starting the event with a blast will be five divers from the Cornwall Parachute Club who will be literally dropping on to the beach to get it all going.

A range of enthusiastic local companies have generously stepped in to support the event and a host of sponsors for the surf teams have been announced.

These include Adventure Sports, Gone Feral, Extreme Academy Watergate Bay, Reef Surf Lodge & Surf School, Mojito, Rushbox, Christian Surfers, Seabase, Evo Management, Skinners and The Print Environment. The final teams and heats will be drawn on Friday by Dave Reed of UK Surf Promotions.

The UK's first ever surf school for the disabled will also be at the event providing unique surf coaching sessions for a number of disabled young people.

Freedom Surf, one of SRUK's partner organisations,  is a volunteer-run organisation based in Newquay, which was first piloted last summer by Cornish surf instructor Mark Hill and the Surf Relief Day will mark the official national launch for the school. 

Mark has spent the last year developing the project, and has now perfected a unique two-man surf board which will be demonstrated in public for the first time and give some their first ever experience of riding a wave. 

Just back from supporting The Fratellis on their tour Jackson Analogue will headline with Barnaby Ray Quartet, Two Spot Gobi, Tarka Groove and Johnny Pioneer also performing on the specially created stage on Watergate Bay.

Chairman of SRUK, Dave Manley says, "Surf Relief UK is a small charity achieving big things and our partnership with White Stuff and Watergate Bay has made this whole day possible. 

"We've been months in the planning and we're just completing all the last minute details. Saturday is set to be one of the best ever beach days out for all of the family and for surfers and non-surfers alike and, we look forward to seeing everyone down there enjoying themselves."