Sport

Earthwave Festival chases world record

27 July 2012

The BOS Earthwave Beach Festival will host an attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the most surfers riding the same wave at Surfers Corner in Muizenberg, Cape Town on the weekend of 29 and 30 September.

The fifth edition of the popular festival will again harness the immense interest surrounding Guinness World Records to promote sustainable lifestyle choices by featuring a wide range of competitive and fun events in the ocean and on the beach alongside exhibitions, demonstrations and talks on environmental issues over the two days.

"We're really excited about the 2012 festival, and with the support and energy of BOS Ice Tea we are confident that the record of 110 surfers riding the same wave set at Muizenberg in 2009 can be broken," said Paul Botha from Kahuna Promotions, the organisers of the festival.

'One of the surfing world's biggest'

"Since 2006, when 73 surfers were recorded on the same wave, the festival has become one of the surfing world's biggest mass participation events," he added.

"This year we're expecting even more people to participate in and watch events such as Longboard and Grom surfing, Stand Up Paddling (SUP) and Surfski races, Touch Rugby and Volleyball tournaments, along with plenty of activities for kids, like the Dig For Gold and Learn to Surf lessons."

There will also be plenty of valuable give-aways for spectators, as well as sticker-showers, beach clean-ups, raffles and fund-raising for worthy causes, while the whole fiesta ends with the "after-party-of-the-year" featuring a live band and hilarious auction at a popular local venue.

"We've always had a strong link to surfing through our relationship with big wave surfer, Twiggy Baker," says Marié van Niekerk, BOS Marketing Director.

'A very memorable experience'

"BOS appreciates the spirit of the surfing community coming together in this unique way to create a very memorable experience for young and old and we're delighted to be 'on board'."

Muizenberg, rated one of the top 20 beach towns in the world by National Geographic, is the ideal venue for the Festival. It features 20 kilometres of pristine, fine white beaches, gentle rollers and warm water.

Earthwave Brazil, the 2008 record holder with 100 surfers on the same wave, will also be making another attempt to break the current record on Sunday, 2 September at Quebra Mar near Sao Paulo.

Negotiations are in progress with several other organisations worldwide to stage Earthwave festivals to coincide with the Muizenberg event.

Further information on the BOS Earthwave Beach Festival, including contact information, is available at www.kahunasurf.co.za.

SAinfo reporter