The newest standup paddle boarding event to join the international standup world series calendar will be held in Bilbao on the 21st, 22nd and 23rd June 2013.

Co-organised by BWaters, the energetic local SUP Club of Bilbao, and Diablo Fun, the organiser of the Oleron Island Stand Up Paddle Challenge and Nautic SUP Paris Crossing, this event will offer an unbelievable and unique race on the river “La Ria de Bilbao” right in the heart of Bilbao.

With US$20,000 in prize money up for grabs, the Bilbao World SUP Challenge will attract the top Pro riders of the world to compete. The challenge is made up of a long distance “Pro Division” race of 15km, and a shorter “Open Division” race of 8.5km for Amateur riders.

A Sprint Race will also be held on Sunday afternoon at “Arenal”, inside the old Bilbao, where the Bilbao World SUP Challenge Village will be set up. This intense course between emblematic bridges of the city is likely to be supported by thousands of
spectators massed along the river.

Many other activities and local games will be going on throughout the weekend for the public to enjoy!

To register to the event just go to www.bilbaoworldsupchallenge.com and follow the instructions. Or for more information on the event contact info@bilbaoworldsupchallenge.com

PROVISIONAL EVENT SCHEDULE

Please Note – Program could be modified in the event of unsuitable weather conditions.

FRIDAY 21st JUNE 2013

01.00 pm – 03.00 pm: Registration confirmation for Pro Division Competitors in the “Village”.
03.00 pm: “Welcome Briefing” and press conference for Pro Division Competitors.
3.30 pm: « Fun Race » Stand Up Paddle Race / competition exhibition (sprint race on a short course close to the beach).
04.30 pm: Announcement of results.
06.00 pm: Departure for “recognition” of the Long Distance race (15 km)
07.00 pm: Pro Division Competitors Briefing – Long Distance Race (15 km).
08.00 pm: Official Opening Ceremony.

SATURDAY 22 JUNE

08.30 am – 12.30 am: Registration confirmation for Open Division Competitors.
12.00 am to 9.00 pm: Other on site activities including SUP clinics supervised by instructors from BWATERS, Games, Na Kama Kai Youth Race and Family relays.
1.00 pm: “Welcome Briefing” for Open Division Competitors.
3.00 pm: Launching the boards in the river for going to the starting area (PRO and OPEN).
4.00 pm: First Start
08.30 pm: Official Beach Party!

SUNDAY 23 JUNE

10.00 am: Briefing for Pro and Open division Sprint Race in the City.
11.00 am: Official Photo shoot for Pro and Open division
12.00 am to 9.00 pm: Other on site activities including SUP clinics supervised by instructors from BWATERS,Na Kama Kai Youth Race, Family relays
3.00 am: « SPRINT RACE » – First rounds
5.00 am: « SPRINT RACE » – FINALS.
06.00 pm: Prize Giving

In just two weeks time the beaches of Newquay will be packed full of music and boardsport lovers all attending the annual Boardmasters festival.

Running from the 10th-14th of August 2011 and now in its 30th year, Boardmasters is the UK’s biggest surf, skate and music festival, and is brought to you with collaboration from Relentless and Vans.

The Sport

The worlds of Surf, Skate and BMX are all showcased over the course of the Boardmasters festival making for a fun a vibrant atmosphere.

Surfing events include the ‘big dog’ 6 Star Men’s Surfing Series set to include some of the greatest surfers on the planet right now all competing for $145,000 in prize money. The TUACA Longboard Pro contest will this year feature Newquay’s own superstar, and World Games silver medallist Ben Skinner, ensuring the home crowd will be out in full force. Plus, not forgetting the ladies the TUACA Ladies Longboard Pro sees the women return to Fistral with Candice O’Donnell keen to pick up the prize on her home break.

Out of the water The Vans Summer Sessions will have enough action to satisfy fans of Skate and BMX. With the greatest Skaters and BMX’ers from around Europe battling it out on the Vert Skate and Midi Ramp competitions.

The Music

Of course the sports are only half of the reason why people flock to the Boardmasters festival…the other half is for the MUSIC! Spread over a number of stages the 2 day music extravaganza is packed full of top mane acts including Fat Boy Slim, Klaxons, Scratch Perverts, Bombay Bicycle Club and many more…

Main Stage:

Energy Sessions:

Friday 12th August acts:
Andy C, Back Beat Soundsystem, Bangers, Benjamin Francis Leftwich, Benji Boko, Benny MC, Bombay Bicycle Club, Brother and Bones, Catalyst & Treazon, Charlie Simpson, Cloud Control, Crazy P, Crazy Arm, Crisis MC, Devinyl & Leroy, DJ Skitz, DJ Yoda, Duke, Eliza Doolittle, FBBB DJs: Chico, Flashguns, Francesqa, Gentleman’s Dub Club, Itchy, John Smith, Johnny G, Kids in Glass Houses DJ,Klaxons, Krafty Kuts, Liam Bailey, Matmat, MC Rodney P, MR Nice & Maxxi P, Pippa Marias, Premise & Palm, Re-Defeat & Grudge, Rich Thomas, The Skints, Twin Atlantic, Siqnote & Digityl, Skindred, Solo Collective DJs, Stanton Warriors, Straight Lines, Stringer Bessant, Submental, Tom Law, Tom Odell, True Ingredients, Urban Knights
Winter Mountain Band, X-Cuts, Yaaks.

Saturday 13th August acts:
Art Brut, Ashley T & Greg Zizique, Ben Howard, Beth Rowley, Bleeding Knees Club, Breakage, Charlie G, Crowns, CJ Beatz, Deluxx, DJ Natty, DJ Skitz, Dub The Earth, Easy Star Allstars, Fatboy Slim, FBBB DJs:, Chico, Freerange DJs, Freestylers, Gay For Johnny Depp, Hyper, I Am Harlequin, Jaguar Skills, James Owen, Fender, The King Blues, King Charles, Leatherhead, Lethal Bizzle, Lori Campbell, Lower Than Atlantis, Matmat, Maverick Sabre, Max Raptor, MC Rodney P, Me vs. Hero, More Diamonds, Qemists, Scratch Perverts, Snatch The Wax, Solo Collective DJs, Spokes, Stereo MCs, Stuttering Munx & Steve Lid, Sub Focus Live, Tom Cary, Tom Costelloe & Tommie Quick, Tom Starr, Trevor Moss & Hannah Lou, True Ingredients, The Violet May, Will Bailey, Willy Mason, Wolfgang, X-Cuts, Zane Lowe.

The Location

Boardmasters 2011 is split between two sites in Newquay. For music and camping fun head to Watergate bay, and for all of the surfing, skateboarding, BMXing, and Beach Session gigs you need to be at Fistal Beach.

Watergate Bay
Dates: 12th & 13th August
Address: Trebelsue Farm, Watergate Bay, TR8 4AN

Fistral Beach
Dates: 10th – 14th August
Address: Fistral Beach, Newquay, TR7 1HY

The Cost

Weekend Tickets
Weekend with Camping
Weekend camping ticket holders can arrive from 10am on Friday the 12th August and camp for 2 nights. Camp site will close at 1pm on Sunday the 14th August.
Price: £85.00

Weekend Only (no Camping)
Weekend ticket holders can arrive at 11am on Friday and 10am on Saturday.
Price: £65.00

Vip Weekend and VIP Camping
All new Weekend VIP ticket gives you access to a new VIP camping zone and access to the VIP bar.
This ticket includes:
- Access to exclusive Relentless Boardmasters VIP bar
- Access to camp in the VIP camping area
- Private toilets in camping area
- Private showers in camping area
Price: £164.00

Day Tickets – No Camping
Friday / Saturday Entry
Standard Entry, Watergate Bay site Price: £36.00
VIP Entry, Watergate Bay site Price: £61.00

Beach Sessions
Wednesday / Thursday / Sunday Entry
Standard Entry, Fistral Beach site Price: £15.00

August

Event: Relentless / Vans Boardmasters 2011
Date: 9th-14th
Location: Fistral Beach and Watergate Bay, Newquay.
Boardriders is the UK’s biggest surf, skate and music festival. Celebrating its 30th year this year with headlining music from Fat Boy Slim and Klaxons. Read our post to learn more about this years Boardriders 2011 Festival.

Event: Quiksilver Surf Contest
Date: 24th-30th
Location: Fistral Beach, Newquay.

September

Event: Ripcurl GROM Search
Date: 3rd-4th
Location: Godrevy, Cornwall.
The Rip Curl GromSearch is back in the UK this Summer looking for the best talent for the future that the UK has to offer

Event: Jesus Surf Classic
Date: 10th-11th
Location: Croyde, North Devon.
One of the biggest events on the Christian Surfing Calendar.

Event: British Bodyboard Championship
Date: 17th-18th
Location: Porthtowan, Cornwall

Event: Hunter British Schools
Date: 24th-26th
Location: Woolacombe, North Devon

Event: Euro Surf
Date: 24th-2nd Oct
Location: Bundoran, Ireland

October

Event: Scarborough Open
Date: 1st-2nd
Location: North Bay, Scarborough
The UK Professional Surf Tour comes to Scarborough for the first time for Round 4 of the UK Professional Surf Tour.

Event: Scottish Open
Date: 3rd-4th
Location: Thurso, Scotland
Following on from the Scarborough Open the Tour goes straight up to the Northern-most tip of the UK for stop five of the tour.

Event: ETL Longboard Tour
Date: 8th-9th
Location: Watergate, Newquay

Event: Porthleven Open
Date: 10th-12th
Location: Porthleven, Cornwall

Event: Lynmouth Open
Date: 10th-12th
Location: Lynmouth, Devon

Event: BUCS Championship
Date: 14th-16th
Location: Fistral, Newquay
Championship for British Universities and College sport.

Event: Jesus Longboard Classic
Date: 15th-16th
Location: Polzeath, Cornwall

Event: North East Open
Date: 22nd-23rd
Location: Longsands, Tynemouth

November

Event: Animal Newquay Open
Date: 5th-6th
Location: Fistral, Newquay

Event: British Nationals
Date: 12th-13th
Location: Fistral, Newquay

Missed an event from the list? If so let us know via the comment box below or through our ‘Contact Us’ page and we’ll get it added asap.

Why do you need an Indo Board?

Here in the UK we may be living on an island surrounded by sea, but that doesn’t necessarily mean we have the surf on our doorstep. Cold winters, the 9 to 5 weekly grind and distance to the beach means that many fans of Stand up Paddle boarding (SUP) and Surfing don’t get to play out in the sea as often as they would like. The obvious disadvantage of being a SUP’er or Surfer in the UK is that you end up with less time to devote to your favourite hobby, however another problem you may not have thought of is that lack of practise equals lack of fitness.

Lack of SUP fitness and Surfing fitness is a biiiiig deal as it means that when the day arrives that all the stars align and you actually manage to haul ass to the beach for some Stand up paddleboard or surfing action, your stamina only lasts 30 minutes before your dragging you weary, achey limbs back to shore…Not cool! This is where an indo board can help you out.

What is an Indo board?

An Indo Board is a type of balance board made up of essentially a plank of wood resting on a roller or inflatable cushion which you stand on to recreate the motion of riding a surfboard in your own living room. Not only are Indo boards great fun, they are also a great tool for improving core strength and overall SUP fitness and surfing fitness.

The Indo board roller option shown in the picture above offers you a really fun way to improve your favourite surfing and board sport tricks away from the surf, snow or skate park. There are tonnes of tricks you can try to master including “hanging ten” for longboard fans or “ollies” for Skateboard enthusiasts, as well as many more. A perfect way to keep your surfing skills up to scratch during the long winter months.

That’s not all, the Indo Board cushion option is where the real workout happens as it draws on balance, coordination, and increased leg strength, to enhance and improve core stability…and that’s what’s going to keep you on your SUP board or Surfboard for longer once you hit the sea.

Indo Boards in action

Still not convinced? check out some of these videos of Indo boards in action to understand the true benefit it can bring to your SUP and Surf fitness…

Indo Board Tricks

If it’s tricks you’re after, check out the self-titled “Awesome Indo Board Girl” for a bit of inspiration:

Indo Board Fitness

For those looking for ways to improve their SUP fitness or surfing fitness, this video of US snowboarding Queen Gretchen Bleiler should give you a few tips on how to fit Indo Board exercises into your gym routine:

You can visit out shop pages to buy your own Indo Board.

Got a favourite Indo board trick or video? Add it to the comments below to share will fellow Indo Board enthusiasts!

SUP Surfing UK’s Top 25 Surfing Quotes

With a sport as exhilarating and spiritual as surfing it’s hardly suprising that over the years there have been more than a few memorable surfing quotes. Here’s a list of our favourite surfing quotes taken from a mixture of surfing movies, surfing legends and even Captain James Cooke!

Of course this isn’t an extensive list, so if your personal favourite surfing quote hasn’t made our post, please let us know and we’ll extend the list…

Movie Surfing Quotes

Where better to start our list than with those quotes immortalised on the silver screen:

1. Point Break Surfing Quotes

“Surfing’s the source man… swear to God”
Bodhi / Patrick Swayze

2.

“Look at it! It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity, man! Let me go out there and let me get one wave, just one wave before you take me in. I mean, come on man, where I am I gonna go? Cliffs on both sides! I’m not gonna paddle my way to New Zealand! Come on, compadre. Come on!”
Bodhi / Patrick Swayze

3.

“Fear causes hesitation, and hesitation will cause your worst fears to come true.”
Bodhi / Patrick Swayze

4. Riding Giants Surfing Quotes

“Not only were you riding down this mountain but the mountain is chasing after you and you need to figure out how to escape the mountain but also use it.”
On Big Wave Surfing

5.

“I took off on a wave, went down the side, popped out the other end, and went, shit, I’m still alive!
Greg Noll (on surfing Waimea Bay for the fist time)”

6. Big Wednesday Surfing Quotes

“I don’t wanna be a star. Have my picture in magazines, have a bunch of kids looking up to me. I’m a drunk, Bear, a screw up. I just surf cause its good to go out and ride with your friends. I don’t even have that anymore.”
Matt Johnson

8. Apocolypse Now Surfing Quote

“Charlie don’t surf.”
Lt Col William Kilgore

Legend Surfing Quotes

Away from the movies the real life pros surfers have a lot to say on the subject too:

9. Kelly Slater Surfing Quotes

“It’s like the mafia. Once you’re in – your in. There’s no getting out”

Kelly Slater

10.

“It’s all about where your mind’s at.”
Kelly Slater

11.

“The joy of surfing is so many things combined, from the physical exertion of it, to the challenge of it, to the mental side of the sport.”
Kelly Slater

12.

Not to sound too deep or weird, but I think that the times when you really appreciate surfing are the times you’re really sort of becoming one with nature. Surfing’s as raw of a sport as it gets.
Kelly Slater

13. Jeff Clark Surfing Quote

“It’s a culmination of your life of surfing when you turn and paddle in at Mavericks.”

Jeff Clark

14. Duke Kahanamoku Surfing Quotes

“The best surfer out there is the one having the most fun”
Duke Kahanamoku

15.

“Out of water, I am nothing”
Duke Kahanamoku

16. Kary Mullis Surfing Quote

“Sometimes in the morning, when it’s a good surf, I go out there, and I don’t feel like it’s a bad world.”
Kary Mullis

17. Nat Young Surfing Quotes

“If in doubt, paddle out”
Nat Young

18. Buzzy Trent Surfing Quote

“Waves are not measured in feet and inches, they are measured in increments of fear.”
Buzzy Trent

19. Jon Kabat-Zinn Surfing Quotes

“You can’t stop the waves, but you can learn to surf”
Jon Kabat-Zinn

20. Paul Strauch Surfing Quote

“Surfing is very much like making love. It always feels good, no matter how many times you’ve done it”
Paul Strauch

21.Paul Walker Surfing Quote

“Surfing soothes me, it’s always been a kind of Zen experience for me. The ocean is so magnificent, peaceful, and awesome. The rest of the world disappears for me when I’m on a wave.”
Paul Walker

22. Naima Green Surfing Quote

“One of the greatest things about the sport of surfing is that you need only three things: your body, a surf-board, and a wave.”
Naima Green

23. Layne Beachley Surfing Quote

“I haven`t prepared as much as I would like to but it will be fun to get out there again. I have nothing left to prove in surfing but still have the desire to keep going.”
Layne Beachley

24. Mark Thornley Surfing Quote

“There’s nothing quite like surfing by yourself in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, but unpredictable weather patterns, below deck accommodation, sea snakes, coral cuts and packs of reef sharks make it a trip for the committed seadog.”
Mark Thornley

And Finally…

25. James Cooke Surfing Quote

“I could not help concluding this man had the most supreme pleasure while he was driven so fast and so smoothly by the sea”
Captain James Cooke

Missed any?

Right, that our top 25, what’s yours? If we’ve missed off your favourite please add it below…

Movers and Shakers of the 2011 Blue Flag Beach Awards

It’s that time of year again when the beaches up and down Britain have woken up to discover whether or not they have been granted the coveted Blue Flag award for 2011. Winning this prestigious award pretty much guarantees that as soon as the sun comes out the beaches will be packed with holidaymakers and families eager to spend the day at the great British Seaside.

In total 70 beaches across England have been given the Blue Flag status for 2011, this is one less than last year.

2011 Beach Winners

The biggest winner this year is Torbay, whose beaches have received more blue flag awards than anywhere. Bognor Regis and Mundesley beaches both lost the status last year but have cleaned up their act to be given the 2011 blue flag beach.

Other well known UK Seaside destinations that received a good number of flags include Bournemouth, Skegness and Scarborough.

2011 Beach Losers

At the other end of the spectrum there will be disappointment for a number of popular beaches that failed to receive the award for 2011, despite holding it in previous years. Among those are Brighton’s Hove Lawns Beach, Bridlingtons North Beach and Blackpool South Beach. The South East coast also took a hit with six beaches within the Thanet region all loosing their blue flag status for 2011. These beaches were Stone Bay in Broadstairs, Margate Main Sands, Ramsgate Main Sands, Minnis Bay, West Bay in Westgate and St Mildred’s Bay in Westgate,

Blue Flag Beaches 2011 – Official List

Below is the official list of all beaches awarded blue flag status for 2011. The list has been broken down by the following regions:

North East Beaches
Yorkshire and Humberside Beaches
Midlands Beaches
East Anglia Beaches
South West Beaches
South East Beaches

Blue Flag Beaches 2011 – North East

• Whitley Bay Beach, Tyne and Wear
• Tynemouth Longsands South, Tyne and Wear
• Tynemouth King Edwards Bay, Tyne andWear
• Sandhaven beach, South Shields
• Roker bay, Tyne and Wear
• Seaburn, Tyne and Wear

Blue Flag Beaches 2011 – Yorkshire and Humberside

• Hornsea Beach, East Yorkshire
• Withernsea Beach, East Yorkshire
• Filey Bay, North Yorkshire
• Whitby West Beach, North Yorkshire
• Scarborough North Bay, North Yorkshire

Blue Flag Beachers 2011 – East Midlands

• Central Beach Mablethorpe, Lincolnshire
  Central Beach Skegness, Lincolnshire
• Central Beach, Sutton on Sea, Lincolnshire
• Cleethorpes Central, Lincolnshire

Blue Flag Beaches 2011 – East Anglia

• Hunstanton Beach, Norfolk
• Cromer Beach, Norfolk
• Sea Palling Beach, Norfolk
• Mundesley, Norfolk
• Sheringham, Norfolk
• Chalkwell Beach, Essex
• East Beach, Shoeburyness, Essex
• Jubilee Beach, Essex
• Three Shells Beach, Essex
• Shoebury Common Beach, Essex
• Brightlingsea Beach, Essex
• Dovercourt Bay, Essex
• Clacton on Sea, Martello Bay, Essex
• Lowestoft South of Claremont Pier, Suffolk
• Lowestoft North of Claremont Pier, Suffolk
• Southwold Pier, Suffolk

Blue Flag Beaches 2011 – South West

• Poole, Sandbanks Peninsular, Dorset
• Poole, Shore Road, Dorset
• Poole, Canford Cliffs Chine, Dorset
• Poole, Branksome Chine, Dorset
• Bournemouth, Alum Chine, Dorset
• Bournemouth, Durley Chine, Dorset
• Bournemouth, Fisherman’s Walk, Dorset
• Bournemouth, Southbourne Beach, Dorset
• Gyllyngvase, Cornwall
• Porthtowan, Cornwall
• Polzeath, Cornwall
• Porthminster, Cornwall
• Porthmeor, Cornwall
• Challaborough Bay, Devon
• Croyde Bay, Devon
• Woolacombe Sands, DevonSouth Sands, Devon
• Swanage Central, Dorset
• Dawlish Warren, Devon
• Torbay, Oddicombe Beach, Devon
• Torbay, Meadfoot Beach, Devon
• Torbay, Broadsands Beach, Devon
• Torbay, Breakwater Beach, Devon
• Torbay, Paignton Beach, Devon
• Torbay, Preston Sands, Devon
• Westward Ho!, Devon
• Tunnels Beaches, Devon
• Blackpool Sands, Devon
• Bigbury-on-Sea, Devon

Blue Flag Beaches 2011 – South East

• Littlehampton Coastguards, West Sussex
• Bognor Regis, West Sussex
• Hayling Island Beachlands, Hampshire
• Ventnor, Isle of Wight
• Sandown, Isle of Wight
• Shanklin, Isle of Wight
• Botany Bay, Broadstairs, Kent
• Joss Bay, Kent
• Westbrook Bay, Kent
• West Wittering Beach, West Sussex

With the recent mediterranean style weather we have been experiencing within the UK, it’s hardly suprising that everyones mind is set on a day out at the seaside. In light of this we’ve put together a list of Blue Flag Beaches within the UK, to help you decide on the best place to spend your day.

Beaches are assessed on a yearly basis to see if they meet Blue Flag criteria by the FEE (Foundation for Environmental Education), and are only awarded Blue Flag status if they can prove they have the highest quality in water, safety and facilities. Because of these strict assessment measures you can be guarenteed that if you take your family to a Blue Flag beach this summer you’ll be visiting some of the finest beaches in the country.

The award is now recognised as a sign of quality across 41 countries and a total of 3,450 beaches. Over 100 of these Blue Flag beaches are within the UK.

Below is a run down of awarded beaches throughout the UK in 2010, or use the links to jump to the area you’re interested in.

You can also view the list of official Blue Flag Beaches 2011.

North East Beaches
Yorkshire Beaches
Midlands Beaches
East Beaches
South West Beaches
South East Beaches
Scotland Beaches

North East Beaches

In total there are 7 Blue Flag beaches along the North East coastline:

1) Cullercoats Beach, 2) Roker Beach, 3) Sandhaven Beach, 4) Seaburn Beach, 5) Seaton Carew Foreshore, 6) Tynemouth King Edwards Bay, 7) Tynemouth Longsands

Yorkshire Beaches

Yorkshire boasts 4 award winning beaches along the length of its coastline:

1) Cleethorpes Central Beach, 2) Filey Beach, 3) Scarborough North Bay, 4) Whitby West Cliff

Midlands Beaches

The Midlands have the least amount of award winning beaches with just three:

1) Central Beach, Mablethorpe, 2) Central Beach, Skegness, 3) Central Beach, Sutton On Sea

East Beaches

There are 11 Blue flag beaches stretching along the East Coast of Britain from Kings Lynn to Southend on Sea:

1) Brightlingsea Beach, 2) Clacton on sea, Martello Bay, 3) Cromer, 4) Dovercourt Bay, 5) East Beach, Shoeburyness, 6) Hunstanton, 7) North of Claremont Pier, Lowestoft, 8) South of Claremont Pier, Lowestoft, 9) Sea Palling, 10) Sheringham, 11) Shoebury Common Beach

South West Beaches

The South West of the UK boasts the largest number of blue flag beaches in the country. With 26 top class beaches it’s no wonder that the beaches of Devon, Cornwall and Hampshire are a holiday hotspot:

1) Bigbury on Sea, 2) Blackpool Sands, 3) Alum Chime, Bournemouth, 4) Durley Chime, Bournemouth, 5) Fishermans Walk, 6) Southbourne Beach, 7) Charbis Bay, 8) Challaborough, 9) Dawlish Warren, 10) Gyllyngvase, 11) Polzeath, 12) Branksome Chine, Poole, 13) Clanford Cliffs Chine, 14) Sandbanks Peninsular, 15) Shore Road, Poole, 16) Porthmeor, 17) Sandy Bay, 18) Sennen Cove, 19) Swanage Central, 20) Breakwater Beach, Torbay, 21) Broadsands Beach, Torbay, 22) Meadfoot Beach, Torbay, 23) Oddicombe Beach, Torbay, 24) Tunnels Beaches, 25) Westward Ho!, 26) Woolacombe Sands

South East Beaches

There are 13 award winning beaches along the South East coast:

1) Botany Bay, Broadstairs, 2) Hayling Island, Beachlands, 3) Hove Lawns, 4) Joss Bay, 5) Littlehampton Coastguards, 6) Ramsgate Main Sands, 7) Sandown, 8) Shanklin, 9) Stone Bay, Broadstairs, 10) Ventnor, 11) West Street, 12) West Wittering Beach, 13) West Brook Bay

Scottish Beaches

All of Scotlands Blue Flag beaches appear on the east coast, between the borders and Dundee:

1) Aberdour Silver Sands, 2) Broughty Ferry, 3) Burntisland, 4) Coldingham Bay, 5) Elie Woodhaven, 6) Leven East Beach, 7) St Andrews West Sands

Who is Bethany Hamilton?

Hawaiian born Bethany Hamilton is the real life inspiration behind the major surfing film of 2011, Soul Surfer.

Born in 1990, Bethany was given her first surfboad at an early age by her parents, Thomas and Cherilyn Hamilton, who were both keen surfers. Having shown a natural talent for the boardsport from an early age, Hamilton entered and won her first surfing competitions when she was just eight years old. Starting with the “push and ride” division of a contest hosted by surfing giants Quiksilver, and followed closely by her first major competition, O’ahu’s Rell Sunn Menehune contest.

By the time Bethany was nine years old she was competing seriously in a variety of surfing tournaments, and had an insatiable dream of becoming a professional surfer. By the age of twelve she found herself on the National Scholastic Surfing Association circuit, and was sponsored by Ripcurl.

Hamilton’s life was changed forever on the morning of the 31st October 2003, when during an early morning surfing session at Tunnels Beach, Kauai she was attacked by a 14 foot Tiger Shark. The tiger shark bit Bethany’s left arm which was dangling in the ocean, ripping it off just below the shoulder, and bit right through her beloved surfboard. Her friends helped her back to shore and took her to hospital where it was revealed that she had lost 60% of her blood.

Life after (near) Death

After this horrific and near fatal accident it would be reasonable to expect that the ocean would be the last place Bethany Hamilton would like to go back to. However after spending just seven days in hospital following her ordeal, she was desperate to get back out into the sea. Less than a month after the shark attack, Bethany was back in the water with a surfboard!

At first Hamilton used a custom made surfboard to help compensate for her missing limb. But after a period of practise and perseverance she found that she was able to surf at competition standard again, and even revert back to short boards.

In 2005, two years after her accident Bethany took part in the National Scholastic Surfing Association championship, a competition she had been desperate to win long before the attack…and took first place.

Since 2008, Hamilton has been competing full time on the surfing World Series. On top of this she has had a book published – ‘Soul Surfer: A True Story of Faith, Family, and Fighting to Get Back on the Board’, a documentary made – Heart of a Soul Surfer ,and her story is now featured in the Hollywood movie Soul Surfer.

You can find other things which Bethany has been involved with below:

Surfing Film Soul Surfer hits UK Cinemas 17th June 2011

Although it has already been released in the US, the surfing blockbuster film of the summer, Soul Surfer, doesn’t reach UK beaches until the 17th June…Still, it’s never too early to spread the word!

Directed by Sean McNamara, Soul Surfer tells the true life story of Bethany Hamilton, a 13 year old local surfing champion whose life was dramatically changed the day she was attacked by a tiger shark while surfing near Tunnels Beach, Hawaii.

The movie is based on the biographical book ‘Soul Surfer: A True Story of Faith, Family, and Fighting to Get Back on the Board’ which was published in 2004 and charts Bethany Hamilton’s challenging journey back from injury to fulfilling her dream of becoming a professional surfer, surfing and winning on the womans World Series Tour.

Who’s In It?

In the movie surfing superstar Bethany Hamilton is played by AnnaSophia Robb, who has previously starred in films including Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Bridge to Terabithia and Race to Witch Mountain, and Bethany’s parents are played by award winners Helen Hunt and Dennis Quaid. Robb was required to wear a green sleeve on her left arm throughout filming, including all of the surfing action footage, so that visual effects could be added during post production in order to recreate Bethany’s amputated arm.

Where was it filmed?

The surfing meccas which are the Hawaiian Islands of O’ahu and Kaua’i were the main locations for filming, however additional footage was also filmed in Tahiti

Watch the Soul Surfer Official Movie Trailer here…

Soul Surfer Books

If you’d like to learn more about pro surfer Bethany Hamilton you might be interested in some of the other books she has been involved with:
 

Soul Surfer grossed $10,601,862USD in its opening weekend – Let’s hope it proves to be a similar success in the UK.

New for Summer 2011

The British Surfing Museum is set to open its doors to the public in just a few short months time, making it the UK’s first ever surfing museum. The surf museum promises to be a great local attraction which will be enjoyed by kids and adults alike on family day trips.

Pencilled in for Summer 2011, the British Surfing Museum is a national registered charity, part funded by North Devon Council and project funding and development company Leader 4, on a mission to celebrate and preserve the rich surfing heritage of the UK.

About the Surfing Museum

The UK surfing museum was founded by Peter Robinson who has spent the last decade putting together an impressive collection of surfboards and other surfing memorabilia. He has also carried out a wide range of research, looking at the the history of surfing throughout the UK. The current collection spans more than two centuries and contains nearly 200 different surfboards, including vintage and original surfboards, as well as more modern designs of surfboards. Many of the key items having been donated by British surfers keen to help preserve the nations surfing heritage.

Previously a touring exhibition, it’s great that the extensive collection finally has a permanent home.

Where is the British Surfing Museum?

The British Surfing Museum can be found located in the village of Braunton, North Devon, the museum is 5 miles west of Barnstaple and within close proximity of the popular surfing beaches of Croyde, Woolacombe and Saunton.
 

As well as the surf museum, the building will also contain a skate bowl and is set to become a focal point for the local youth community. The site, known as The Yard, currently houses a youth centre and the addition of the surfing museum is intended to improve local facilities, as well as offer new opportunities for young people.

The Chairman of Leader 4, Viv Gale stated: “We’re enthusiastic in our support for the Museum of British Surfing being established in North Devon. Past evidence from the Leader programme showed the great economic and social benefit surfing brings to northern Devon. We see the museum as an innovative extension of this benefit and look forward to it becoming a significant tourist attraction.”