Scarborough Surf Festival Taking Place Today

Surfers will be descending on Scarborough today for the town's annual surf festival.

The festival is taking place between 10am and 4pm in the town’s North Bay against the dramatic backdrop of Scarborough Castle.

A colourful display of vintage VW Campers and Beetles will line the promenade from the Freddie Gilroy sculpture to the piazza outside The Sands complex.

Vicki Jones, Scarborough Borough Council events manager, says there it's lots going on both in and out of the water.

People will be able to have a go on the surf simulator and climbing wall and get involved in creating large scale sand art on the beach with Animated Objects.

Vicki Jones is Scarborough Borough Council's events manager; she says the event is about more than just catching a wave.

Anyone that wants to try an invigorating dip in the sea can join The Hub sea swimmers at the piazza slipway at 10am.

At 1pm, there will be a fun surfing competition (‘white’ water only) for children aged 8 to 14. Foam boards will be provided but participants must wear their own wetsuit.

There will be 12 places available in a competitive ‘expression session’ at 2.15pm. Competitors will need to provide their own boards and wetsuits. They must be self-sufficient in the surf line and able to paddle out and take off on unbroken waves efficiently.

Registration for both of the above competitions will take place on the day at the Scarborough Borough Council events team tent.

Everyone is encouraged to get involved in the beach clean from 2pm to 4pm with Journey Blue and Keep Britain Tidy’s Ocean Recovery Project. Litter pickers should meet by the benches opposite The Sands complex.

The full itinery for the day (Weather and Surf Conditions permitting) is:

• 09:30 ~ 11:00 Wave Project – Surf Therapy sessions: Already pre booked as part of the youngster’s courses. Come along and say hi and see what we’re all about. Visit: www.waveproject.co.uk
• 10:00 ~ The Hub sea swimmers - Meet on the Piazza slipway for an invigorating dip in the North Sea.
• 10:00 ~ 16:00 ~ Surf Simulator
• 10:00 ~ 16:00 ~ Climbing Wall
• 11:00 ~ Surf Lesson taster session with Dexter’s Surf School. Up to 8 students. £5 donation to Closer Communities.  For bookings please call Dexter’s Surf Shop 01723 377565  Age restrictions 5 ~ 8yr.
• 11:00 ~ 13:00 ~ Take part in creating a large scale piece of sand art with Animated Objects.
• 11:00 ~ Scarborough Surf School ~ Supergroms Workshop (Pre booked only) – Competition preparation, surf specific warm ups and board technology. www.secretspot.co.uk
• 12:00 ~ 12:45 ~ Happy Seal Yoga ~ Join Helen for a 45 minute Yoga class by the sea for £7.00. For bookings please visit: https://www.happysealyoga.com/service-page/scarborough-surf-festival-yoga
• 12:00 ~ Surf Lesson taster session with Dexter’s Surf School. Up to 8 students. £5 donation to Closer Communities.  For bookings please call Dexter’s Surf Shop 01723 377565  Age restrictions 8 – 16yr.
• 13:00 ~ Surf Lesson taster session with Dexter’s Surf School. Up to 8 students. £5 donation to Closer Communities.  For bookings please call Dexter’s Surf Shop 01723 377565  Age restrictions 16yr +
• 13:00 ~ Fun youth competition ~ Held in white water only, on foam boards (provided) Own wetsuits essential (20 x Children 8-14yrs/4 x 15 minute heats) Sign up at the SBC registration tent.
• 13:30 ~ 15:30 ~ Take part in creating a large scale piece of sand art with Animated Objects.
• 14:00 ~ 16:00 ~ Beach Clean with Journey Blue and Keep Britain Tidy’s Ocean Recovery Project.  Meet by the benches opposite the Sands complex at North Bay. Join our Journey Blue and Ocean Recovery Project Co-ordinators. www.journey-blue.com
• 14:15 ~ Expression Session (12 x competitors) Candidates to provide their own boards and wetsuits. Must be self-sufficient in the surf line and able to paddle out/take off on unbroken waves efficiently. Sign up at the SBC registration tent.