How close Newquay’s Earthwave surfers came to a world record
A long line of boards stood on end at the water’s edge. Spectators packed the cliff paths and climbed onto the rocks for a better view. And everyone on the beach in Newquay was waiting on the same thing, one wave carrying as many surfers as it possibly could.
Earthwave brought its world record attempt to Great Western Beach on Saturday (31 October), chasing the mark for the most surfers riding a single wave together. Photographer Dan Davison spent the afternoon right in among the people taking part.
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The record they were chasing
The current record is 110, set at Muizenberg Beach in Cape Town in 2009 at an Earthwave event founded by Dene Botha. Around 200 surfers had registered for Newquay, including volunteers and invited participants, as we reported last week.
The event was first planned for September and then postponed. Water safety specialists ERA Adventures, Newquay Boardriders and Great Western Beach gave it the green light last week, with the attempt itself set for 2pm to 3pm.
Right in among the surfers
Dan says he had the unique pleasure of being in and around the surfers as they entered and left the water, and his pictures cover that hour. They show surfers of all ages carrying everything from foam boards to longboards, with helpers in Newquay Boardriders jerseys checking paperwork on the sand.
Before the attempt, the surfers formed a line that stretched across the beach, their boards reflected in the wet sand. Then came the walk out. A mass of colour headed into the white water together while the crowds above watched. Some came back up the beach grinning.
You can see more of his work on Dan Davison’s website.
Watching from the cliffs
Not everyone was in the water. Spectators found spots on the rocks and along the cliffs above the beach, while others crowded the sand with phones held high, trying to catch the moment the surfers paddled out.
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So close to 110
Earthwave says the record stays where it is, but 93 people rode one wave together, 17 short of the mark set in Cape Town. “93 people on a Wave ain’t a bad start!” the organisers posted after the event.
They thanked everyone who took part and said the bigger win was an awesome day on the beach with a beautiful community. And they’re already looking ahead to next year, promising it will be “bigger… better… more!”
Winners of the Shaka Studios Capture Earthwave photo contest, open to anyone at the beach, are due to be announced this Wednesday (4 November).
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