World record 110 surfers attempt set for Newquay beach

Earthwave 2026, including the attempted world record mass-surfing event, has been postponed following a safety review.

The exact date is not confirmed, but organisers hope it will take place in October Half Term, between October 24 and November 1.

Earthwave founder Dene Botha said: "The final water-safety requirements and approval needed for a mass-participation wave involving more than 110 surfers have taken longer to complete than we anticipated."

"Safety has to come first – so rather than compromise the event, we’re giving ourselves the additional time required to complete the process properly and deliver Earthwave as it was intended.

"The positive is that the momentum is already there.

"We now have more than 110 registered Wave Riders, a fantastic group of local partners and supporters, and growing interest around Earthwave and its arrival in Newquay."

Organisers are currently working with the venue, water-safety team and other stakeholders to secure the date.

More than a hundred surfers are preparing “make history” in Newquay – by smashing the world record for the most riders on a single wave.

The event, set for Great Western Beach on Saturday (September 19) will see the surfing community and supporters come together to top the current record – 110 surfers riding the same wave simultaneously.

Organisers Earthwave ran mass-participation surfing events in South Africa between 2005 and 2013.

Their 2009 event in Cape Town landed them a Guinness World Record (still standing today), which they will attempt to beat with their first UK event this weekend.

Founder Dene Botha said: “We chose Newquay because it is widely regarded as the home of British surfing.

The current record of 110 surfers was set in 2007 in Cape Town, South Africa. (Image: Earthwave archives)

“It has an incredible surfing heritage, a strong local community and the perfect setting at Great Western Beach to begin Earthwave’s next chapter.”

Mark Warren, Newquay BID Manager, said:  “Newquay is all about surfing, our heritage and the incredible culture we have around the ocean, so bringing Earthwave here almost feels like it’s coming home to where it should have always been.”

The event will include family and beach activities, surf competitions, food and drink stalls and even live music and a DJ at sunset.

Organisers described the day as being built around “one brilliantly simple challenge: ‘how many people can we get riding the same wave at the same time?’”.

“But the wave is only the moment,” they added.

Earthwave's previous events in South Africa drew crowds of surfers, supporters, local businesses and charities. (Image: Earthwave archives)

“Earthwave is everything that happens around it – a beach alive with surfers, families, friends, local businesses, charities, music, food, activities and thousands of people sharing the same energy.”

Dene hopes the event will lay the foundations for future one-day surf festivals in Newquay, as well as attracting the attention of Guinness World Records.

Participation tickets (£10 for adults, £5 for under-16s) and surfboard and wetsuit hire are available on their website: https://earthwave.surf/pages/event-newquay

The event kicks off at 1pm, and includes a mandatory safety briefing before participants get in the water.

Sunday (September 20) is reserved as a back-up day in case the weather and surf are deemed unsafe or not suitable for the event to take place.