World-record 200-surfer wave attempt to go ahead in Newquay

Set for Great Western Beach on Saturday (October 31), the Earthwave event will see 200 registered surfers hit the water to make history with the largest "party wave" of all time.

South African surfer and event organiser Dene Botha said: "We've been watching the forecasts closely, working with our incredible water safety team at ERA Adventures and local partners, and everything is lining up beautifully for Saturday.

"After everything we've been through to get here, seeing that kind of support from the surfing community is genuinely humbling."

Mr Botha is challenging the current record of 110 surfers riding a single wave, set at an Earthwave event at Muizenberg Beach, Cape Town, in 2009.

The current world record was set in Cape Town, South Africa, with 110 riders on the same wave. (Image: Earthwave archives)

Seventeen years later, organisers are hoping to trump this record in Newquay as the finale of an all-day family beach event.

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.

Originally scheduled for September, the event was pushed back to Halloween for safety and compliance reasons.

Now teaming up with ERA Adventures and Lifeguard Training, who will manage the day's water-safety operation, organisers look forward to professional lifeguarding coverage.

A softboard surf-off competition is scheduled for 12pm for under 16s to show off their skills, as well as a treasure hunt, raffle and photo competition.

The event was pushed back to October for safety and compliance reasons, with a new water safety team taking over. (Image: Earthwave archives)

Live music, food and drink and partner business stalls will also be on the beach from 10am.

Surfers will begin assembling at 2pm (subject to water safety clearance), for a compulsory safety briefing at 3pm – and then paddle out for the record attempt wave!

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

Dene Botha 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.

He added: "We chose Newquay because it is widely regarded as the home of British surfing.

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

"You don't need to be a surfer to come down and be part of it – bring the kids, watch the wave, get involved in the activities, support the local businesses and enjoy the day."

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."