Most surfers on a single wave-world record
set by Cape Town surfers
CAPE TOWN, South Africa -- 103 surfers managed
to ride a wave together for at least five seconds at the Earthwave
beach festival-setting the world record for the Most
surfers on a single wave.
Photo: The record attempt was blessed
with ideal conditions of sunshine, light breeze and moderate
waves, as 443 surfers joined forces to make the record.Photo by Esa Alexander / Times Live (enlarge
photo)
Earthwave festival is described as “a global
environmental initiative” intended to promote climate change
awareness and sustainable lifestyle choices.
Paul Botha of Kahuna Promotions, the founders
of the event, told globalsurfnews.com: “We estimated that
there were more than 120 surfers on the fifth of the seven
waves surfed at Muizenberg during Earthwave."
“However, the photographic evidence we have so
far shows that there were 103 on the same wave, which is enough
to overtake the record." The previous record for the Most
surfers on a single wave was set at a previous Earthwave
festival, in Santos in Brazil.
In ideal sunshine conditions, a light offshore
breeze and small 0.5 to one metre waves, a total of 443 surfers
of all ages and abilities registered to try and bring the
record back to Cape Town after Brazil had exceeded the 73
on one wave set at Muizenberg in 2006.
Five times the number in the water lined
the beachfront cheering every attempt and urging their champions
on as they rode the waves for five seconds before being counted,
taking part in a host of fun-filled activities and fund-raising
initiatives.
Earthwave is sanctioned by Surfing South
Africa (SSA), the national controlling body for the sport
and endorsed by the International Surfing Association (ISA)
and Surfrider Foundation whose Argentina Chapter will be running
the Earthwave event in that country.
