Surfers in Cape Town Claim World Record at Earthwave

Surfers in South Africa set new world record for the most boarders riding a single wave

103 surfers caught a wave at the Earthwave beach festival in Muizenberg on 4 October 2009 in Cape Town, to beat the current Guinness World Record of 100 surfers riding a single wave.

The previous record was set at a previous Earthwave festival, in Santos in Brazil. The world record attempt is the highlight of the Earthwave global environmental initiative, which was expanded to a two-day beach festival on the weekend of 3 and 4 October 2009.

The 2009 event included a longboard surfing event; demonstrations in the fast growing Stand Up Paddleboarding discipline; free surfing lessons provided by the surf schools in the area, with classes specifically for women conducted by the Roxy Surf School; and a host of other fun beach activities for people of all ages.

Paul Botha of Kahuna Promotions, the founders of the event, said “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.

“We are still waiting for more images and video footage that we will submit to the Guinness World Record organisation in London to have the record ratified.”

The record attempt was blessed with ideal conditions of sunshine, light breeze and moderate waves, as 443 surfers joined forces to make the record.

Earthwave festival is described as ‘a global environmental initiative’ intended to promote climate change awareness and sustainable lifestyle choices.

Earthwave festivals have been held in Australia, Reunion Island, England, Brazil, Argentina, Tahiti and South Africa.

Cape Town is setting records for its ever growing list of events. With so much to there’s never a dull weekend in Cape Town.

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