Sorted Surf took over Boscombe Beach at the weekend with the second annual Sorted Surf Festival.

We’re absolutely delighted with how it went. The festival went down an absolute storm, with everyone having a great time down on the beach and out in the water.

We may not have had the wind we were hoping for, but otherwise it was perfect weather, and we spent the weekend basking in the gorgeous sunshine.

Thousands of people turned out on the Saturday and Sunday to take part in the festivities, so we’d like to say a big thank you to everyone who came down to support us – you made the event the great success it was. It’s events like this that show just how far Boscombe seafront has come in terms of the regeneration of the area over recent years. Great job everyone!

While we weren’t able to go ahead with the competition as planned, we made the most of the gentle surf with lots of stand-up paddle boarding events, races and relays.

The seafront was packed with hundreds of yards of stalls, flags and tents, proving that when it comes to staging big surfing events, Bournemouth can rival anything the rest of the UK has to offer.

All the exhibitors near Urban Reef and Sorted Surf Shop told us they were buzzing with trade all weekend, and they were able to give plenty of people the opportunity to try out different sports for the first time, which is really what the festival is all about.

As well as the great local support, we had folks attending from all across the South of England, who made the trip over to Bournemouth to take part and soak up the festival vibe. Thanks guys, we hope you’ll be heading back again for Sorted Surf Festival 2012!

Sorted Surf Festival 2011 Gallery

The Watermen Experience, the sensational film from Oxbow, is coming to the UK and you can attend any of the premieres for free in Bournemouth!

More Windsurfing Videos >>

The film follows Laird Hamilton, Jason Polakow, Kai Lenny, Levi Siver and Duane Desoto during the winter season of 2009/10 in Maui, Hawaii as they explore new and exciting ways to ride the most intensely challenging waves in the world.

The movie reflects the incredible abilities of these riders, who risk their lives to tackle these waves. The watermen’s total addiction to the ocean is revealed as they push the limits to new extremes and face emotional and heart-stopping challenges.

There will be four different showings of the film to ensure that you don’t miss out: it will be in London on Wednesday the 25^th of August before showing in Newquay, Bournemouth and Manchester the following day, Thursday the 26^th.

There will be free entry at all venues so get there after 7.30pm, ready for the film to show at 8.30pm.

More information can be found at www.ultrasporteu.com/Oxbow/Events.aspx or by going to the Ultra Sport Europe page on Facebook where there are full details of the events as well as trailers and more details about the film.

You can read more about Oxbow and all of the riders featured in the film on www.oxboworld.com

Venues:

Wednesday 25th August

London – Potion Bar ( www.potionbar.co.uk )

Thursday 26th August

Newquay – Buzios Bar ( www.buziosbar.co.uk )

Bournemouth – Reef Encounter ( www.reef-encounter.com )

Manchester – Walkabout Inn (http://www.walkabout.eu.com/home/venues/north-west/manchester )

Oxbow Premiere at Reef Encounter Boscombe

Reef Encounter is right next to the Sorted Surf Shop half way up the hill away from Boscombe Beach

Reef Encounter - Boscombe

Sorted Surf Festival - Sunday sunshine

The long awaited and greatly anticipated inaugural Sorted Surf Festival went ahead as planned last weekend on the 20th & 21st March at the newly completed and regenerated Boscombe Seafront, the two day festival saw well over 5,000 visitors which had two contrasting days for spectators and contestants.

See Gallery images below

Sorted Surf Contest

The surf contest was called on for Saturday and given the green light the previous Thursday by the organisers and with a diminishing swell in tricky conditions all four categories had to be completed in one day. The junior event was the first to get underway at 8.30am and was soon followed by the Mens Open, Mens Over 35 and Bodyboard contests (results below).

British Bodyboard Tour

The Bodyboard event saw the first leg of the British Bodyboard Tour take place, the first time this has been hosted on the South Coast and saw excellent conditions on the artificial reef for the Semi Finals and Final while the Mens Open was contested on a peak to the West of the Pier. All categories were completed by 4pm and was immediately followed by an award ceremony that was held in front of the new Overstrand Building where a 300 strong crowd cheered the winners and runners up as they received their prizes. After the main prize giving event a seperate ceremony of prizes was held to comemerate surfing friends that had sadly passed away over the past few years.

Sun Shines on the 2nd Day of the Sorted Surf Festival

The following day saw the best possible conditions for the festival as a gloriously sunny day without a breath of wind graced the beach at the newly completed and regenerated seafront, a stark contrast to the wind and rain of the previous day. The beach and promenade was a scene reminisant of an international sized event with show tents, flags and surfboards stretching for hundreds of yards to the East of the Pier.

The promenade and beach looked and felt more like Californian boardwalk than the Bournemouth seafront with demonstration equipment including Stand Up Paddleboards and Wetsuits that were free to all that wished to try thier hand, the sea was busy all day with paddlers, surfers and kayakers while gentle rock music played from the shops and restaurant as passers by wandered through the crowds looking and trying out various surf, paddle and balance equipment.

The festival was very successful and a fun weekend was had by everyone , the infrastructure, organisation and look of the event was outstanding. Those attending as competitors, suppliers and the general public were full of praise for the two days and there was a general good feeling in the air. Lets hope this weekend is the start to a long warm summer with lots more events like the Sorted Surf Festival.

Surfing Contest Results

Mens Open

1st George Fontaine

2nd James Parry

3rd Miles Lee Hargreaves

Mens Over 35

1st Cliff Cox

2nd David Webb

3rd Gary Greenwood

Juniors (U 18)

1st Miles Lee Hargreaves

2nd James Taylor

3rd Mason Alderman

Boadyboard Open

1st Jack Johns

2nd Remmi Geffery

3rd Aiden Salmon

A big thanks to everyone who cam along and supported the event – the Sorted Surf Shop team are looking forward to making this an annual event and putting on more great surfing activities throughout the year.

Sorted Surf Festival Gallery

Thanks to Mark at www.Extremevisuals.co.uk for the great action photos.

All surf photos copyright Extreme Visuals – images can be purchased online