EarthWave: World Record Attempt "Most Surfers Riding a Wave"

About

EARTHWAVE NEWQUAY GEARS UP FOR 31 OCTOBER WITH 100+ SURFERS AND THOUSANDS OF POUNDS IN PRIZES
Community backing grows as Newquay prepares for a day of surfing, family activities and celebrations at Great Western Beach.

EVENT DETAILS

Saturday 31 October 2026
Great Western Beach, Newquay
Activities from 10am
Main Wave: approximately 2pm–3pm
Awards and beach finale: afternoon, concluding by approximately 4pm–5pm

Registration and full programme: www.earthwave.surf

Wave Rider registration costs £10, with softboards compulsory. Spectators and families are welcome to attend the wider beach event.

The countdown is on for Earthwave Newquay, taking place on Saturday 31 October at Great Western Beach, with more than 100 surfers already registered and thousands of pounds worth of prizes, experiences and giveaways secured through local and regional partners.

The mass-participation surfing event will see surfers of all ages and abilities come together to attempt to ride the same wave, with organisers hoping to establish Earthwave as a major annual fixture on Newquay's events calendar.

Originally founded in South Africa in 2005, Earthwave ran for nine years, achieving 110 surfers riding the same wave in 2009. Founder Dene Botha is now bringing the concept to Cornwall, with ambitions to grow the event nationally and internationally.

STRONG SUPPORT FROM CORNWALL'S BUSINESS COMMUNITY
The event has attracted significant backing from Newquay BID, Love Newquay, local businesses, surf brands and community organisations.

Prizes include accommodation and dining experiences from The Nici valued at £1,000, £1,000 worth of Sola Wetsuits vouchers, a £500 golf experience from Trevose Golf Club, fitness memberships and personal training from Equation Fitness, and £400 worth of sauna experiences from Saunassa.

Additional prizes and giveaways have been contributed by Olive & Surf, Northshore Surf, Bad Penny, Sunny Days, Olla Nika and others.

Local businesses including Nalu Coffee House, Whiptide and Beach Buns are also supporting the event with special offers for registered Wave Riders, encouraging participants to visit and spend with Newquay businesses.

Earthwave founder Dene Botha said:

“What's been particularly exciting is seeing how the local business community has embraced Earthwave. We're not simply putting on a surfing event — we're creating something that brings people into Newquay, supports local businesses and celebrates everything that makes this town special.

“The response has been incredible, and we're determined to turn this founding event into something Newquay can be proud of for years to come.”

A FULL DAY OF ACTIVITIES
Activities begin at 10am on Saturday 31 October, including the START & CO Dig for Gold, sand art activities, the Northshore U16 Softboard Surf-Off, music, food and family entertainment.

The main Earthwave mass-participation Wave is scheduled for approximately 2pm–3pm, followed by awards, prize presentations and a beachside finale.

Organisers aim to conclude proceedings by approximately 4pm–5pm, allowing participants and visitors to enjoy Newquay's wider Halloween celebrations.

The event takes place on the final Saturday of October half-term, following Newquay's Zombie Crawl on 24 October, helping to extend the town's programme of autumn activities.

CALLING ON CORNWALL TO JOIN THE WAVE
With more than 100 Wave Riders already registered, organisers are encouraging surf clubs, schools, families and individuals from across Cornwall and beyond to take part.

“Now's the time to rally the troops,” Botha added.

“We've got the community, the partners, the prizes and a fantastic programme. What we want now is to see just how many people we can bring together to ride that Wave.

“This is about more than one day. It's about creating a tradition that grows year after year, bringing people together around the ocean and giving visitors another reason to come to Newquay outside the summer season.”