PADDLE ROUND THE PIER 2010 IS SET TO BE THE BIGGEST PADDLE EVER! PRIZES WORTH £12K+!
EUROPE’S BIGGEST FREE BEACH FESTIVAL JULY 3RD & 4TH - HOVE LAWNS - BRIGHTON & HOVE

PLEASE CHECK THE WEBSITE FOR TIMINGS - WWW.PADDLEROUNDTHEPIER.COM

What is now called a ‘festival’ is what we used to call a ‘great day out’. Growing from a small charity event this is now “a world famous festival featuring the best in beach culture, urban and street sports, live music and family fun, and it’s all for charity”. The main event is to Paddle Round the Pier to raise money for charity. You can use surfboards, windsurf-boards, Canoes, Kayaks, bodyboards, Kitesurf-boards, swim fins, Lilos...or you can Paddle Something Unusual in the “Paddle Something Unusual” event. Get a group of friends, colleagues or even your Sunday football league team and paddle your aeroplane, bed or shed round the pier. There will be the Errant Pier to Pier races (from the eastern side of the Brighton Pier to the western side of the West Pier and at around two miles long and against the current this is not an easy race) and the gruelling 20 mile ‘Funky Puffin SUP Euro Enduro’ race. For those still confused, SUP is a stand-up paddleboard.

For the landlubbers there are lots of ‘have a go’ opportunities that are not just for water sports enthusiasts. There are great prizes, chances to try things for yourself and demonstrations, such as the Animal Relentless Bike tour. World Champion Bike trials rider Martyn Ashton will show off his skills joined by Sam Pilgrim and his amazing jumps. You can also enjoy the Ocean Sports Board Riders Turn or Burn Slalom Skate Contest, Brighton Cougars’ Streetball contest or the 3 v 3 challenge on Saturday and Sunday. Other activities include shooting competitions, fastest dribbler competitions, 3-Point challenges, Come’n’Try It Hoops and coaching for £1 a go. Urban athletics or Parkour (aka free running) is also held at 12 noon daily. For the more musically inclined, bring your Uke and join in at the Ukulele Jamboree.

A certain highlight of the event is the Lee On Solent helicopter and RNLI display, when they perform a full rescue drill with the RNLI inshore and offshore lifeboats on Saturday (subject to emergency call-outs) in front of the Paddle Village. It is estimated to be held at 14.30 approximately.

There is also, of course, the plethora of fabulous live bands and the massive range of food that would take pages to describe in detail, suffice to say that they will be a delight.

Charities that have benefited from Paddle support over the years include: the RNLI, Surfers Against Sewage, The Rockinghorse Appeal, SurfAid International and Chestnut Tree House Children’s Hospice. Last year’s paddle raised a massive £33,000.00 in just two days! It’s come a long way since Dave (the founder) skateboarded up and down the seafront on a sandwich board!

Everything is free but please bring plenty of money so that you can give generously to the worthy causes and get lots in exchange! Paddle Round the Pier is entirely run by volunteers - so do check the website if you would like to be involved.

This year’s charities are: RNLI, Surfaid and Whoopsadaisy.