Our promo video

We've just got our promo video back from the very clever film makers and will be using it to show prospective sponsors, exhibitors, volunteers and visitors exactly what Paddle Round The Pier is all about!

Charity Cheque Presentation to Whoopsadaisy

Paddle Round The Pier, event director, Dave Samuel presents a cheque to representatives of Hove-based children’s charity, Whoopsadaisy, at the official Paddle Round The Pier cheque presentation event, held in Brighton on 11th September, 2010.

Nearly £35,000 was donated to this year’s nominated charities - Whoopsadaisy, Surfaid, the RNLI and Brighton Surf Lifesaving Club. All the money was raised through donations and collections at the Paddle Round The Pier Festival held on 3rd and 4th July 2010.

Established in 1996, and held on the Brighton seafront, Paddle Round the Pier is now Europe’s largest free beach festival, this year attracting over 40,000 visitors. In 2009, Paddle Round The Pier was voted one of the “Top Ten Summer Festivals” by the Times and “Top 15 Summer Destinations” by the Guardian. The Independent noted it as “a highlight of the summer”, plus the Express and Mail on Sunday said it was “in the top 30 festivals to visit.”

Paddle Round The Pier raises over £35,000 for charities

Paddle Round the Pier – Europe’s largest annual free beach festival, held in Brighton on 3rd and 4th July 2010 - has once again been declared a resounding success with over 40,000 visitors to the festival over the two days and in excess of £35,000 raised for its three nominated charities, which this year were Royal National Lifeboat Institute, SurfAid International and Whoopsadaisy.

Over 150 surfers, paddle boarders, kayakers and general enthusiasts entered the official Paddle Round the Pier event on Sunday and braved strong onshore wind and waves to compete in the headline event of the weekend.

Earlier in the day, 25 teams completed in the Paddle Something Usual event, with Vardean School eventually winning on their dolphin adventure craft.

And on Saturday, Eric Terrien from France won the 12/6 Board Stock Class of the Funky Puffin Euro Endro SUP race, in 3 hours 34 minutes, with Bobby Thatcher the winner of the Unlimited Board Class coming in at 3 hours and 24 minutes, whilst Glenn Eldridge won the Surf Life Saving GB: British Surf Ski race in just 1 hour 11 minutes.

The 40,000 visitors to the festival were greeted by brilliant sunshine, great music, a great range of outdoor adventure and extreme sport demonstrations and over 200 exhibitors – selling everything from food to surf accessories, bicycles to clothing. Sunday afternoon saw over £12,000 in gifts donated by exhibitors and local businesses raffled off to visitors. Throughout the weekend, the celebrated ‘big top’ hosted some of the best local and UK bands including The Railing Stains, Boy Com, Jo Harman Project, Los Albertos, Red Jackson and Transformer.

Says Dave Samuel, event director: “Paddle Round the Pier has been going for over a decade now and every year it just gets better. This year, the sun came out for the entire weekend and the crowds loved it! Special thanks must go out to all those who came to the festival, entered the many races, enjoyed the sun and supported all these worthy causes with their very generous donations. I would also like to thank the residents of Brighton and Hove for once again welcoming us so warmly and the Brighton and Hove City Council for their continued support. Finally, thanks to the exhibitors and the Paddle crew – a team of over 30 volunteers, who year after year, selflessly give up their time to help make this happen. It couldn’t happen without them and I’m incredibly grateful to them. The preparations for 2011 begin today!”

The organisers of Paddle Round the Pier are already looking for sponsors for the 2011 event. For further sponsorship details please contact Dave Samuel, event director on sandals@paddleroundthepier.com

Exhibitor quotes:

Andrew Scott-Miller, Director of Funky Puffin:

“Paddle Round the Pier was well organised and had a really great vibe. What a way to kick off the Summer It's always good to get off the rock (Funky Puffin is based in Jersey) and we all had a chilled out weekend!"

Chris Thomson, Managing Director of Errant Surf:

"This year's Paddle Round the Pier was a massive success. This is our number one event in the Errant Surf calendar. It’s superb mix of city, beach and ocean all in the spirit of raising cash and awareness for three worthy charities. Errant will definitely be returning to the shores of Brighton in 2011 for a bigger and better Paddle Round the Pier."

Phil Ryan and Jim Osler, The Brunswick Pub:

Phil: “We’re delighted to be involved with Paddle again and helping to raise so much money for charity. For something to be of this scale, with free entry with so much for the whole family and all for charity is phenomenal. It’s a very attractive event and good exposure for small businesses. We sponsor the music stage and ran the bars including a real ale bar and mojito bar with 35% of our bar takings donated to the nominated charities.”

Jim: “Paddle Round The Pier is the largest free music festival in the country and an outstanding event for the whole of Brighton. It's right on our doorstep so we’re able to actively advertise our music and events as well as helping to raise a lot of money for charity.”

Gemma Sparks, West Sussex Party Marquees:

“Paddle Round The Pier was an outstanding event with so much going on for everyone. It is always an excellent event for the charities involved and as a sponsor we were very proud to be there.”

Louize Kinsella, DC Leisure:

“This was a totally awesome weekend working in the heart of the city at an event that brought the whole community together. It is these kinds of events that put the fun back into fitness and get more people more active more often. A massive hat’s off to Dave and all his team, we were proud to be part of a fantastic weekend.”

Councillor David Smith, Brighton & Hove City Council - Cabinet Member for Culture, Recreation and Tourism – responsible for culture, arts and heritage; tourism and marketing; libraries and museums; events and leisure, sports and recreation.

“I thought it was a very good, well organised event. The weather was superb and I am sure the thousands of people who visited the ‘Paddle Round the Pier Village’ thoroughly enjoyed themselves. There was entertainment & events for all age groups. Another great success.”

Paul Spiers, founder, Wave Native:

“This was our first Paddle Round the Pier and we were blown away by the enthusiasm and passion Dave and his team have. It was great to be part of it, seeing thousands of people coming together to enjoy the sun and support some very worthy charities. And, watching the race itself was fantastic. We’ll be back!”

Get your dancing shoes on...with Ceroc!

A chance for you to learn something new at this year's Paddle Round The Pier, as the team from Ceroc Fever will be dancing in the 'Tea Dance Tent' on Sunday (4th July) between 1.30 - 4pm.

As well as showing off their skills, there is also the chance for you to have a go too.

About Ceroc

This dynamic partner dance has become so popular it is the largest and fastest growing partner dance in the UK with over 200 locations every week across the country . Learning to dance is a great way to keep fit, socialise and enjoy a complete night out.

There’s no course to book onto; no need to come every week; no need to book; no need to bring a partner...........just turn up!

The closest night to the Paddle is at The Funky Fish Club, just 100 yards from the Palace Pier in Brighton. Every Sunday night from 7.30pm – 10.45pm.

Free membership and entry on Sunday 4th July for anyone who has been at The Paddle.

www.cerocfever.com info@cerocfever.com 07917 835000

Don't take our word for it, see what the papers say:

'The only sociable way we know to keep fit' FHM Magazine

'Possibly the most fun you can have mid-week' Time Out Magazine

'Chic, Sexy and good clean fun' The Times Newspaper

'After half an hour, I couldn't believe how much I'd learnt.

No more shuffling around the floor for me at weddings.'

Claire Ainsworth Channel 4

Surfboards, Sailing, SUPs, Canoes, Ocean Skis and Wakeboards add to the fun at Paddle Round The Pier

This year’s Paddle Round The Pier Beach Festival plays host to some fantastic water-based events, all helping to raise thousands of pounds for three deserving charities.

The action kicks of for professional paddleboarders early on the Saturday morning with the Funky Puffin Euro Enduro SUP race. A gruelling 20 mile stand-up paddle to Worthing Pier and back - seeing competitors from across Europe and beyond.

Another race for watermen (and girls) is the Errant Surf Holidays Pier2Pier challenge. This sees both ‘amateurs’ and ‘pros’ paddle from the eastern side of the Brighton Pier across to the west side of the West Pier – a tough paddle of over 2 miles against the current.

Also a favourite with the crowds is the ‘Paddle Something Unusual’, where teams paddle ‘unusual’ rafts they have built around the West Pier and back. The past few years has seen a floating island, pirate ship, Dodgeball court and even Thunderbird 2!

And of course at 2pm on the Sunday it’s the event that started this all back in 1996 – the ‘Paddle Round The Pier’. Hundreds of people will take to the water on surfboards, bodyboards, paddle boards, canoes etc and paddle around the West Pier. Having collected sponsorship money each will make a massive difference to the amount raised for the charities.

Other water based events include: the Neilson Sailing Regatta, Inshore Rescue Boats, Outrigger Canoes, The British Ocean Ski Series, Wakeboarding displays and a Fishing Contest (held at Brighton Marina).

If you want to have a go at some sports yourself then you can head to the beach and try out the likes of wakeboarding, kayaking and Stand Up Paddleboarding.

Over 40,000 people are expected to attend this year’s event, which takes place on Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 July at Hove Lawns in Brighton and is completely free of charge to visit.

And organisers are hoping to raise over £30,000 for this year’s chosen charities from donations made by visitors. The charities are the Royal National Lifeboat Institute, SurfAid International and Whoopsadaisy.

As well as all of the water activities, there is a lot going on in the ‘Paddle Village’ on Hove Lawns and the promenade next to the beach. Hundreds of stalls, children’s entertainment area, main arena and big top with live bands, plus tons more fun.

Fancy a dip?

On Saturday at Paddle Round The Pier there is a Sea Swim competition taking place.

So if you are a keen swimmer or Triathlete then get yourself involved.

The event is a 1km swim that takes place at 9am and features two 500m laps, There are westuit and non wetsuit categories and entry is from £10.

If people are interested in participating in the event then they should visit www.metaphorevents.co.uk to enter.

Another cool video

Here's another cool Paddle Round The Pier promo video to get you in the mood, this time it's one we used to promote the 2009 event.



Quality tune courtesy of 'Paddle Patron' Mr Norman Cook (in his Fatboy Slim guise for 'Going out of my head')