Rob Tibbles Photography

Headline act Jason Mraz

What a weekend..the sun shone, the music was ace, the crowds rocked.I’m still in the thick of processing and organising several thousand photos, but thought I should put up a small preview of the busiest ever Goldcoast Oceanfest ever!

School pupils from across Devon kicked off proceedings on Friday, enjoying a fun and athletic day on the beach with plenty of and frebbies and eco awareness in the main arena. They brought a great energy to the event and helped in establishing the fun family atmosphere enjoyed throughout the weekend. The live music kicked off at 4 with Cablecar catastrophe warming up the crowd with a blinding set and Goldcoast Oceanfest 09 was go go go.

festival hit Newton Faulkner

Friday night saw the premier of  the surf film Bustin down the door.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NOfm4WEMCs]

Followed by a rousing closing set from local heros The Breaks which sent everyone home with a spring in their step.

Saturday was a eclectic selection of Suf, Music, Beach Soccer, Muller Rice eating, Swiming, Singing, Jugglin, volleyball jumpin, Bike flippin, board twistin, fun. Jason Mraz was good, Newton Faulkner was even better. The crowd gathered in the arena was the biggest ever with people on hills, cars, hedges trying to get a glimpse of the sold out show.

Big Boy Paddle

Sunday was more of the same, the bands played on and the final beach events were battled for as the sun shone down. Cotty won the Big Boy Paddle from Saunton Sands to Croyde, bagging himself 150 beer tokens(found him later that night unconsciouss in the Thatch, good man!!)

local boy Oakley

For me this was far and away the best Oceanfest for me. With a great team of photographers helping over the weekend we managed to catch just about every event, and at a more relaxed pace than previous years(a great help if you’re doing 15 hour days!). We also managed to avoid the beer till Sunday night so no hangover till Monday morning, now thats a first!

Couldn’t resist this chance…Mraz & Me

More photos to follow soon, and full archive will go online with extremeboardshots….hold tight for updates.

Goldcoast Oceanfest 09 Results

1. Richard Payne
2. Ryan Taylor
3. Steve Fee
4. Paulo Maranhao

1. Denise Austin
2. Gabi Medricka
3. Vicky Palmer
4. Silvia ???

Saturday 20th June was the date of the 2009 Muller Rice Beach Aquathon. The day started dull and blustery with early morning winds threatening to send entry forms, kit and even the registration gazebo flying across the beach. By race time however the winds had eased slightly but the sea was still rough enough to cause more than a little concern for the less competent swimmers. Loughborough Student and GB athlete Mark Threlfall made the conditions look easy though as he stormed away leaving top quality swimmers Rhys Davey and Daniel Shapland in his wake.

Leaving the water with a 60 second lead Mark made short work of the tough beach run course, even his arriving at the turnaround before our marshalls (sorry Mark) and a slight diversion caused when some ‘playful’ soul moved one of the signs around failed to dent his stride.
The fastest run split of the day pushed Julian Hatcher into 2nd place overall with Rhys Davey combining the 2nd fastest swim with a solid run to take 3rd.
In the womens race Joanna Swallow led the field out of the water posting the 6th fastest swim of the day and all looked well until the finishing straight when Charlotte Maurissen charged past to take the win by 6 seconds. Kirsti Robertson and Pam Ellison finished shortly after meaning that the top 4 women were all within 60 seconds of each other.
Links to the results and pictures from the event are at the bottom of the page, if you find and discrepancies please let us know. There is also some video footage of the event here. Many thanks to the club members, their friends and relatives who helped make the event successful and thanks to all the athletes who came down to take part. We hope you all partied the night away at the festival afterwards and look forward to seeing you all again next year.

Thanks to Muller Rice who provided the trophies and winners goodies also to Rob Smyth from Red Bull who not only provided the fridge full of Red Bull at the finish but battled through the nerves of his first ever sea swim to take a top 10 finish spot.