Novice surf competition raises almost £25k for charity

Saturday 14 October 2023

A beginner surf competition and festival held over the summer raised almost £25,000 for a local charity that uses ocean therapy to help people with disabilities and mental health issues.

The Watersplash hosted the Le Rossignol Estates White Collar Surfing Competition and Surf Festival in August in aid of Healing Waves.

The event featured a surf competition, live music, family entertainment, and a raffle in aid of the ocean therapy charity.

The competition was open to novice surfers, who completed a 12-week training program at the Splash Surf Centre between May and July.

Pictured: Le Rossignol Estates White Collar Surfing has supported over 100 local novice surfers in learning how to surf.

Le Rossignol estate agency owner Jeremy Le Rossignol founded the event in 2019 after being inspired by White Collar Boxing.

Since its inception, the event has raised over £100,000 for Healing Waves and has taught over 100 people how to surf. 

This year's event raised £24,199.27, and the DWE Trust donated another £30,000, bringing the total fundraising to over £54,000.

Pictured: Local charity Healing Waves enables individuals to access the ocean in a safe way to experience its therapeutic benefits.

Organisers said: “This initiative has not only raised tens of thousands for Healing Waves but has been incredibly enjoyable and brought together a strong sense of community and provided people with the opportunity to fully embrace the island's vibrant coastal lifestyle.”

The two principal sponsors of this year’s festival were MailMate Print and Ogier. 

Nicola Carroll, Corporate Social Responsibility Manager at Ogier, expressed their support, saying: “The ocean is a source of fun and beauty for islanders and is easy to take for granted, but the sea isn't accessible to everyone.

"Surf Fest is a fantastic example of an inclusive event that brings together our local community, encourages islanders to try something new, and supports a cause that empowers people with disabilities to thrive, participate in a sport that positively contributes to their well-being, and enjoy the ocean.”