Only 113 Days and 7 Hours To Go Until GoldCoast Oceanfest 2012... RT @atephoald: Looking forward to @Oceanfest this year, now the sun's out I am more excited :) (21 February 2012 10:39 am) RT @Molliee_Lewis: Bring on @benhowardmusic can't wait to see you at @Oceanfest (21 February 2012 10:31 am) RT @KathyyLarc_x: i think i should buy my @Oceanfest ticket already!! (21 February 2012 10:31 am) Passing a Starbucks? Pop in + grab their pick of the week free itunes download "Old Pine" by @benhowardmusic our headline act! (18 February 2012 1:10 pm) RT @Demelzaaa: cannot wait to see the amazzzzzzing @benhowardmusic at @Oceanfest ♥ (17 February 2012 11:55 am) Our Roots
The first GoldCoast Oceanfest was initiated in 1999 as a vehicle for the global and influential lifestyle and freesports industry, to influence the direction of freesports events taking place on the shores of the UK, whilst showing the way in event-led tourism, in the South West of England. The title itself, ‘GoldCoast’ was nabbed from the entrepreneur and holiday resort owner John Fowlers’ reference to the North Devon coastline in early marketing campaigns. When in a brave attempt to encapsulate the virtues of the area from Westward Ho! to Lynmouth, he coined the term, the Golden Coast, which has been borrowed by more than a few local businesses. We saw an association, and obviously didn’t require much persuasion to align ourselves with its famous Queensland cousin – The Goldie! It is also worth noting that North Devon shares this association with no fewer than four other ‘Gold Coasts’ around the World from West Africa to Australia. The GoldCoast 2000 Ocean Festival was around to see in the new millennium and the then ‘fresh faced’ North Devon Festival, made a few appropriate advances to ensure the future of our event.
Initially, right from the ‘get go’, we were challenging the stereotypical surfing competition scenario, where, if there were no waves, or conditions didn’t comply, nothing else appeared to happen! No comms, no action, no nothing, except perhaps over zealous youthful exuberance, often mixed with a nasty pinch of elitism, all sending out the wrong messages. Surely, this could only have been interpreted negatively by sponsors and spectators, never mind what the grommets, who’d gathered to witness their heroes shred some surf must have made of it! So, the objective was to host a weekend of activities that embraced the lifestyle sports concept, and give a positive, credible image to freesports, with the emphasis on grassroots intervention, to promote healthy options and hopefully relegating the syndrome of the couch potato generation to the past.
Living and working in a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (ANOB) we have been very fortunate that the breathtaking venues in North Devon have provided a wonderful backdrop for spectators and competitors to enjoy this unique format of lifestyle events. The evolving design, production and marketing of the GoldCoast Oceanfest has led to the event becoming one of the best loved ocean sports weekends in Europe. During this time of development Shaun & Warren Latham were introduced to the originators of the world famous Oahu Oceanfest by Julian Reynolds then of SurfGuard UK, which afforded the brothers an opportunity to visit the Hawaiian Islands together in search of new ideas and understanding of what constitutes a viable event — plus enjoy the local pleasures and a few waves whilst they were there. They loosely partnered with the Hawaiian contingent for a number of years and benefitted greatly from the experience, in realising the commercial constraints of running an event, even in its mildest magnitude back then.
Now, in its 12th year, the Oceanfest still remains true to its original aims and ambition: to provide families, athletes, media, tourism representatives and sponsors the opportunity to be involved in an event which aspires to be inclusive, credible, engaging and fun. Surfing in the UK continues to be challenging!
