Cornwall'98 Waterside Guide

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Surfing in Cornwall

Surfing and Cornwall, particularly Fistral Beach, Newquay are synonymous in Cornwall. Each year hundreds of surfers travel to Newquay in the "Run to the Sun". Cornwall is the capital of surfing in the UK, if not Europe and regularly holds national and international competitions.

Visitors are treated at every beach on the north coast to the spectacle of men and women pitting their skill against the waves generated by the swell of the Atlantic.

SURFING DO'S AND DONT'S

• Do observe restricted area flags and warning flags; a zone with black-and-white chequered flags is a lifeguard-supervised area for beginner surfers; a zone with yellow-and-red flags is a swimmers-only area. If a red flag is flying the beach is closed to swimmers and beginner surfers because conditions are unsafe, advanced surfers who paddle out in such conditions do so at their own risk.
• Do stick a Nose-Guard registered or Nose-Cone registered on the tip of your board and blunt the trailing edges of your fins if they are sharp.
• Do ensure that you are covered by public liability insurance. Such cover can be obtained automatically by joining the British Surfing Association - (01736) 60250.
• Do wear a leash to prevent you from losing your surfboard (or bodyboard).
• Don't surf alone.
• Don't go surfing straight after a meal, or after drinking alcohol.
• Don't drop in on another surfer who has right of way (because he or she is nearest to the curl) on the wave.
• Don't bail your board when paddling out through waves if you can possibly help it: there may be someone right behind you.
• Do have consideration for other water users including anglers.
• Do wear a wetsuit.
• Don't hire a surfboard, if you are a beginner, without being given instruction by a B.S.A. qualified instructor.
• and remember:
• All surfers must be able to swim at least 50m in open water.

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