Skinner's increases surf support

February 10, 2007: Truro-based Skinner's brewery has strengthened its support for British surfing by agreeing to sponsor the British Student Championships at Newquay from March 2 to 4. It is one of the biggest entry events in European surfing, with 400 competitors in the 16 to 25 age range from all over the UK.

The Skinner's sponsorship will include the supply of beer for all category winners and officials. The brewery is also contributing to the competition’s overall running costs. In recognition of this support and the company’s recently announced 2007 sponsorship of the new British Surfing Association Gold Rush Big Wave Contest, the association has upgraded Skinner's to corporate sponsor status.

Skinner's is the first major sponsor for the Gold Rush event, which was launched last year. This competition is called at just 72 hours notice to exploit predictable big waves. There will be two such events this year, with Skinner's sponsoring both of them.

The company also sponsored the Cornwall Surf Team in last year’s Inter-Celtic Water Sports Festival in the county and World Bellyboard Championships at Chapel Porth, when competitors with an average age of over 65 took part with old-fashioned wooden boards.

“We have been closely involved in the sport for some time and are delighted to be able to extend our support for it once again,” said brewery managing director Steve Skinner. “The Cornish surfing scene has never been so vibrant and surfing itself can have few if any equals as a sport of the 21st century.”