Championships wave the flag for resort

The UK Professional Surf Tour is coming to the coastal resort’s North Bay for the first time on October 1 and 2.

Organised by Welcome to Yorkshire, Scarborough Borough Council and UK Pro Surf, it will see more than 100 of the UK’s best surfers take to the waves to compete for the UK Professional Surfing title.

It is expected to attract more than 5,000 people to the area – providing a welcome boost to the town’s economy as the tourist season draws to a close.

Welcome to Yorkshire’s Janet Deacon, area director for North Yorkshire, said: “Part of our strategy for the coast is obviously to extend the season. We were looking at key events we could bring to the area that will bring in visitors once summer is over.

“Scarborough has seen a huge increase in the number of surfers over the last few years and we wanted to develop this in terms of bringing in new markets and younger generations to the area. According to UK Pro Surf, Scarborough is becoming second to Newquay in terms of surfing.”

UK Pro Surf’s Steve Parrott said they had decided to bring the tour to Scarborough for two main reasons. “Firstly there is a big following in the region,” he said. “Secondly there aren’t many quality beaches with cafés, hotels, bars and restaurants and a promenade right on the bay – it’s a natural amplitheatere which will showcase the surfing. We are trying to build Scarborough into the surfing hub of the north.”

Professional surfer Sandy Kerr, 20, from Tynemouth, who will be competing, said the North Bay was a perfect location for the event. “You get the best waves in the country here and all the surfing competitions are normally based in the south west. These tours are the biggest events in the country so it’s amazing to get it up here. It’s great not having to travel 10 hours for a surfing in a competition.”

The event will also feature some of the UK’s top professional BMX and mountain bikers, who will put on freestyle shows as part of the Animal Bike Tour.

Hairy Bob’s Skate Park will also run daily workshops hosted by two professional skateboard and BMX riders.