First surf and film festival this week

Organisers of the festival said it would be a ‘huge celebration of the sea’ and a number of events – including exhibitions, live music, competitions and nature walks – will be held over five days, all with the aim of raising awareness of mental-health and environmental issues.

A small team of Islanders, including local surfer and filmmaker Rebecca Coley, have been working on the festival for the past six months.

The team have been working alongside Jersey National Park, which has donated some funds to the running of the event, in a bid to get more Islanders in the water. The not-for-profit festival is due to be launched with a night of surf-themed films held at the Mad Hatter Surf Shop, in Red Houses, on Wednesday.

Australian longboarder Belinda Baggs and world-famous surfer Keith Malloy, who has featured in a number of surf films and magazines, will be judging entries in the short film competition on Saturday, which will be held at the Nutz Factory in St Mary.

The short films will celebrate the sea or surfing. Mr Malloy will be judging the films from his home in California before they are shown to a local audience.

Miss Coley said: ‘The whole festival is celebrating the sea and we will be working alongside Jersey National Park to celebrate our beautiful coastline.

‘It’s been proven that the sea is really good for people who are experiencing mental-health problems. We want people to be able to immerse themselves in nature and have time to relax and have fun. Just getting in the sea is hugely relaxing.’

On Friday a number of Islanders are expected to dive into the water along St Ouen’s Bay in fluorescent clothes as part of Fluro Friday. Islanders will be able to take part in free surf lessons and there will be yoga sessions, live music and face- painting on offer.

Fluro Friday was born from an Australian initiative called ‘one wave is all it takes’, which was launched by a surfer who suffered with depression.

Miss Coley said: ‘We know getting in the sea has been proved to help people suffering with mental-health difficulties. We want people to dress up in fluorescent gear and just come along and have fun.

‘If people get in the sea and relax, then they can forget about any depression they might be experiencing. We want to try and be really inclusive and anyone can come and give surfing a go.’

For a full list of events click here

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