Survival Videos 1997-98
We wanted to promote surf lifesaving sport in the late ’90s to a wider TV audience and so I concieved the Survival events (based on the Australian Uncle Tobys series). The first Survival took place at Fistral Beach, Newquay as an addition to the Headworx Surf Pro event in 1996.
The competitors were asked to return for the Cherry Coke - Headworx Pro Surf Tour at Fistral Beach, Newquay in 1997.
In 1998 we took the Survival to Porthmeor Beach, St Ives and for the first time invited fellow European and international surf athletes to the compete.
1999 was the last Survival event, also held at Porthmeor Beach. Despite support from St Ives Town Council, Penwith Council and local businesses such as Ginsters and Snugg wetsuits, I could not afford the significant TV production costs to have the event shown on Sky Sports.
With the likes of Youtube, today would be a different scenario. Post production to a HDTV standard can take place on a home computer and the finished article can be uploaded to Youtube or Vimeo for all to see. How you pay for staging the event would still require some creative thinking.
In the mean time enjoy the films! Many of the superb athletes in these Survival events are now Mums and Dads – grooming thier nippers for future glory.
