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World's Top Bikers Impressed at Eastbourne Extreme

22 July 2008

Eastbourne Skate Association

30,000 visitors packed onto Eastbourne seafront this weekend for Eastbourne Extreme, the town's annual extreme sports festival, pushing crowd numbers into the record books and driving daring participants to their limits.

 

The Animal Relentless Bike Tour featuring two of the world's top mountain and dirt bike riders, Martyn Ashton and Grant Fielder, wowed the crowds on Saturday and Sunday with acrobatic flips and jumps on a ready made skate park. Plus Thundercat Power Boat racers, the UK Windsurfing Association and Spray Watersports caused ripples in the sea and got the record crowds cheering along as national competitions were held off the Sussex shore.

 

Eastbourne Borough Council Spokesperson for Tourism, Cllr Steve Wallis said "What a weekend! Extreme always guarantees a bumper packed event full of thrills and spills as some of the world's best extreme sportsmen gather on Eastbourne seafront, joined by local groups, all eager to show off their skills on land, water and in the air! The weather was fantastic, with wind conditions ideal for the power boats and windsurfers, and the event just keeps getting bigger every year!"

 

This year's Extreme welcomed back the Eastbourne Skate Association who impressed visitors with a skate basketball competition and slalom demonstration team, plus South East Kiting Association, Kent Land Yachting Club and Brighton and Kent Kite Flyers filled Princes Park and Five Acres with their unique flying skills.

 

While visitors also made the most of taster sessions in hot new sport, free running, courtesy of the Urban Shadows parkour team who leaped across scaffolding opposite Eastbourne beaches.

 

The town's hotels also enjoyed a busy weekend with accommodation bookings increasing by 66% this summer. Vice Chairman of the Eastbourne Hospitality Association, Lynda Couch-Smith said: "It is important to the EHA to work closely with the council to bring top class events to the town and Extreme is now firmly established as a summer favourite. It generates a lot of business for our members in the Hotel and Restaurant sectors and its success and popularity grows year on year."

 

The weekend also presented non-stop music from the Eastbourne Extreme stage. 10 bands entertained crowds over the two days, with brand new live local talent providing an exciting soundtrack to the adrenaline-fuelled weekend.

 

Plus the all new Extreme rides from Fort Fun theme park provided fitting entertainment for the festival junkies as a bungee ride catapulted daredevil riders high into the air.

 

Extreme returns next July but anyone craving another high intensity action-packed weekend should put this date in their diary now: 12-14 September 2008. Go Fast! Speed Days return to Beachy Head for even faster downhill luge racing over the flowing hills and high speed straights.

 

For further information visit www.visiteastbourne.com or telephone 0871 663 0031. To find out more about sponsorship opportunities available at Extreme telephone Eastbourne Borough Council on 01323 415442.