SSE’s support for the Thurso Surfing Festival is helping to bring the UK Pro Surfing Championships back to Thurso this year which will see over 100 surfers compete for the national title on the weekend of 26-27 October.
The event will showcase both professional and junior surfers with an emphasis on the next generation of surfers and will feature the qualifying event to choose the elite junior surfers to represent Great Britain in series of international events next year.
The sponsorship by SSE will allow Thurso to demonstrate itself as one the best surfing locations in the UK and promote the regions outdoor lifestyle. Organisers estimate that this event will bring over 2,000 visitors to the area.
Local Thurso surfer, Andy Bain, said: “Having the UK Pro Surf tour coming to Thurso this year with its open and juniors divisions will be a great event for the town. I think the local people now realise for sure that Thurso has some quality waves. This will be a great opportunity for Scottish surfers at a competing level to enter the event, especially the juniors who otherwise would have to travel to Cornwall to compete at such a level.”
Ruth Liddicoat, SSE's Liaison Manager, said: "We are very proud to be sponsoring the Thurso Surfing Festival this year which promises to be a fantastic weekend. The festival is an important event on a local, regional and national level and helps to further raise the profile of this area - not just in terms of its excellent waves, but also in terms of everything else it has to offer. With our growing investment and activity in the Highlands, and our current renewables projects at Strathy on the north coast, it seemed only natural to step up and show our support for this event."