The previous world record attempt at Lahinch, Ireland

An attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the “Most surfers standing on one wave” will be staged at Muizenberg Corner in Cape Town next month. The attempt coincides with an open debate on the shark situation around the Cape Peninsula and fund raising efforts for appropriate action to be taken.

Organised and run by the Kahuna Surfing Academy, the record attempt on Sunday 17th September is expected to attract more than 200 local surfers to catch the same wave and ride it for at least five seconds in order to be counted.

“Muizenberg is the ideal venue for an attempt on this world record,” says veteran surfer Paul Botha. “With its gentle rolling waves and ultra long beach there is no reason why we cannot double the current record. And as it’s been the site of two shark attacks and hundreds of shark sightings, Muizenberg is also a relevant venue to conduct an open debate on the causes of and solutions to a situation that is becoming progressively more dangerous for ocean users here.”

The current world record is held officially by the Lahinch Surf School in Ireland who on 14 May managed to get 44 surfers on a single wave and marginally beat the 42 of the previous record set in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Subsequently evidence has been submitted of 46 surfers on a wave in Australia and 53 in Bali, which are pending ratification by the Guinness World Record organization in London.

The organisers of the Muizenberg attempt are confident that every surfer on the Peninsula will want to contribute both to bringing the record to Cape Town and to addressing an issue that is vital to their safety in the surf.

Businesses or individuals interested in sponsoring or contributing in any way to this initiative are invited to contact Botha via {encode=”[email protected]” title=”email”}.