Thurso surfers appeal for sponsorship in World Games bid
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THURSO surfers are appealing to Caithness businesses to help their dream of competing on the world stage come true.
Four athletes based in the town have been selected for the Scotland squad to compete at the World Games taking place in Costa Rica in August.
Scottish women's champion Shoana Blackadder, along with Mark Boyd, Scott Main and Chris Noble who are three of the top four male surfers in the country, have all been selected for the national squad.
However the Scottish Surfing Federation (SSF) have to raise at least £10,000 to send its squad to Central America to take on the best in the world.
Due to the competition being held during the UK summer holidays, flights to Costa Rica are at their most expensive.
Boyd, who is the SSF secretary, said they are now looking at how they can raise money to travel to Costa Rica in four months time.
With Caithness representing over half of the six team squad, he hopes local success at the Scottish Surfing Championships can inspire businesses in the far north to support them.
"This year for the six people going to Costa Rica, the price of flights are going to be a real struggle for folk to be self funded.
"We are urgently seeking sponsorship for the Scottish team.
"We really need to raise about £10000 just to make the trip possible for athletes and will use a combination of any grant money, crowdfunding and particular commercial sponsorship to have Scotland represented on the world stage.
"With the Worlds being in the summer holidays, the hiked up flight prices are a real problem.
"We really will need commercial backing and feel this is a great opportunity for a business to be the face of the national team - perhaps a caithness business with the links the area has to surfing and the team."
More information can be found at https://pwppya.bl3302.livefilestore.com/y3mvH_Q-p2Jg9LtfvUylRyytkc1wwtnUdgV0AmIiG2V7hIQeSUKBLM2OV97Iks-8x2xXxplUKOnQUp7kQMjJpqh1wspZBgeKAv4b50yeEQQGTN96ggCoAnJAr8TdSiahVdQ5I4d3DgKpBaD59hiEFwAnrYjqmwbPVb2ISjrWFbnBgs/SSF%20Brochure_Lo%20Res_rev2.pdf?psid=1
or visit SSF Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/110852278588/?fref=ts
