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White Air festival hailed as a huge success (From The Argus)
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White Air festival hailed as a huge success
4:00pm Monday 21st September 2009
The White Air extreme sports festival has been deemed a huge success following its debut visit to Brighton.
The festival began life on the Isle of Wight 12 years ago but settled into its new home in the city at the weekend with style.
It was an action-packed display of the weird and wonderful sports and activities that most people did not even know existed.
On the water the kitesurfers, wakeboarders and windsurfers made the most of the event's new home and tore up the water along the seafront with tricks and flair.
But off the water was just as busy with mountain boarders, skateboarders and in-line skaters showing off their skills on the ramps and all manner of stalls and stands set up to promote other sports.
Visitors were equally impressed by the live music on offer including sets from such big names as Doves, Biffy Clyro and The Lemonheads.
One highlight from the three-day festival's adrenaline-fuelled action was the high-diving exploits of the La Quebrada divers.
Councillor Mary Mears, leader of Brighton and Hove City Council, said: “I'm looking forward to next year's festival already.”
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Your Say YourArgus
tinkywinky, Brighton says...
4:14pm Mon 21 Sep 09
I looked from the top and even that tired me out. Spectacular high diving into a little more than an egg cup of water.
Its events like this that make Brighton the best.
The ghost of Osama bin there, Tora Bora mountain hideout says...
5:06pm Mon 21 Sep 09
If the day ticket had been say, £25, they would have sold out.
I like the whole idea of it, though. It the sort of event we should have in Brighton - rather than another tired set from the Fatboy.
I hope it comes back next year. Maybe they should do a reduction on ticket prices for people who actually live in Brighton?
bug eye, hove says...
5:23pm Mon 21 Sep 09
ronketti, kemp town says...
6:17pm Mon 21 Sep 09
Bennn, Kemptown, Brighton says...
6:37pm Mon 21 Sep 09
ronketti wrote:NIMBY. You know there are always loads of events held on Madeira Drive so why do you live there if you can't stand the noise. How can you possibly say you knew nothing about it when this event has been advertised everywhere since the beginning of the summer. You need to get out of your flat a bit more...
Mary Mears needs to do some homework. I live just above the area where the festival was held and knew nothing about it till they set up. Usually we have stuff during the summer which lasts a day and is finished by 6pm. Even when Norman Cook does his thing its a one evening, one off. This was three days of non-stop noise. What you got, if you lived in the area, was a non stop sound clash of loud music and announcers all evening friday and saturday and all day sat and sun. Okay the red arrows were good. I would have liked to see the lemonheads too but the rest of the music was not to my taste and had I at least known about the event I could have arranged to be away for some of the weekend. All Brighton council need to do is let the residents know as would any of us our neighbors if we were having a loud party.
ronketti, kemp town says...
6:46pm Mon 21 Sep 09
Bennn wrote:I can stand the noise, just not when it's non-stop and so awful. Anyway, it did help me get out of my flat a bit more. difficult as it was being as I'm usually housebound due to disability. Thanks for your comment though...
ronketti wrote:NIMBY. You know there are always loads of events held on Madeira Drive so why do you live there if you can't stand the noise. How can you possibly say you knew nothing about it when this event has been advertised everywhere since the beginning of the summer. You need to get out of your flat a bit more...
Mary Mears needs to do some homework. I live just above the area where the festival was held and knew nothing about it till they set up. Usually we have stuff during the summer which lasts a day and is finished by 6pm. Even when Norman Cook does his thing its a one evening, one off. This was three days of non-stop noise. What you got, if you lived in the area, was a non stop sound clash of loud music and announcers all evening friday and saturday and all day sat and sun. Okay the red arrows were good. I would have liked to see the lemonheads too but the rest of the music was not to my taste and had I at least known about the event I could have arranged to be away for some of the weekend. All Brighton council need to do is let the residents know as would any of us our neighbors if we were having a loud party.
Fercri Sakes, Hove says...
8:16pm Mon 21 Sep 09
Oh, and on Friday night I could hear the band from Hove! Even the lyrics. They never let Fat Boy have it that loud did they?
PIGCITY, BRIGHTON says...
8:47pm Mon 21 Sep 09
The idea of sitting the more "extreme" sports alongside, running, sailing, triathlon and a very heavy army presence shows how out of touch the organisers of this shambles are, and why the credible sponsors have steered clear.
jooj, Brighton says...
8:50pm Mon 21 Sep 09
It wasn't dead... and it wasn't rammed.. it was enjoyable with plenty of people around all weekend, and enough space to move around when you wanted to.
It was heavily advertised on both digital and print, if you didn't know about it, it's because you didn't look. go look at VisitBrighton web site or the windows down St James Street.
There were odd problems I witnessed - delays on Friday night and 11am on a Friday isn't the best time to see the Red Arrows... but you can't always pick when they turn up.... But overall a great addition to the yearly Brighton lineup.
Bennn, Kemptown, Brighton says...
8:57pm Mon 21 Sep 09
http://www.youtube.c
om/watch?v=IMcDYiP3J
Tg
Fercri Sakes, Hove says...
8:59pm Mon 21 Sep 09
Bennn wrote:Wow! 400 people!
Doesn't seem like it was dead at all:
http://www.youtube.c
om/watch?v=IMcDYiP3J
Tg
jooj, Brighton says...
9:13pm Mon 21 Sep 09
Fercri Sakes wrote:DUHHH!! Yeh 400 people, with several thousand more behind them.
Bennn wrote:Wow! 400 people!
Doesn't seem like it was dead at all:
http://www.youtube.c
om/watch?v=IMcDYiP3J
Tg
SimonS, Hailsham says...
9:27pm Mon 21 Sep 09
longwayhome, Brighton says...
9:41pm Mon 21 Sep 09
Bennn, Kemptown, Brighton says...
10:01pm Mon 21 Sep 09
longwayhome wrote:Yeah except that this festival's been going for twelve years mate. We should be supporting events like these. jooj is right: get rid of all these events and Brighton will end up like Hastings.
Hmm...seem to remember Beachdown being "hailed as a huge success" last year!
middle, yarmouth says...
10:07pm Mon 21 Sep 09
My two boys tried out loads of different sports and my five year old got to the top of the climbing wall!! He very proudly took the photo in to school today to show the other very envious children!! Even my two year old daughter got to try orbing!!
My five year old now wants to be a mountain boarder/ in line skater/ bmx rider and the other a skateboarder/high diver!! We all had such a lovely time and my youngest son actually cried when it was time to go and asked if he could live at white air. Surely this is what it is all about?! Cant wait for next year maybe the kids will be competing!!
!!!!
PIGCITY, BRIGHTON says...
10:12pm Mon 21 Sep 09
My gripe is that it billed itself as an 'extreme' (I use this term loosely as most cringe at the description) event but the bill was so confused & diluted with random activities the majority of people in the city who operate in those circles steered clear and were left confused as to if the organisers were just out to make a quick buck. Varied Sports Circus may have been more appropriate?? Roll on next year for the Extreme Blindfolded Hopping Race...
ronketti, kemp town says...
10:17pm Mon 21 Sep 09
Rocky Balboa, Worthing says...
11:30pm Mon 21 Sep 09
HanoverHill, says...
9:13am Tue 22 Sep 09
tonyinbrighton, brighton says...
9:41am Tue 22 Sep 09
A quick removal to St Leonards might be appropriate, leaving the rest of us to enjoy Brighton's buzz....
DoubleD, Brighton says...
10:00am Tue 22 Sep 09
The security staff were rude (when arent they), they refused you entry to the beach after 6, one way in one way out total nonsense, and most of the participation events were purely to sell something.
It was purely a money making event!
Had they diversified the Bands a little, it could have been good, but the music was all grungy guitary garbage, great if you like that sort of thing, but certainly wouldnt appeal to everyone.
Wont be wasting my money on it next year.
Fercri Sakes, Hove says...
10:04am Tue 22 Sep 09
middle wrote:I bet their mates ARE envious. How many of their parents could have forked out £260+ to take the family down there?
My three children and I have just got back from a great weekend at white air.
My two boys tried out loads of different sports and my five year old got to the top of the climbing wall!! He very proudly took the photo in to school today to show the other very envious children!! Even my two year old daughter got to try orbing!!
My five year old now wants to be a mountain boarder/ in line skater/ bmx rider and the other a skateboarder/high diver!! We all had such a lovely time and my youngest son actually cried when it was time to go and asked if he could live at white air. Surely this is what it is all about?! Cant wait for next year maybe the kids will be competing!!
!!!!
"My five year old now wants to be a mountain boarder/ in line skater/ bmx rider and the other a skateboarder/high diver"
Well I'm glad you've got the money to pay for that too.
Are you sure you don't work for White Air? Your comment is like a middle class wet dream.
Chris in Brighton, Brighton says...
10:06am Tue 22 Sep 09
I live in Kemp Town and must admit I find events like this a bit annoying though I can see that they are good for the City and that a lot of people enjoy them. What I really resent though is the fact that they fenced off part of the pavement on Marine Parade. Do the organisers really think that they're going to lose so much revenue with people watching from above rather than going in!?
And why was that bloody helicopter hovering so low over Kemp Town for so long on Saturday evening!? The noise was horrendous! (It wasn't the Police or Coastguards).
Fercri Sakes, Hove says...
10:46am Tue 22 Sep 09
GrumbleAlong, Patcham says...
11:30am Tue 22 Sep 09
Fercri Sakes, Hove says...
11:50am Tue 22 Sep 09
That explains Mary Mears calling it a success. As if she'd say sorry for wasting our resources on some rubbish overpriced event.
brightonparty, brighton says...
1:44pm Tue 22 Sep 09
Uncle_Meat, Brighton says...
3:36pm Tue 22 Sep 09
NIck99, Brighton says...
4:21pm Tue 22 Sep 09
Sick!
The ghost of Osama bin there, Tora Bora mountain hideout says...
4:24pm Tue 22 Sep 09
brightonparty wrote:Is there something wrong with the Air Force and Navy being involved?
yes it was way to expensive for what was essentially a recruitment drive for Royal Air force and Navy. Locals should have been given free or reduced price entry. they could have cancelled the bands and just had free entry to sports events.
There's more than one post that suggests there is.
They aren't the Taliban or Al Queda.
Probably comments from the same muppets who support smash EDO.
yorkie44, Woodingdean says...
5:32pm Tue 22 Sep 09
officer12, kemptown says...
7:10pm Tue 22 Sep 09
you would pay up £20 each to watch the likes of biffy clyro, the doves and white lies play a headline show, to get these a load of other bands and all the different sports for £60 is not to bad for a weekend ticket! i thought it was a great end to the summer
Bennn, Kemptown, Brighton says...
7:36pm Tue 22 Sep 09
officer12 wrote:It must be the first time you visit this website mate :-)
why is everybody so miserable? most of the people who have left a negative comment didn't even go to the festival?? how can you possibly comment on how good it was, or if it was to expensive without attending!!
you would pay up £20 each to watch the likes of biffy clyro, the doves and white lies play a headline show, to get these a load of other bands and all the different sports for £60 is not to bad for a weekend ticket! i thought it was a great end to the summer
Unfortunately the Argus website is home to the most negative comments you could think of. People here love to complain about everything and make Brighton sound like one of the worst places to live. Even the most positive story will be followed by a load of negative comments by moaners groaning about the fact that this is a waste of "our" money, that it made too much noise, that they couldn't get to Churchill Square beacuse the streets were blocked, that there were too many hippies on benefits around, that Hove should be seperated from Brighton, that communal bins are rubbish, that Pride should be ended etc etc...
wheresmebikegone, Lancing says...
8:12pm Tue 22 Sep 09
Poppy2, brighton says...
8:47pm Tue 22 Sep 09
Bennn wrote:Totally agree!!
officer12 wrote: why is everybody so miserable? most of the people who have left a negative comment didn't even go to the festival?? how can you possibly comment on how good it was, or if it was to expensive without attending!! you would pay up £20 each to watch the likes of biffy clyro, the doves and white lies play a headline show, to get these a load of other bands and all the different sports for £60 is not to bad for a weekend ticket! i thought it was a great end to the summerIt must be the first time you visit this website mate :-) Unfortunately the Argus website is home to the most negative comments you could think of. People here love to complain about everything and make Brighton sound like one of the worst places to live. Even the most positive story will be followed by a load of negative comments by moaners groaning about the fact that this is a waste of "our" money, that it made too much noise, that they couldn't get to Churchill Square beacuse the streets were blocked, that there were too many hippies on benefits around, that Hove should be seperated from Brighton, that communal bins are rubbish, that Pride should be ended etc etc...
What a great weekend. Friendy buzzing atmosphere, lots of happy faces of all ages. Loved every minute and even the rain on Sunday couldn't dampen the atmosphere with some great local talent taking to the stage
Feel sorry for those that have to find the negative in everything... try having some fun and go to a festival!
quiet cynic, says...
8:53pm Tue 22 Sep 09
The ghost of Osama bin there wrote:Well, yes, there is something wrong. If I had paid to go to a sports and music event and it was overrun with the military then I would be disappointed.
brightonparty wrote:Is there something wrong with the Air Force and Navy being involved?
yes it was way to expensive for what was essentially a recruitment drive for Royal Air force and Navy. Locals should have been given free or reduced price entry. they could have cancelled the bands and just had free entry to sports events.
There's more than one post that suggests there is.
They aren't the Taliban or Al Queda.
Probably comments from the same muppets who support smash EDO.
The first things you saw as you came in were recruitment stalls and pictures of planes with weapons of death attached to them. Weapons that indiscriminately kill people around the world every day.
Then seeing recruiters going up to groups of 16 year old skater kids asking them if they were 'up to it'. Kids who'd probably saved up for a ticket only to have the military jump on them. Pretty sickening to be honest. That and squaddies wandering around with SA80 machine guns is not what you want to see at a sporting event in all honesty.
Why do you bring Smash EDO into this? Just because people don't want to see the military at a sports festival doesn't mean the support Smash EDO you utter moron.
The rest of the event was a bit of a corporate gang bang, people trying to push products onto you and a very commercial feel. I was working there and walked out after a couple of hours because I'm not that desperate for money.
PIGCITY, BRIGHTON says...
9:06pm Tue 22 Sep 09
I was also left feeling rather un-easy about the involvement of the armed forces, knowing that this would be seen as a thinly veiled recruitment exercise...
I also agree with the previous comments regarding the Paddle Round the Pier. That is how an event of this type should be run. Free and with all the locals pitching in and donating to charity. If they got a decent Vert ramp at Paddle for next year it could easily compete with the money grabbing White Air Festival...
marowak, brighton town says...
9:39am Wed 23 Sep 09
from what i hear from people who went it was in no way great ...
strange fish, Brighthelmston says...
4:06pm Fri 25 Sep 09
As I remember it there was no or at best minimal wind all weekend.
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For Every Sprinkle I Find, I Shall KILL You says...
4:06pm Mon 21 Sep 09
Nothing good or bad. I know a lot of people who went, none came back raving about it... Is that a huge success??? Most people were said to be disappointed at the low turnout...