by surf patrol » Thu Feb 23, 2006 1:20 am
I helped with the old Headworx Cromer Open that ran a few years a while back. Steve and Liz from the Green Tube Surf Shop put most of it together but there were plenty of local surfers who helped out. Judges were local surfers and Steve & Liz got the Headworx rep to put up some prize money.
Everything was arranged on the cheap. The judging platform was supplied by a local surfer who worked as a scaffolder - free. Judges were local surfers - free. Advertising was word of mouth & flyers in surf shops - small cost for photocopying. Some sponsorship was arranged by asking local businesses / surf companies. We arranged Wavelength and local media to come down to get a bit of exposure & ended up getting a spread in Wavelength covering the event.
After the comp we got a local pub to let us use their function room for free (plenty of surfers pissing it up can be a good earner for a pub).
The money needed for things that had to be paid for came out of the entry fee from competitors and profit from a BBQ to feed everyone.
It does not have to cost a lot. Offer a little prize money from any remaining remaining money or just get some trophies.
If it goes well first time out then you can look at making it an annual event and make it bigger and bigger each time. Get a good name for a well run comp and you are away.