Author: simon
White Air Moving To Brighton: Exclusive
Wednesday, 24th September, 2008 at 3:21 pm, Isle of Wight
Parkour, Powerboats, Sandown, Sports, Unexpected, White Air Extreme Sports Festival
Nigel Howell, founder of White Air, has exclusively told VentnorBlog that White Air, the extreme sports festival, is to leave the Isle of Wight next year and move to Brighton.
This news is all the sadder due to White Air having just delivered such a great festival last weekend, enjoyed by 10,000 people.
It’s clear speaking to Nigel that the IW Council could have done more in supporting the event.
The enthusiastic support of the local authority in Brighton, who clearly see the value in having this world-class event, has been one of the deciding facts in it shifting there.
The festival will be held on a site to the East of the pier on Brighton seafront.
Check back to this story as more details will follow shortly.
Interview with Nigel following White Air 2008
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I can’t believe the island could loose White Air to Brighton! This event is so good for the islands young people. We have been taking our family there for the last three years and have seen how the event has evolved. This year we were working there for the 3 days and got to see just how much enjoyment people got, how much effort was put in by the organisers and volunteers and also the trouble the council went to to control noise. These events are so important to the island economy – we lost Powerboat last year and so far have not got a sponser for next years Cowes week – Every support should be given to Nigel to keep it here. Incidently, I saw the residents of Yaverland out on their balconies enjoying the fabulous Red Arrows for free – no doubt they will be happy when its gone!
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I’m gutted. This event is world class and to have had it on our doorstep for the past few years has been utterly brilliant for the IOW. I’m in my mid thirties, but I still managed to skate down the massive half-pipe without falling off! Brighton Council must be laughing their socks off. I bet they allow the event to be run at the height of the summer. I blame Sandown Town Council for us losing this event. Hope they hang their heads in shame.
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come on minty what’s it to be? 24 yr old, mid 30s or old fogie?
or are you having an identity crisis?
mind you, if you did manage the large ramp, hats off to yo0u, it’s not designed for skate boards, only mountainboards and bikes so youre lucky you didn’t end up in casualty
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Welcome Minty to VB, your commenting has been prolific today. Although I don’t have all the details (since being cut off from the Council by Claire Robertson we don’t have the ability to question them further about it) I’m not so sure that Sandown Town Council are to blame.
I think it may be the lack of support from County level that may have been the problem.
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Totally gutted that White Air is leaving the island. I hope the IW council realise the value of what they have just lost.
I will definitely be going to Brighton. Have been almost every year since it started and amazed at how much better it gets each year.
Nigel Howell and his dedicated team deserve great praise for what they have done for the island.
To hear of a lack of support from the council is just typical. Roll on the elections, it’s time for a change at county hall.
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Yaverland residents have finally been successful in driving this thriving event off the island. Well done to you, you must be proud to be driving away valuable business in order to enjoy a few hours of listening to the birds and the wind.
Selfishness knows no bounds.
Anyone for a street party in Yaverland this time next year? Just so they don’t miss out?
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@Dan – “street party in Yaverland” – very funny!
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What a shame..At least the council are consistent.
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In response to Dan….you surely must be some kind of muppet to blame the residents of Yaverland if this story is true about the event moving to Brighton.
The FACT is that the residents did NOT object to the event itself, but moreover to the FACT that Mr Howell proposed that live music went on until 2am in the morning in a residential area.
The FACT is that neither the IoW Festival or the Bestival are allowed to go on as late as that, so why should you think that Wight Air should be?
As far as I’m aware, NO ONE objected to the event at any stage other than to the late night proposals, but I guess we shouldn’t let the facts get in the way of a good headline hey?
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I know for a fact that a few of the Yaverland residents complained constantly throughout the event!! There were also a few who really enjoyed the event!!
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Moto Cross, White Air – what next
Any significance in Rob da Bank setting up a Bestival Mk2 on the Mainland this year
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What can you say? It’s unbelievable that the Island is going to loose this event. Surely anyone who has a business in Sandown will want to speak up for White Air….your takings for the weekend must have gone up. As a Sandownian myself I and the rest of my family love the event. My 14 yr old son spent every hour that I allowed him to up there, surving on a diet of free jelly beans and water, he had a fantastic weekend along with his mates…..proper old school fun too, so refreshing to see kids being allowed to get on with some risky antics….no cotton wool in sight! I happily spent over £120 for tickets for the various events during the weekend so that me and mine could enjoy the amazing show that is White Air…. and money well spent in my opinion. I think we Islanders should be on our knees pleading with Nigel Howell to reconsider his plan to move! It’s so frustrating to loose the world class event that came like a gift to little old Sandown and then was snatch away just as really started to get going. Doh!
Nigel I’m on my knees man, DON’T GO!
Nigel George.
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What is going on? This was my first year at Whiteair and it was amazing. Why are the council getting rid of it. It does wonders for the local economy. It just highlights how rubbish the island is. Glad Im moving off to go to uni.
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Attracted by the heart-stopping Red Arrows display, I took my six year old son to White Air. At first I thought we’d have to settle for spectating (the wow factor varies depending on what’s going on at the time, and we seemed to hit a lull between demonstrations). But then we spotted the army’s climbing wall. Just £1 donation to charity to have a go. My son tried all three walls, gaining in confidence each time until at the third attempt he overcame his fear of heights and made it almost to the top. The staff were so patient and encouraging. A pound well spent!
I’d like to see White Air stay on the island.
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Roll on 2009. I’ll never vote for a conservative councillor again.
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In response to Jaz’s comments can i say that yes the residents did complain pretty much non stop in some cases and this was even in the days prior to the event so wasnt about music and these same residents were seen with their friends watching the red arrows AND dancing and watching the music in the evenings! How hypocritical!
So the headlines are the truth. And i know all this as i dealt with the complainers of yaverland! I would also like to say that there are some yaverland residents that do support the event even if they dont enjoy it and will put up with any inconvenience it may cause them over a few days a years as they recognise how beneficial it is to the islands economy and profile.
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Ive just spoken to someone in the council situated in PR called Gavin, the guy was really helpful. In terms of sponcering the event the council has given the organiser £30,000 over two years as well as cleaning wastage, highways and wages for security. So I think tbh, what Ive drawn frm this is that the council have tried but the bloke in charge wants more help that they can not give. He reasurred that if the event does go it will be replaced by something else. Duno wot mind u?
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This is actually not true and typical council spin
£8,000 was paid out to white air this year of which some £3000 was taken straight back in car park fees and footpath signs by the council. White Air is a £500,000 input event with 1-1.5million return for the IOW so the council input is absolutely minimal at best. The organiser has personally supported the financial losses every year.
White Air paid for all the security, and road closures, and footpath closures, and even suplied toilets as the council toilets were broken
Sorry but this again the council spending more tax payers money on spin rather than actually supporting
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I just had press-release from White Air launching Brighton ‘09 – 18th-20st Sept.
Looks like its all official now :-(
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err from sue’s response (who seems to know wat she’s talking about), it sounds like the press office are telling porkies to the public.
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Nigel the organiser has had resistance from the residents at Yaverland since the event starte. And as someone stated the 2 – faced complainers did enjoy the red arrows, and some also who visted the site to have a look around (you know who you are) Nigel visited them in their houses to hear their problems and try and work with them. Those apposing the event have got hold of his personal numbers and telephoned him day and night, making his home life difficult.
Certain members of Yaverland sailing club – where the event was held originally have complained as well, which is crazy when YSBC makes thousands from the event in carparking, beer and food sales.
Sandown Town council – Heather Humby amongst others, in my opinion doesnt give a flying gibber about tourism or extreme sports (I mean look at her, hardly a radical beach chick) – look at the state they allow the derelict buildings in Sandown to become – the boating lake, the sandringham, the Savoy, the Culver. So we have to accept they will never want White Air unless it is an event based around tired old pound shops selling IOW teatowels and bing crosby CD’s.
Please dont blame White Air for going to Brighton – blame Sandown and its council – white air has given us loads of free events to look at, take part in, and has helped the local economy.
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in response to anon’s comments – yes there are certain elderly sandown and Yaverland residents who dont like the event but dont complain – and even help out.
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Well done blacksmog for saying what the rest of us have been thinking. IOW & Sandown Councils ought to be ashamed of themselves and their behaviour towards this event. Sandown town is a shabby and delapidated embarrassment to the IOW but last weekend Yaverland looked like something out of a holiday brochure – the sun shining, people everywhere, all the White Air flags and banners blowing in the breeze – something to be really proud of – that you’d surely want tourists and future investors in the island to see? It’s so sad that the event has not been given the encouragement and support it truly deserves.
Well done Nigel for sticking it out this long – but time to move on to a bigger & brighter (excuse the pun) future!!
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