A World Record was set at NSW’s Bondi Beach on Australia Day last Wednesday (January 26) as a whopping 2068 people joined up to create the longest line of inflatable airbeds on water at the 2011 Havaianas Thong Challenge.

The 6th Annual Havaianas Australia Day Thong Challenge saw thousand of beach-goers celebrating in Aussie fashion

NSW’s Bondi Beach took out the world record and beat neighbouring states including Cottesloe (WA) which attracted a massive 1947 people, Torquay (VIC) gathered 1185, Mooloolaba (QLD) saw 1167 beachgoers take to the water and Glenelg (SA) drew a crowd of 443.

The thousands of Australians taking part in the 6th Annual Havaianas Australia Day Thong Challenge, raised $68,100 for the Nippers and $20,000 for the Queensland Flood Relief Appeal.

The new world record of 2068 saw entrants rally together on Bondi Beach (NSW) to break last year’s world record of 1301, set at Cottelsoe Beach (WA) on January 26, 2010.

Over 2,000 people turned up to the Bondi Event, breaking the record previously held by WA’s Cottelsoe Beach in 2010.

The total number of entrants was 6810, beating 2010’s entry numbers by 1097.

Thong Challenge organiser Emma Kowaleczko says, “It’s not everyday you break a world record and we are thrilled. To be able to raise much needed funds for local Nippers programs and Flood Relief in QLD make this a proud moment for Havaianas. Look out 2012!”
 

This year saw the Cottelsoe event bring out 1947 participants

“We are so grateful to all of the people who attended the event and to Havaianas for organising such a wonderful day. The money raised will go towards buying new equipment, transporting the kids to and from surf carnivals and maintaining the Surf Club facilities. This generous donation means that we can focus on training the Surf Life Savers of tomorrow,” said Nippers spokesperson and North Bondi Club President Grant McMah.