junkies wowed the crowds at the coast this weekend during a festival of extreme sports and live music. ain and wind failed to put a dampener on people’s spirits at the Xperience Festival 2009, held at Tynemouth, where young and old got the chance to watch experts in action.

On Saturday, Longsands hosted the UKPSA North East Surf Open, where surfers from around the world tackled the North Sea and competed for pride, tour points, and prize money. The overall winner was Russell Winter, from Cornwall.

Thousands of extreme sport enthusiasts from across Europe entertained the crowds with BMX, in-line skating, surfing, snow sports, mountainboarding, extreme circus skills and more. Visitors also had the opportunity to participate in events themselves, including surfing and circus skills. For the less sports-minded, urban art workshops ran throughout the weekend by New Line Graffiti, who gave spectators the chance to graffiti small boards and take them home. Another highlight was beatboxing, featuring the finest and most established beatboxers in Britain. The UK’s leading female artist Bellatrix, the UK’s male current beatbox champion Reeps One and one of the world’s finest beatboxers THe PETEBOX all performed over the two-day event, while also giving youngsters a chance to try it for themselves.