TW Blog :: Archives for October 2003

Return To The Severn

Relates to Surfing

Just come off a weekend of eventful bore surfing back on home turf in the River Severn. The four days of large spring tides were made all the more enjoyable by the presence of two of our French counterparts, Fabrice and Bruno, from the Gironde Mascaret surfers. The bore was not at its best, with the estuary, my preferred playground, out of action besides several ankle snappers. But the river itself offered some long rides, with a number of the local crew breaking the 2 mile mark for the first time. Our one regular female surfer, Irene, showed river surfing is not just for the men, by setting what we believe to be an unofficial Women's World Record for distance surfing with approximately 4km. While Fabrice set his own personal best of 6km, and Bruno narrowly missed breaking the French Mascaret record with a ride of 7.5km - unfortunately there were just too many Englishmen on the tightest bend, and a boat pick-up was called for mid-distance!

This may have been the last major action we see from the river for a couple of years as nearly all the lunar cycles (which determine the equilibrium tides) reach a coincidental slump. But I am hoping with a bit of rainfall, the estuary might fire up one last time before the year is out.

Posted on Tuesday, Oct 28, 2003 at 18:56:12.