TW Blog :: Archives for July 2005

50 Years of Bore Surfing

Relates to Surf and Travel

Yes, today is the day we celebrate 50 years since Colonel Jack first surfed the Severn Bore at Stonebench. Being blessed with the coincidence of medium term lunar cycles, I joined Toby this morning down at Newnham for the maiden voyage of my new Atlantic Surfboards river board and to acknowledege Mad Jacks achievement. Also listen out for Wizard (who alone will be celebrating his 25th year of bore surfing next year!), The Owl and Bore Riders club co-founder Donny chatting on BBC Radio Gloucester around 2pm today.

Bore surfing has seen a very progressive evolution from the sport of a few local Severn men to a dedicated international community stretching from England and France to the Amazon and Alaska - as the pages of the Bore Riders website recount. And for a brief history of the sport in England hop over to Longwave where the 50 year anniversary DVD is close to completion.

On September 17th a celebration of 50 years will be held on the banks of the river at the White Hart Inn, Broadoak. It will be a chance for bore surfers old and new to get together and share their stories over some hot food, local ale and live music. Surfers past and present are all welcome and for any bore riders from the past we have not reached, it would be great if you would be interested in popping along. Overnight parking has been arranged for campers and vans, and on the Sunday morning the first of the biggest tides of the year will roll in. So if you want to hear the truth behind the myth of Big Wednesday, or perhaps discover the true location of the Boneyard, or maybe even meet the man who surfed the mighty Dragon, proceedings will kick off from around 6pm at the White Hart. See you there…

Posted on Thursday, Jul 21, 2005 at 08:24:08.