TW Blog :: Entries for Surfing
Custom, then, is the great guide of human lifeDavid Hume
Surfing with the Beeb
This post does not relate to any other topics
Just completed the first set of building Autumn tides on the Severn Bore. Although we are currently on the downturn of most significant lunar cycles for the equilibrium tides, the sporadic rains through August produced a reasonable level of fresh water and reopened some major channels. This provided plenty of mileage on waves from 2 to 4'.
An unusual addition to our troop of muddy river riders was a collective BBC film crew capturing the experience of bore surfing with our local river guru, Steve. The outcome of the filming will be in BBC Midlands Inside Out on 11th October. There may even be a cut of me driving Steve's boat!
The programme will now be shown as part of the final episode of the current Inside Out series on Monday 25th October. A number of other regional channels have shown interest in the segment so it may broadcast nationally.
The programme has now been postponed until January 2005 due to more pressing current affairs! Hope it will be worth the wait…
Posted on Sep 04, 2004 at 00:39:27. [Comments for Surfing with the Beeb- 0]
Bore-tastic!
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I have got to just boast quickly about one of the greatest weeks of river surfing I have ever experienced! I can't really say when or where I surfed, since I am sworn to secrecy, suffice to say that thanks to the mighty Wizard, and our legendary Skipper, I possibly surfed a wave previously unridden (not something many surfers can say nowadays), and over six tides clocked the best part of 15 miles (24 km), much of it carving on open faces - that's more than a half marathon!
This weekend the legs are aching…!
Posted on May 09, 2004 at 15:06:15. [Comments for Bore-tastic!- 0]
Return To The Severn
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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 Oct 28, 2003 at 18:56:12. [Comments for Return To The Severn- 0]
L'adventure De La Mascaret
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Just returned from an eye-opening expedition to surf the Mascaret in the vineyard region to the east of Bordeaux. This was our second outing to the area, and once again the hospitality of the local surfers was first class. We stayed at Chez Fabrice, right on the banks of the Dordogne in St Pardon, only minutes from the local pub/restaurant and entry point to the river.
The surfing was a totally unique experience relative to our own tidal bore on the River Severn, and we had some excellent rides. Uncountless memories, but I can reveal no more, since I am sworn to secrecy! Just a huge thankyou to all the local Mascaret surfers for making us so welcome, along with everyone at Chez Annie (Cafe Du Port in St Pardon). We hope you fancy joining us soon on the Severn, where we can return the favour, and, bon chance avec le English Take-Off!
Posted on Oct 03, 2003 at 18:57:16. [Comments for L'adventure De La Mascaret- 0]
Bore Virgin
Also relates to Peregrinations
Pretty shattered right now. Had quite a long week, and having been on nights, switched my time clock this am to catch a quick surf on the Bore with Wiz and The Owl. Was quite a nipper, but we clocked a bit of mileage, and it was the only opportunity to give my resurrected mal (courtesy of Toots) a test drive before we head off to the French Mascaret in a couple of weeks. Having had 3 hours sleep the previous day, I had hopped to get an early night, but couldn't resist the Beeb late night movie, an adaptation of D.H. Lawrence's The Virgin and The Gypsy. Always have a craving for period dramas, but this was made all the more appealing by the disastrous finale, in which the exploded dam brings an excuse for the gypsy to finally seduce the virgin. The somewhat tame footage of the waters rolling up the river from the dam, was actually filmed on the Severn Bore at the very spot we surfed this morning!
Posted on Sep 12, 2003 at 22:30:29. [Comments for Bore Virgin- 0]
