The Severn Bore

comment by Spuddy, 2007-07-04 15:53:48

Record rides
i heard the record was rejected by guiness because the actual distance surfed was highly debateable and there was no objective evidence for the actual start and end points. no one ever layed claim to a ride of 7.6 miles that was just a *mysterious* and false press release that appeared in all the papers and on the web - apparantly issued by the bsa. try about 6 miles...the official world record for a standing surfboard ride is by sergio laus on the araguari at 10.1km. he also holds the record for the largest tidal bore ever surfed at 4m on the same river in brazil. don't believe everything you read or hear!still get out there and maybe you will be the one to get a new world record on the severn bore... it is there for the taking.

comment by Local, 2007-06-11 10:09:23

Party wave
People say you can only ride this on a longboard. This simply isn't true. I've seen and filmed people riding it on bodyboards, fish, and even inflatables (which is a little dangerous if there's tree wreckage in the river).It walls up, it barrels, it does everything a beachie does, but most of all, it's unpredictable. The river is STILL FLOWING when the bore comes through the other way, so it's a bitch of a paddle to get on a clean face. Better to get on it in the shallows when it's whitewater. If you stay on it long enough, it will clean up. Where the river narrows down, the wave can go big very suddenly, and it is really moving. Local knowledge counts for a lot.. do some research, and like the guy says, if you aint a strong swimmer, stay dry.There are no rules here. It's the ultimate party wave. The Pororoca holds the official record for distance, but a local rider covered about 7.5 miles in 06 on this. Don't know why that ride hasn't been accepted.

comment by Bore boarder, 2007-06-05 19:15:40

Just this once, believe the hype.
Don't compare it to a beach wave, because the water is moving in a whole different way. I agree with the comment on the main page about it being anywhere from epic to gutless...it varies, and is seldom the same twice. In fact, a pointless ripple at one spot can form into a headhigh spitting barrel a few hundred yards further upstream.If you want one shot at the title.. a moment of glory to please the crowds, go to the Severn Bore Inn at Minsterworth. If you want distance, get in at Newnham carpark.You will hear a few people slate this wave, but I'll tell you what, you can bet your bottom dollar that they've never tried it, or if they have, they only managed a few yards , or they couldn't paddle hard enough to get on it.BIG,SERIOUS WARNING: If you want to surf it in the wider areas like Newnham, be a very strong swimmer or don't get in. It's not the wave, but the insane currents that come through behind it that you need to look out for. You will never experience a rip as bad as this, unless you surf whirlpools!Enjoy, don't take it too seriously, and help out anyone who gets into trouble in the water. This is one wave that likes visitors