So me then….I’ll try not to make this sound like a dating profile!
I’m 40 and live in the beautiful landlocked city of Worcester. The river Severn runs right through the middle and I see it every single day. When out and about, I’m the guy who is always looking around, as I tend to see things slightly differently than others. I like to stop, take a breath and take in the scenery and love the magic and beauty nature gives to us (without getting too hippy about it!). I take my camera on most trips as I enjoy photography and also play the guitar (‘play’ is a very loose term!)
My love of water, and in particular surfing, started when I was about 14. I tried windsurfing on the Dovey estuary in mid Wales but had to be rescued as I was getting dragged by the outgoing tide. As that scared me a little, I promptly took the sail off the board and used it to surf a few waves at Ynyslas Beach nearby. Within half an hour I was standing and riding waves.
My affair with the river Severn started when I first surfed the Severn Bore at the age of 17 –some 23 years ago. I remember sitting in the river, on a cold September morning and hearing the bore before I could see it, wondering how on earth a sea tide could reach this far inland and that it couldn’t be that big or powerful. Within a few minutes I found out how wrong I could be! I caught it but didn’t stand up, I was too scared. From that moment I was hooked.
Born and bred in Worcestershire, I’ve lived in Worcester (a city split in two by the river) since 1998. This gives me great access to the Severn and I often paddle my old surf rescue board in the sections between Worcester and Bridgnorth for a spot of training (beats the gym any day!). I also do some training paddles on the Worcestershire Avon.
This challenge is something I’ve been thinking about for quite some time. In my love for the outdoors, I’ve covered many miles on foot – I’ve completed the national 3-peaks challenge twice, the circular Bridgnorth charity walk, the canal towpath walk from Birmingham to Worcester and not to mention numerous leisure walks in the mountains and countryside of Scotland, England and Wales. I first thought about walking the length of the river about 15 years ago but somehow never got round to it. In the last 5 years I changed my way of thinking to combine this with paddleboarding. I met Tristan whilst surfing the Bore a few years ago where, knowing his love for the outdoors also, we talked about the idea. He was really interested, and from there the challenge was born.
Although I surf regularly, I haven’t been into stand-up paddleboarding to any great extent (I’m usually in the prone or kneeling position when I train). I’m pretty rubbish at it compared to seasoned paddlers but I guarantee this challenge will lead me onto other things with a paddleboard as there is so much water out there to explore! I’m already thinking about my next adventure on a board…
