As the sun rises in the east, and the morning fog begins to lift, the Tranny Traveller makes his way through the graveyard to the lookout on top of the cliff. Finding an ideal lookout he sets up the tripod, cleans the lens and positions the tape.
Looking through the viewfinder seven black shadows are visible on the sandbanks below the Nab. Regular as clockwork when the moon is full or new, these dark figures wait in the cold morning breeze, motionless.
The clock chimes seven and then the silence returns only to be broken by the occasional passage of a jugernaut on the road. Scanning downriver the cameraman makes out a finger of whitewater working its way along the edge of the large banks. A flock of gulls takes off in formation only to hover and return to their perch when the threat has passed.
As the wave moves closer the cameraman scans the dark figures. The time has again arrived and in perfect harmony the seven surfers move slowly and gracefully into the river...
Steve King
A.K.A..........The Wizard
HOME...........Saul Island
STARTED........The Dark Ages
MILEAGE........9.5 km
Memorable Moments - Paddling home to the Island on an ebbing river on a
very dark night and arriving bang on van! The first person in history
to officially break the five mile marker for distance surfing. Numerous
tricks including headstands, tandem riding and surfing a large Boats'
wall backwards.
Dave James
A.K.A..........Drop Down
HOME...........Lydney
STARTED........The Dark Ages
MILEAGE........n/a
Memorable Moments - A fateful day at Secrets when his knickname was
first coined as Dave could only sit and watch the wave break upriver! A
famous display of handbag surfing for the rolling cameras from Country
Tracks. A perfect 360 degree spin on takeoff while clingin on for dear
life on a punping Boats wave.
Matt Hammersley
A.K.A..........Buffalo
HOME...........Highnam
STARTED........Harvest Moon, 1997
MILEAGE........3 km
Memorable Moments - Near vertical take-off impressively held at Wipeout
Lounge. Barreled below the Bird-In-Hand one autumn morning. Missing that
fateful step at the water's edge and losing another chunk of board.
Completeing an entire two hour board race in board shorts and rash vest.
Tomo Wright
A.K.A..........Twinkle Toes
HOME...........Newnham Hill
STARTED........Sturgeon Moon, 1998
MILEAGE........4.5 km
Memorable Moments - Paddling out against the odds, on a flooded river,
on a frost-bitten xmas morning, in a vain attempt to reach his 50th
ride of the year! The first surfer of the millenium to take on the dark
depths of Garden Cliff during his epic distance ride. Excessive use of
windscreen wipers on a dry summer morning.
Daniel Cartwright
A.K.A..........Funky Feet
HOME...........Sheppey, Teeside and Gower
STARTED........Beaver Moon, 1998
MILEAGE........2.2 km
Memorable Moments - Jumping into an icecold Secret's river, gloveless,
even though the wave was already passing. Putting on a fine display of
facial expressions for the film crew surfin alone at lower Cloudbreak.
Pulling off the headstand to neck grab manouvere on a tricky Over wave.
Liam Parnell
A.K.A..........The Silver Surfer
HOME...........Bristol
STARTED........Beaver Moon, 1999
MILEAGE........1.8 km
Memorable Moments - Getting wipped out on bank at Secrets, banging head,
trashing board and still eternally stoked. Driving up the A48 fully hooded
in rubber suit. Adopting the venerable Mr L's style in a moment of silver
stardom. Oh and those black shoes.
Davey Birch
A.K.A..........Standfast
HOME...........Barnstaple to Gloucester Rd
STARTED........Strawberry Moon, 2000
MILEAGE........2.8 km
Memorable Moments - Experiencing Jaws at its mightiest and losing a large
chunk of glass from his board in a tussle with the bank. Running back to
The White Hart quicker than he had just surfed nearly 3km in the other
direction! Longest standing ride in the estuary this millenium.
