Surfing on the Petitcodiac River NB
For the past week, surfers have been riding the Tidal Bore on the Petitcodiac River, NB. On Tuesday and Wednesday, Colin Whitebread and JJ Wessels set a record for the longest distance surfed on a wave in North America for their 29-kilometre, two-hour ride. Whitebread estimated they were surfing at about 10 to 14 knots when they travelled around the bend in the river in Moncton.
These
competitive athletes had studied the river and had support staff on Sea-Doos,
in case of falls or accidents. Moncton Fire
Department Chief, Eric Arsenault said, “It’s a powerful river and certainly not
… for the novice or recreational user.”
One of the professional surfers slightly injured himself this week, so
the Department warned the public not to attempt surfing the river. The currents were strong, particularly along
some sections of the Petitcodiac River.
Whitebread said, “There were … sections that could have been
life-threatening. There’s so much power,
behind this thing.”
Thousands of
spectators watched, as the men travelled the Tidal Bore’s waves up the Petitcodiac
River.
(These
photos were taken by my husband on his I-phone as he stood under the Gunningsville
Bridge. The direct quotes were taken
from the Times-Transcript dated July 25 & 26, 2013.)
