Devon crew tow new big hill spot
The long-awaited attempt on North Devon’s mysto big Hill spot finally kicked off this week. A tow team consisting of some of the regions’ finest came together after days of anticipation, with the charts showing perfect conditions and the contours looking epic at 600ft with a 2 day period.
Frantic preparations the night before involving clamps, congealed glue and rough sawn cedar planking paid off as the crew converged on the take off spot in the filthy commandeered PSC.
There was even a cameo appearance from Hill paddle-in legend Big Freeze, who brought along his ancient TS mini mal. Posing with the master, and toting her Rhino chaser 6’-7”, young gun Peony Knight took up the story: “I can’t believe it, to be out here with this guy… we used to hear stories of him out at the Hill by himself back in the 60’s and 70’s…paddling in alone…. no one ever knew if he really existed at all and now here he is”.
Up on the hill the action soon warmed up with Twisted team rider Tas Knight scoring some sick carves, Peony and Holly making some huge sections, and Big Sis duo Harriet & Jemima alternating between smooth turns and monstrous face plants.
Growing in confidence with every ride the crew abandoned the PSC and paddled, dropping into some 100ft bombs and taking some huge wipeouts into the boneyards. Photog. Suzanne Hobbs risked all to capture some breathtaking shots from the impact hedge.
Conditions remained good for much of the morning until a combination of boulder size snowballs in the line-up, and frozen toes reduced the team to a bedraggled heap, requiring the rapid deployment of the rescue sled and some much needed practice for the safety team…. All in all an epic day.
Matt the farmer, the farm can wait
that was a brill day cheers matt and tas,peony,suzanne,jemmima and harriet