News & Events
December 2010 Gardiners Creek
As I rode home along the Gardiners Creek bike track after a
heavy downpour I was mesmerised by the creek. It was
pumping and there were numerous weirs creating big stoppers and great
wavers. I had to give this a go.
The following week
widespread heavy rains were forecast. Here was my
chance. Anthony was keen to give it a go as well so we
organised to meet after work.
During the day the rain started
falling and then it started pouring. I was glued to the
rain radar and the gauge at Gardiner on the Melbourne Water
site. I watched as the creek rose from 0.18 to 1.7
metres. I also watched as it then started dropping.
By
the time Anthony and I met at the get out at Great Valley Road (Glen
Iris) the gauge on the creek was showing 0.7. We quickly
got ready and drove to the get in at Warrigal Road, Malvern East.
After
climbing under a temporary fence around some building works on the
bridge at the get in we were away. Black Ducks paddled down
the brown water and waterfalls cascaded, (O.K. drains) into the
creek. As we entered the Malvern Valley Golf Course we came
to several weirs and found a fun wave to surf.
As we paddled the
rain started falling. We took our time knowing that every
minute more water was flowing into the creek. It was rising
again.

By
the time we reached High Street, Glen Iris, the weir near the bridge
was pumping and had a nasty large creek wide stopper at the
bottom. I went for some speed and attempted to miss the
worst of the stopper. Unfortunately the stopper stopped me
good and proper and then surfed me sideways to the very end of the
stopper, when I managed to escape. Anthony went for speed
and right angles to the stopper and got away without any problem.
There
were lots of weirs and lots of good stoppers, some a bit sticky and
others creating great surf waves. One weir near the end formed a
fantastic wave. One of the best I’ve seen for a long time
and here it was, right in the middle of Melbourne. Anthony
and I surfed our hearts out. We weren’t always in full
control and there were a couple of rolls and several support stokes but
we had great fun.

It
was then only a short distance to the get out at Great Valley
Road. The gauge at the get out was not showing
1.58! The creek had risen nearly a metre while we’d been
paddling.
Not a bad way to spend an evening after work.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvTvCFn31ro
Alison