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News

Tow Surfing at 67yrs
28/03/08

67 year old Irish surf icon, Kevin Cavey, learns to tow surf with Total Spawtz legend Cheyne Horan...

He was never a shy lad as he roamed the hills of Ireland and when he discovered the surf a journey began that created an Irish surfing legend, now at age 67, he still breaks new ground or in this case new swell.

When asked to be captured on film by the Irish TV show, " One Thing To Do Before I Die", Kevin accepted the offer and immediately asked to pursue his dream to Tow Surf. Producers sought the help of the Irish Surf Federation who told them that the best in the buisness was in Australia, the founder of Tow in Surfing and surf legend Cheyne Horan.

Two weeks latter Kevin was at Surfers Paradise Beach on the Gold Coast ready to train to become a Tow Surfer with the Total Spawtz surf development team and top 45 surfer J.(Bottle) Thompson. They began with a professional surf assessment, by big wave surfer Davina Drinan and Bottle Thompson who paddled out into the choppy overcast conditions and put Kevin through his paces and after two hours of free surfing and assessment, they signed him off and cleared him to commence tow in training the following day.

Sunday morning saw an early start at Currumbin, with Milton Brunton and the Swell Rider Jet Ski team in the water doing all water safety and equipment checks and putting on a jet ski display for the Liberty Film crew.The support crew, consisting of local Monster Wave riders, David Henry, Dane Keilha, Davina Drinan, Wayne Lowen and Matt Cook were doing some runs, checking gear and water safety, waiting for Kevin to arrive, to meet the surf legend.

Kevin arrived with Surf Legends, Garry (Kong) Elkerton and Cheyne Horan ready to embark on his dream to become a Tow Surfer and after 2 hrs of preparation and advise from Cheyne, Garry and safety tips from Milton, they were ready to go and the 67 year old entered the water with anticipation.

Kevin showed he still has the ability at 67 to do anything in the surf after immediately standing behind the ski and set himself for his first wave. The set came through and Cheyne positioned him on his first tow in wave, but unfortunately he dropped off it. A few more runs out the back and Kevin was ready to try again, with all cameras on him Cheyne whipped him into a small 4ft wave and the king of Irish Surf was away, Kevin tour down the face and then cut back to the top lip of the wave before attempting another maneuver and falling.

The crew enjoyed a day of surfing with the legend, captured some great film and created another Total Spawtz historic moment, when interviewed, Kevin was over joyed that Cheyne and the crew had helped him achieve the one thing he wanted to do before he died and thanked Cheyne for the opportunity to surf with him.

The day was rounded off with a good old fashioned Ozy BBQ and a Beer, another new experience for Kevin and the Irish film crew. The Total Spawtz Monster Wave Team will be headed to Ireland latter this year to ride some of the biggest waves on the planet for their anticipated film "Hunting for Sea Monsters"

Total Spawtz would like to thank all crew, Warren Young and the Gold Coast City Council, Milton and Jackie Brunton and their Swell Rider Team, GC Wave Runner, Lowen 88 surf boards, J (Bottle) Thompson and the Cheyne Horan School of surf.