Irish waves and local surfers nominated for XXL big wave awards

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 11 February, 2008 : - - The tow-surfing pair of Duncan Scott (Newquay, Cornwall) and Alistair Mennie (Portrush, Northern Ireland) has further highlighted the magnitude of giant, surfable waves breaking off the British Isles’ coastlines, with their recent nominations into the 2008 Billabong International XXL Big Wave Awards.

The XXL nomination follows their record-breaking session at Mullaghmore Head, in Donegal Bay, on 1 December 2007, where the pair rode waves between 55 to 60 feet high, the biggest waves ever recorded by Ireland’s Marine Institute and the Met Eireann meteorological office.

‘We are extremely proud of the inclusion of Duncan Scott and Alistair Mennie into the XXL International Big Wave Awards. It’s a worthy recognition of the efforts and commitment they’ve invested into big-wave surfing in the UK and Irish waters, and shows the calibre of waves and surfers our coastline can produce,’ commented Karen Walton, National Director of the British Surfing Association.

This is the first time a UK or Irish surfer has gained entry into the premiere ‘Ride of the Year’ category, in which the winner takes home a $50 000 paycheque. This category rewards the technical ability and critical approach of the surfer, as well the size of the wave ridden.

They are also in contention for the $15 000 prize for ‘Biggest Wave’ category, where a panel of surf industry experts gauge the sheer vertical height of the biggest waves ridden. Alistair Mennie, who rode a 55- 60 foot wave, the biggest ever recorded in the British Isles at Mullaghmore, is hoping that a little Irish luck may continue to prevail for them when they fly out to Anaheim, California for the awards ceremony at the event’s conclusion.

source: Surfers Village- Picture Aaron Pearce

Glacier surfing

This video clip is around 6 months old and you may have seen it before but its still pretty amazing. The wave is created by Child's Glacier in South-Central Alaska

Surfing Dolphins

I found this clip via Alex Wade's "Times Online surf blog". Theres no need for an intro or explanation, it speaks for itself

Localism in Lincolnshire?!

Its the middle of nowhere, the only people that use the beach are dog walkers, fishermen and the occasional surfer and to find the place you'll need to be from the area because its doubtful even to be recognised by SatNavs, so of all the unlikely beaches to find graffiti spray warning that this is a "locals only" spot, this one has to be the strangest.
Lincolnshire surf beaches are still uncrowded (a crowd at this spot is about 5 people!) , surfers acknowledge and talk to each other and the regulars all know one another, so localism just isn't even on the agenda and nor should it be.
As surfers we all love to travel and we all surf locations outside of our home spots, so there'll always be times that each and every one of us will experience being "non-locals", so just imagine getting aggro every time you traveled away or dishing out aggro every time someone you don't recognise strays into the line up at your home surf break...the surfing experience would really suffer.
Without trying to sound like a hippy, waves wherever they are, belong to all of us and sharing a few at home (if the laws of karma are to be believed) will be repaid in kind when you're surfing away. Also when you are traveling, a little courtesy and respect, the same as you would expect at home, goes a long way :)

Tassie nutters charge shipsterns

Most of us identify Tasmania with apples, timber, and the quiet rural life. But a handful of Tassie surfers seem determined to re-work that image. In their backyard is Shipstern Bluff -- one of the world’s heaviest big wave surf zones. And rather than leave it to big-name visiting pro surfers, locals Marti Paradisis, Mike Brennan and brothers James and Tyler Hollmer-Cross have been seizing the day themselves.

Photos and footage from their amazing efforts are some of the most compelling in the Oakley Surfing Life Big Wave Awards – Australasia’s most sought-after big surf challenge. “They’re just charging,” says photographer Stuart Gibson, winner of the prestigious Nestle Award, who’s been busy documenting his mates’ efforts at Shipstern. “Marti’s been throwing himself into everything.”

Source: surfersvillage

North sea swell arrives as forecast

A near classic North sea swell hit this morning and thankfully the forecasted snow didn't arrive to make getting to the beach a hassle. The air temp was around zero degrees and the beach sand first thing, was frozen, but the sun was out, it was offshore and a long period 4-5ft swell was pumping. The waves were super clean, they held up for ever and formed long peeling, fairly punchy and some barreling waves. As the tide flooded though the lateral rip became stronger and paddling out of the impact zone was tricky and the drift in the line up was rapid. Lets hope for lots more days like this in 2008!

North sea due for a classic swell

Looking at the Met office pressure charts the 955mb low pressure shown here is going to stir up a good size swell due to hit the UK East coast early on Saturday morning. Its going to be long period waves with a lightish offshore breeze forecast. Air and Sea temps will freeze the plums off a penguin but it looks like the swell will be worth it