Aileens, Ireland – October Swell

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Photo: Aaron Pierce

(Aileens, Irlanda, 30 de outubro de 2009) – Al Mennie e Andrew Cotton conseguiram surfar ondas gigantes em dois oceanos em apenas uma semana.

A dupla acumulou mais de 8.000 milhas na semana passada em surf para dois swells em Aileens (Irlanda) e para competir no Nelscott Tow-In Classic (Oregon).

“Toda essa loucura começou na noite de sábado, 17 outubro, quando recebi um email de John Forse dizendo que o campeonato poderia ser realizado na quarta-feira (21), mas eles iriam fazer a chamada final na segunda-feira. Isso iria nos dar menos de 48 horas (considerando a diferença de fuso) para chegar a tempo em Oregon. Eu imediatamente telefonei para Cotty e começamos a pensar rápido.”, disse Al Mennie.

Al falou com Eric Akiskalian da Towsurfer.com sobre suas expectativas a respeito das previsões. Eric tem trabalhado com Al e Cotty, desde o início de suas carreiras de towsurfing no desenvolvimento de pranchas e equipamentos. Enquento isso, Eric já havia reservado um voo para Lincoln City para surfar o mesmo swell em South Reef e na laje. Então, os caras tinham certeza que John Forse e Adão Wagner iriam abrir o evento.

“Eu não queria agulhar o John nem o Adam, pois tinha certeza que todo mundo devia estar em cima deles para saber se iriam abirir o evento. Então, a experiência do Eric na região do Oregon nos deu a ideia do que iria rolar”, disse Andrew Cotton.

O campeonato foi confirmado para quinta-feira, dia 22, e essa foi uma grande notícia para o Al e pro Cotty assim como a notícia de que também havia uma previsão de swell enorme para Aileens na terça-feira. Eles organizaram os dias como uma operação militar. Voos, sono e os tempos de viagem de carro foram calculados para que conseguissem surfar Aileens e ainda chegar a tempo de competir em Oregon. Eles não queriam prejudicar nem a competição nem o swell em casa. E, como sabem que as condições para o big surf são raras, conseguiram fazer os dois.

Aileens bombou um swell sólido. As ondas estavam muito difíceis e quase no limite para resgates no inside se alguém se desse mal. Al e Cotty juntaram-se a seis skis e outros surfistas naquele dia, incluindo locais, australianos e ingleses. O pequeno grupo pegou um dos maiores dias já divulgados em Aileens com bombas de 40 ‘e 50′ de face.

Logo após surfar o enorme swell, eles embarcaram em um voo para Washington, segunda noite sem dormir para chegar ao evento uma da matina de quinta. Naquela mesma manhã bem cedo, eles encontraram John para um briefing da competição e testemunharam os big riders, Eric Akiskalian e Kieth Galbraith, botando pra baixo nas bombas de South Reef com 35 ‘a 40′. A competição foi surpreendente. Al e Cotty disseram que foi um dos melhores dias de surf da vida deles.

Após o evento, eles checaram os gráficos e, para a surpresa deles, Aileens iria quebrar logo que eles voltassem. Eles se jogaram em um avião e imediatamente estavam com tudo pronto para Aileens. O swell não foi tão grande quanto o primeiro, mas ainda assim rolaram boas ondas. Al, Cotty e Paul aproveitaram e depois ainda foram para outra ilha próxima para mais algumas ondas. Esgotamento total e falta de sono cobraram seu preço, mas há ainda outro a caminho para meados da próxima semana.

!versão em português!

Photo: Aaron Pierce

(Aileens, Ireland) October 30, 2009 – Al Mennie and Andrew Cotton are not afraid to commit! They have just managed to surf three giant swells in two oceans all within a one week period! The duo racked up over 8,000 miles last week in order to surf two swells at Aileens, Ireland and compete at the Nelscott Tow-In Classic, Oregon.

“All this madness started late on Saturday, October 17th when we got an email from John Forse saying that the contest may run on Wednesday the 21st, but they would make the final call on Monday!” This was going to give us less than 48 hours (considering the time difference) notice to get to Oregon!” I immediately phoned Cotty and we started thinking fast.” – Al Mennie

Al called Eric Akiskalian at Towsurfer.com for his thoughts on the forcasted swell. Eric has been working with Al and Cotty from the start of their towsurfing careers on board designs and equipment needs! As it turned out, Eric had already booked a flight to Lincoln City to surf the same swell at South Reef and the slab so the guys were pretty sure John Forse and Adam Wagner were going to call the event on.

“I didn’t want to hassle John and Adam as I’m sure every surfer in the event was calling them asking if they were going to run it so Eric’s thoughts and input along with his years of experience in the Oregon region kind of gave me an idea of what was going to happen!”- Andrew Cotton

The contest was called for Thursday the 22nd and this was great news for Al and Cotty as there was also a huge

swell forecast for Aileens on the Tuesday. They organized the next few days like a military operation. Flights, sleep and car journey times were calculated to the hour so that they could surf both the Aileens swell and make it to Oregon in time to compete. They didn’t want to jeopardize the contest or the swell at home and knowing how rare big surf is, they did both.

Aileens turned out to produce a solid angry swell. It was almost on the brink of being too treacherous on the inside to perform pick ups if someone fell. Al and Cotty were joined by 6 other skis and surfers that day including locals, Aussies and Englishmen. The small group charged some of the biggest Aileens ever with reported wave face heights between 40′ and 50′.

Right after surfing this massive swell they boarded a flight to Oregon while going on their second night of no sleep to arrive at the event at 1:00 a.m. on Thursday morning. That same morning they met John at first light for a contest briefing and also to witness big wave riders Eric Akiskalian and Kieth Galbraith out on South Reef, charging giant bombs with 35′ – 40′ face heights at day break. The contest was amazing and Al and Cotty said they had one of the most fun surfs of their lives out there.

“It was so surfable this day and it was so good to be able to actually do big carves and turns on waves, I’m stoked John invited us again!” Al Mennie

After the event, they looked at the charts and to their amazement Aileens was going to break as soon as they got back. They jumped on a plane out of the States and immediately got their kit ready and drove to Aileens. The swell wasn’t as big as the first swell of the week but still some waves were coming through so Al, Cotty and Paul rotated each other into the mix and then went to another nearby island for a few more waves. Full exhaustion and sleep deprivation has kicked in but there is yet another swell due for mid next week!

Special thanks to:
www.towsurfer.com
www.almennie.com
http://liquid-storm.blogspot.com

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