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New wave discovered – Ireland’s Biggest Wave?

Aileen’s, the perfect wave at the base of the Cliffs of Moher that exploded on to the world’s surfing radar screen in recent years, now has a new rival as Ireland’s most spectacular surf spot and wave. The latest wave, has been dubbed ‘Prowlers’ by the hardy crew of Irish, British and South African surfers who first ventured out on it. It breaks on an undersea reef about 2km (1.2 miles) off the west coast.

While they are refusing to disclose its exact location, the surfers, including Andrew Cotton, reveal they have been waiting five years for the type of conditions required to surf it. These materialised when the massive swell generated by Hurricane Tomas slammed into Ireland on Monday (8 November 2010), creating intensely heavy, tubing waves with 12-15m (40-50ft) faces.

‘The waves were detonating when they hit, exploding when they hit the water’

One of the surfers, Andrew Cotton, from Devon in England said a huge swell with light winds made conditions perfect for surfing . Irish, British and South Africans travelled about 2km out to sea on boats and jet-skis to experience the thrill of surfing the ideal waves. Cotton is recovering from knee surgery and not supposed to surf, but flew to Ireland when he heard about the waves that would be emerging.

The group of six surfers are staying tight-lipped on the exact location of the wave, as they have been waiting years for these perfect conditions. Ireland’s most famous giant wave, Aileens (from the Irish Aill na Searrach,”Cliff of the Foals”), has become widely known among the international surfing community, helped by the Inis Films’ award-winning documentary, Waveriders.

Al Mennie, one of the team and a pioneer of big-wave surfing, said they’ll be keeping the exact location a closely guarded secret. “The only way I can describe it is that the waves were detonating when they hit, exploding when they hit the water,” he said. “You could surf the wave and get in to the wave and feel the violence of the wave.”

The team rank Prowlers as one of the biggest waves in the world, on a par with the Mavericks, only made up of much more water, or heavier, according to Mennie. “It’s a brand new spot, never been surfed before. The whole Irish coast is being battered and everywhere has massive waves.”

The six-man team also included Bundoran surfer Richie Fitzgerald, 36, South Africans Barry Mottershead, 26, and Jeremy Johnson, 30, Australian Paul O’Kane, 50, and Andrew Cotton, aged 31, from Devon. All the surfers took it in turn to be towed into the wave over two hours surfing. “Everyone had caught a wave, and everyone returned safe. I said if we kept pushing this then someone is going to fall,” Mennie added.

‘You could surf the wave and get in to the wave and feel the violence of the wave’

Northcore Europe Ambassador Richie Fitzgerald was one of team of surfers who ventured out to the recently discovered new wave yesterday. He says the wave has the potential for being one of the country’s, if not Europe’s, biggest waves. Richie and the boys have been waiting 5 years for the type of conditions required to surf it.

Yesterday waves were in the 40-50ft range and the conditions were perfect due to the massive swell generated by Hurricane Tomas. One photo of the session made the cover of the Irish Times this morning and more will be used in various surf magazines to come. Watch this space for more information on Prowlers!