English version

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. Se the pics and feel the pressure. All photos: Conn Osborne / www.surfingphotography.co.uk

English version

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!

English version
Updated August 16th 2010:

Jamie Sterling wins Billabong Pico Alto Invitational, Burle was the 3th

The Billabong Pico Alto Invitational 2010 presented by Sony, went off in fantastic, huge surf.

The atmosphere surrounding the competitors was filled with energy and adrenaline. The grandstand full of spectators was shocked by the size of the waves. The generous force of nature gave us waves of more than 35 feet high, peaking during the semi final heats where the wave of the contest, a perfect 10 by Grant Baker from South Africa, was scored.

The local surfers demonstrated a high level of performance as well.

Gonzalo Velasco, Billabong team rider and Sebastian De Romaña arrived to the semi finals competing along side twelve of best international big wave riders, including current world champion Carlos Burle from Brazil and defending Billabong Pico Alto 2009, winner Greg Long from the USA.

Various surfers experienced extreme moments, the Peruvian Rafael Velarde lived through the intensity of Pico Alto in his first heat, when a wave of 24 feet high broke the board that he ridden to two previous Billabong Pico Alto finals (2006 and 2009).

The eventual winner, Hawaiian Jamie Sterling and South African Chris Bertish, both endured two wave hold-downs, Bertish coughing up blood and unable to finish the heat.

Water Patrol provided by Ocean Riders, the local Peruvian team and Tim West from the Big Wave World Tour, insured not only the surfers security in these huge waves but also provided them transport from the beach to the line up with the use of PWC´s.

The grand final was highly contested between Anthony Tashnick (USA), Carlos Burle (BRA) and Jamie Sterling (HI) with Jamie taking the title. “I’m very emotional since this is the first time I have won a Big Wave World Tour event” expressed the smiling Hawaiian.

OUTSTANDING PERFORMERS: Twiggy nailed a perfect ten in the semifinals but couldn’t find a backup score; Burle and Tashnick charged all event, but couldn’t overtake Sterling, who tackled the giant walls on his backhand.

QUOTE: “I’m very emotional since this is the first time I’ve won a Big Wave World Tour event.” –a smiling Jamie Sterling

2010 /2011BWWT current ranking (after Peru)
1. Jamie Sterling
2. Cristian Merello
3. Anthony Tashnick
4. Greg Long
5. Gabriel Villaran
6. Carlos Burle
7. Peter Mel
8. Marcos Monteiro
9. Mark Healey
10. Grant Baker

The collaborated effort of our fellow sponsors: Sony, Burn, Powerade, Cosas Hombre, Lan, Von Zipper and Nixon made the realization of the event possible for everyone.

www.billabong.com

Updated August 16th 2010:

Billabong Pico Alto Invitational Green Light confirmed by official forecast

Official Forecast for the Billabong Pico Alto Invitacional on the 2010/2011 Big Wave World Tour.
FORECAST UPDATE SUNDAY, AUGUST 15TH – by Surfline.com

Storm and swell is confirmed. See below Jason satellite pass last night with 33 foot seas – also not even in the peak of the storm which is probably closer to 40 feet. Also looks very good on the satellite loops. At this point, looks like a very, very good swell confirmed for the Pico Alto event for Thursday, August 19th. Winds on Thursday still expected to be light and variable from the south, not ideal, but not strong enough to really hurt the conditions either. Hopefully winds will improve and will be lighter.

See the complete forecast at: www.surfline.com

Updated July 21th 2010:

Billabong Pico Alto Invitational waiting period kicks-off

Billabong announces the eighth edition of the most anticipated big wave event of the region, the ‘Billabong Pico Alto Invitational 2010′. This year, the waiting period for this classic event will run from July 15th to August 31st, like we have noticed before (post below).

Since last year the Billabong Pico Alto event forms part of the Big Wave World Tour (BWWT), being the second one of this important circuit. BWWT seeks to creates conscience in people about the big wave surfing sport and gives the surfers the opportunity to live searching for these waves.

This year we will have the best 12 big wave surfers of the world, which will face to the immense wave of Pico Alto and 12 experienced local big wave surfers. Prominent figures like Carlos Burle (Bra) – World Champion 2009 of the BWWT-, Greg Long (USA) – winner of the Billabong Pico Alto 2009-, Grant “Twiggy” Baker (Saf) – winner of the Billabong XXL 2010-, Mark Healy (Haw) – hawaiian hellman-, between others, will come to Peru to offer a great show.

These athletes will compete for a total prize of US$ 10,000 dollars in cash.

Former champions of this Pico Alto event are;
Magoo De La Rosa Toro (PER) 2004
Jose “Jarita” Gómez (PER) 2003 and 2006,
Greg Long (U.S.A) 2009.

Due to the importance of the Billabong Pico Alto event the competition will be transmitted live the Billabong website: www.billabong.com/sa/picoalto10

Updated July 7th 2010:

Carlos Burle invited to Billabong Pico Alto International Invitacional 2010

The Brazilian big rider and big wave world champ, Carlos Burle is one of the guests for the Billabong Pico Alto International Invitacional 2010.

The event is a big wave paddle surfing contest that will run at Peru as part of the official calendar of the Big Wave World Tour 2010-2011 -BWWT. Last year, Burle took second place in the competition.

The waiting period for the event begins on June 15 and runs through July 30. Organizers hope for better conditions for the event. In other words, expect the biggest waves for that the big riders can get in the water in the second event of the world title 2010-2011.