Another day in Clare!

                                     Hugh Galloway on a Beauty!

               I spotted the forecast for this day very early. When I first saw it it looked perfect, bar the neap high tide. This meant it was going to be shallow.. if the forecast stayed the same. Thankfully it did! Cian had gone on holidays so I was going solo for this one. I left at 9am on the Thursday and arrived at 11:45am. It was perfect timing. I quickly gathered my things and myself and Tadhg Kennedy (Lahinch local and a very good friend of mine) ran down in what usually take 30 minutes, in 17 minutes! Tadhg was injured so unfortunately he couldn't get in the water. I got changed quickly as I wasn't sure as to how long the perfect conditions would last for. 

Photos: Tadhg Kennedy!

     I hopped in the water as soon as I was changed. I paddled out the back and I couldn't wait to catch one. There was a good crew out there, consisting of, Hugh Galloway, Peter Conroy, Clem McInerny, Stef skajarowski, Seamus O Riain, Fergal Smith and George Karbus. I have to admit, it felt amazing for me to be out in the water with some of the guys that inspired me to go surf these heavier waves in the first place! I had a few warm up waves and then a big one came in and the lads shouted at me to go. I was way too deep but went anyway. I fell and for a milli second I was very scared but I came up out of the wipeout unscathed and with a lot more confidence! From there on I started pulling into a few barrels and boosting off the end section! I was having so much that I hadn't even noticed how low the tide had got. It was time to get out, but not before Rileys threw the biggest wave of the day towards Myself and Fergal (everyone else had gone in) Fergal would be well used to big waves as he is one of the best surfers in Ireland. Me on the other hand I started to paddle to get out of there and I almost got caught and thrown towards the seabed quite close below, fortunately I got over it and I was okay! 

               It was a very memorable session for me. I gained so much confidence out there and I can't wait to surf there again! Maybe with a bit more size next time! I really am loving surfing these heavier waves and I am learning so much as I ride them! Here are two screengrabs from Thursday!                       

 Photos: Clem McInerny

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