Prowlers - New wave discovered by surfers

Poster King

http://www.irishtimes.com/

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2010/1109/1224282943520.html

Aileen’s, the perfect wave break at the base of the Cliffs of Moher that exploded on to the world’s surfing radar in recent years, now has a new rival as Ireland’s most spectacular surf spot.

The latest wave, dubbed “Prowlers” by the hardy crew of Irish, British and South African surfers who first ventured out on it yesterday, 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 yesterday, creating intensely heavy, tubing waves with 12-15m (40-50ft) faces.

mvpr

Intimidating... Any idea where it is, generally?

cornbb

Looks impressive. The name sucks

NickDrake

mvpr wrote: »

Intimidating... Any idea where it is, generally?

Only a Dub would ask that.

andykells

mvpr wrote: »

Intimidating... Any idea where it is, generally?

Yeah it 2km off the west coast

mvpr

andykells wrote: »

Yeah it 2km off the west coast

Its not like Im going to turn around and start surfing it! Just curious.

NickDrake

andykells wrote: »

Yeah it 2km off the west coast

Lets keep it at that shall we. Have respect for the surfers and the wave and the sheer amazement of this skill.

mvpr

NickDrake wrote: »

Lets keep it at that shall we. Have respect for the surfers and the wave and the sheer amazement of this skill.

I wasnt looking for directions mate.

Mickeroo

andykells wrote: »

Yeah it 2km off the west coast

Heard thats a lie to throw people off! Supposedly they've been waiting years for the right conditions for it to work?

Don't think a wave like that would ever get all that crowded anyway tbh.

Hell of a day for surf yesterday, anyone down at a certain break in mayo that was going off yesterday? Savage stuff!

partybarnacles

this has just been stuck up on Vimeo.
i had to see that baby rolling before i could fully come to grips with that photo.
http://vimeo.com/16654366

spoonface

partybarnacles wrote: »

this has just been stuck up on Vimeo.
i had to see that baby rolling before i could fully come to grips with that photo.
http://vimeo.com/16654366

That video is now password protected. Anyone got the password?

foldup

any chance you can give us the password to that vid?

Sponge Bob

I heard the wave is somewhere around Mace Head in Galway.

lukejr

On the radio this evening one of the surfers said it was a mile off the coast of Sligo and Donegal, and that anyone who knows the area would know it.

Considering the reef was only 6ft below the surface during the hurricane swell of over 20ft, it must be a rock that's 14ft out of the water during normal conditions.

Mickeroo

lukejr wrote: »

Considering the reef was only 6ft below the surface during the hurricane swell of over 20ft, it must be a rock that's 14ft out of the water during normal conditions.

don't think swell effects the water level like that....maybe the spring tide had something to do with it though.

lukejr

I suppose there is always a swell of some degree. Local fishermen will know it so location will get out soon.

matc66

Sounds like it was off Mullaghmore.

Ispin

I'm not a surfer, fantastic photo on the times though. I can't understand what the deal with the secrecy of the location is though, it's not as if they're going to be queuing up for a go. Also I'd love to see a video of it.

Sham Squire

What's the point in posting a link to a video that needs a password unless you're gonna post the password??

lamai

NickDrake wrote: »

Lets keep it at that shall we. Have respect for the surfers and the wave and the sheer amazement of this skill.

I just started surfing. Do you know where it is, I might give it a go at the weekend. Should I wear gloves and boots is the water cold?

cue

lamai wrote: »

I just started surfing. Do you know where it is, I might give it a go at the weekend. Should I wear gloves and boots is the water cold?

Not at all. This wave is fed by a tropical storm so it will be quite balmy out there.

pegasus1

Mickeroo wrote: »

don't think swell effects the water level like that....maybe the spring tide had something to do with it though.

Swell would effect the water level ...have you ever heard of a rouge wave!!

i think its to do with multipel waves in a certain sine wave matching up..

also hurricane tomas was on the other side of the atlantic!

Jomob

Dunno what this secrecy bollox is all about. beginners will hardly be flocking there and those good enought to surf it will know where it is anyway. Its somewhere near mullaghmore

http://www.surfaroundireland.com/

AnonymousPrime

Jomob wrote: »

Dunno what this secrecy bollox is all about. beginners will hardly be flocking there and those good enought to surf it will know where it is anyway. Its somewhere near mullaghmore

http://www.surfaroundireland.com/

I don't think they are keeping it secret to ward off you.
Why do you think it is somewhere near mullaghmore?

uberwolf

the forum charter reads:

No trolling
That means don't set out to get a rise out of other users.

spoonface

lukejr wrote: »

On the radio this evening one of the surfers said it was a mile off the coast of Sligo and Donegal, and that anyone who knows the area would know it.

Considering the reef was only 6ft below the surface during the hurricane swell of over 20ft, it must be a rock that's 14ft out of the water during normal conditions.

I think you're misunderstanding what a swell means - here it doesn't mean the water sits 20ft higher than normal height, just that the highs and lows are 20ft as the peaks and troughs occur, so it doesn't mean that the rock would be 14ft out of the water.

"A swell, in the context of an ocean, sea or lake, is a formation of long-wavelength surface waves. "

I agree it seems to be near Donegal from one of the videos on Youtube's comments.

stevire

AnonymousPrime wrote: »

I don't think they are keeping it secret to ward off you.
Why do you think it is somewhere near mullaghmore?

Cotton claims he saw the wave while in the helicopter getting rescued from the accident at mullaghmore a few years back...

keryl

Mickeroo wrote: »

Hell of a day for surf yesterday, anyone down at a certain break in mayo that was going off yesterday? Savage stuff!

You can't beat it.

NickDrake

Ispin wrote: »

I'm not a surfer, fantastic photo on the times though. I can't understand what the deal with the secrecy of the location is though, it's not as if they're going to be queuing up for a go. Also I'd love to see a video of it.

lamai wrote: »

I just started surfing. Do you know where it is, I might give it a go at the weekend. Should I wear gloves and boots is the water cold?

Since you are not a surfer. And the other just started, I will explain my comment so.

It is about respecting the wave and not publishing where it is on the internet. If you are not going to surf it, then why are you asking where it is.??

People like ye might end up going out on a boat to see it in action someday. Not understanding movements of water etc and end up gettin dragged into it.

Believe me it has happened in the other big wave spots in Ireland and elsewhere. People have gotten injured. I know one who is just out of hospital for driving his jetski over a big Irish wave. Messed it all up. He had heard about the wave on the internet. He was not Irish.

It is about respect so stop asking for the exact location on the internet. Go and find out yourself through word of mouth etc .

locomo

lukejr wrote: »

I suppose there is always a swell of some degree. Local fishermen will know it so location will get out soon.

Its off the coast of Sligo. Its well known among local fishermen, boat people etc. Its a mile and a half out, and does not happen very often, so the chances of beginners going out there is fairly slim. Still, its probably best to keep the exact location off Sligo secret.

Poster King

There will be more waves of this sort found off the Irish Coast. I have seen several very nice looking waves off the west coast of Galway that look worthy of investigation. However I am not a very good surfer, so will probably leave it to others, but I do know that some local surfers have surfed many spots that I've seen.
Lets just hope that we all get to see nice video footage and pics of these sorts of spots, without the need to know their exact location.

revileandy

Here's a youtube link to the RTE footage

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QafaTZOEQjg&

PeakOutput

the rte report was absolutely hilarious

dermo909

That video is unbelievable. Especially when you consider how large the wave is and how good a surfer you have to be to not get killed. huge respect for those guys.
It reminds me of a program I saw on sky ages ago. It was called surfing tsunami's or something like that.

I dont think any beginners would tackle a wave like that anyway, the logistics of actually getting to it would put a beginner off(like me).

NickDrake

PeakOutput wrote: »

the rte report was absolutely hilarious

Showing the a few begineers in Lahinch on the beach as oppossed to a better spot where better surfers are. It was pretty class elsewhere.

Then showing from blown out whitewater off the Cliffs.

Probably down from Dublin for the day to film it and not a clue. Hilarious.

PeakOutput

NickDrake wrote: »

Showing the a few begineers in Lahinch on the beach as oppossed to a better spot where better surfers are. It was pretty class elsewhere.

Then showing from blown out whitewater off the Cliffs.

Probably down from Dublin for the day to film it and not a clue. Hilarious.

i thought the anchors report was worse

'massive waves known as prowlers have been showing up around the country, the tubing waves.....' or some **** like that i almost fell of the chair. she would get it though

lamai

NickDrake wrote: »

Since you are not a surfer. And the other just started, I will explain my comment so.

It is about respecting the wave and not publishing where it is on the internet. If you are not going to surf it, then why are you asking where it is.??

People like ye might end up going out on a boat to see it in action someday. Not understanding movements of water etc and end up gettin dragged into it.

Believe me it has happened in the other big wave spots in Ireland and elsewhere. People have gotten injured. I know one who is just out of hospital for driving his jetski over a big Irish wave. Messed it all up. He had heard about the wave on the internet. He was not Irish.

It is about respect so stop asking for the exact location on the internet. Go and find out yourself through word of mouth etc .

I was being sarcastic:rolleyes:

Mickeroo

The amount of product placement fitzgerald fit into his little segment was impressive

NickDrake

lamai wrote: »

I was being sarcastic:rolleyes:

Oh I know you were but you were referring to my statement as some type of joke so I said I would explain it. :rolleyes:

kodute

Mickeroo wrote: »

The amount of product placement fitzgerald fit into his little segment was impressive

I think he had room for more, maybe a Billabong cap on his head and a casual swig from a can of Red Bull would have sealed it for me! :pac:

Poster King

More pics and a 3 minute video here:

http://www.surfline.com/surf-news/new-irish-big-wave-discovery--local-hellmen-tackle-giant-offshore-reefbreak_49772/

AnonymousPrime

PeakOutput wrote: »

i thought the anchors report was worse

'massive waves known as prowlers have been showing up around the country, the tubing waves.....' or some **** like that i almost fell of the chair. she would get it though

"Perfect surfing conditions with clear seas and a good strong wind".
Shouldn't news reports be at least partially based on fact?

By the way, I don't think I said....fair play to the lads surfing it.
Very impressive. Can't wait to see the promised paddle session to come according to a magic seaweed article.

cornbb

Poster King wrote: »

More pics and a 3 minute video here:

http://www.surfline.com/surf-news/new-irish-big-wave-discovery--local-hellmen-tackle-giant-offshore-reefbreak_49772/

Awesome pics. Well done to the crew that made it out there and back.

Cianh

http://magicseaweed.com/Prowlers-Breaks-Cover-Content/2933/

Jomob

I don't think they are keeping it secret to ward off you.

Oh right, because for a minute there i thought they were doing it just for me. Thanks for clearing that one up, cheers.

Why do you think it is somewhere near mullaghmore?

It is.
Thats the why.

AnonymousPrime

Jomob wrote: »

Oh right, because for a minute there i thought they were doing it just for me. Thanks for clearing that one up, cheers.

So I beg of you, try to imagine who they ARE trying to keep away and stop asking silly questions.

Jomob wrote: »

It is.
Thats the why.

Good answer

rodento

It was surfed before

http://liquid-storm.blogspot.com/

Liam_D

I as told today that it is outside Cliffoney, amazing that we have this so close to home, mother nature at her finest!

PeakOutput

rodento wrote: »

It was surfed before

http://liquid-storm.blogspot.com/

has it been surfed at that size before or anywhere close to it? cause all the stories iv seen have said it was surfed before just not in anything like those conditions

ted1

there were Some monster waves about a mile out from rossnowlagh on friday. I'd reck
on there's plenty more waves like this one out there!

CRenegade

PeakOutput wrote: »

has it been surfed at that size before or anywhere close to it? cause all the stories iv seen have said it was surfed before just not in anything like those conditions

I dont think its been surfed anywhere near the size of last monday. Only been surfed twice before I hear.