Doolin/Lahinch First Timer Tips

Theresalwaysone

Hey all,

First time poster here.

Im going to Doolin/Lahinch this weekend with some mates for some surfing. Ive only been a few times and not in a year or so so lookong for some tips on the area, in general and anything you think may help.

Dr Nic

Too late to chime in?

Check magicseaweed forecast most important. Onshore swell 5feet, period over 10seconds, offshore wind
Get a lesson off Ben - benssurfclinic.ie

If you're not big into it, please be careful. Lahinch beach is perfect but there are rips there that can put you in trouble. Its generally very safe though.
Other beaches like doolin - i dont know - just be careful!

martybike

Stick to Lahinch. Plenty of good waves there for everyone. Dr. Nic is right - be careful.

nickbok

Make sure you know when high tide is in lahinch for exit. Can get tricky on a big swell with rips and seaweed and stuff. Don't wanna end up on those rocks. Grand out beach tho. Love it. Remember ur marker, so you'll know about rips. Never surfed doolin

rodento

I've always based myself in doolin, its a way nicer place to stay

Geomy

To surf Doolin you need to be very good at local watercraft and be able to bail out on time..

A friend of mine had his bodyboard snapped in half there on Sunday.

Nearly got himself snapped in half too :-(

spaceHopper

I've only ever surfed Doolin Beach, which is a reef and can be very good.

I got one wave on the point once but I wouldn't call it surfing. I ended up looking at dry reef and had to bail then got bounced off the reef a couple of time before letting the current take me down the coast a bit so I could get out with my tail between my legs and my ass handed to me.

rodento

spaceHopper wrote: »

I got one wave on the point once but I wouldn't call it surfing. I ended up looking at dry reef and had to bail then got bounced off the reef a couple of time before letting the current take me down the coast a bit so I could get out with my tail between my legs and my ass handed to me.

Thought that was a regular occurrence for you

spaceHopper

rodento wrote: »

Thought that was a regular occurrence for you

No only hit a reef on one ocasion, not counting getting washed ashore once or twice.

It will be a long time before I'm in your league, getting rescued, air lifted, flow home picked up by boart and banished form an entire section of coat line.

Not to mention text messages home and being dropped off in Germany?

rodento

What can I say, the last decade was a complete blast

spaceHopper

rodento wrote: »

What can I say, the last decade was a complete blast

There were some good ones alright, plenty of laughs, close calls and good waves. Think I need a week off to go surfing!

Freedive Ireland

Howyah lads, never surfed Doolin beach and reckoned Crab was beyond me as was always diving in Doolin anyway and so never really brought the log with me so maybe next time will try the beach end.

spaceHopper

Freedive Ireland wrote: »

Howyah lads, never surfed Doolin beach and reckoned Crab was beyond me as was always diving in Doolin anyway and so never really brought the log with me so maybe next time will try the beach end.

It's good but remembers near and far away it's going to be bigger than it looks.

I must take the snorkeling gear out around the coast there it must be very good.

Freedive Ireland

spaceHopper wrote: »

It's good but remembers near and far away it's going to be bigger than it looks.

Whats the problem there now Ted? Sure I'm epicly good at sitting on the shoulder. yeah head to the right of the harbour I usually go in from the carpark beside the campsite and stay the night there anyway, toilets at hand etc and kept clean too. Anyway head right and swim over the shallows and bootlace weed etc then slopes down to 12-14m loads of life stay closer to shore for shallower and watch out for the ferries.