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Prowlers - New wave discovered by surfers

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  • 09-11-2010 10:22am
    #1
    Poster King
    Registered Users Posts: 260 ✭✭


    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.


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Comments

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    #2
    mvpr
    Closed Accounts Posts: 295 ✭✭mvpr


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


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    #3
    cornbb
    Registered Users Posts: 6,790 ✭✭✭cornbb


    Looks impressive. The name sucks :p


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    #4
    NickDrake
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,916 ✭✭✭NickDrake


    mvpr wrote: »
    Intimidating... Any idea where it is, generally?

    Only a Dub would ask that.


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    #5
    andykells
    Closed Accounts Posts: 34 ✭andykells


    mvpr wrote: »
    Intimidating... Any idea where it is, generally?

    Yeah it 2km off the west coast


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    #6
    mvpr
    Closed Accounts Posts: 295 ✭✭mvpr


    andykells wrote: »
    Yeah it 2km off the west coast

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


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    #7
    NickDrake
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,916 ✭✭✭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.


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    #8
    mvpr
    Closed Accounts Posts: 295 ✭✭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.


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    #9
    Mickeroo
    Administrators, Computer Games Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 32,240 Admin ✭✭✭✭✭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!


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    #10
    partybarnacles
    Registered Users Posts: 9 ✭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


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    #11
    spoonface
    Registered Users Posts: 339 ✭✭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?


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    #12
    foldup
    Closed Accounts Posts: 8 ✭foldup


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


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    #13
    Sponge Bob
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 25,234 ✭✭✭✭Sponge Bob


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


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    #14
    lukejr
    Registered Users Posts: 265 ✭✭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.


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    #15
    Mickeroo
    Administrators, Computer Games Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 32,240 Admin ✭✭✭✭✭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.


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    #16
    lukejr
    Registered Users Posts: 265 ✭✭lukejr


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


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    #17
    matc66
    Registered Users Posts: 144 ✭✭matc66


    Sounds like it was off Mullaghmore.


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    #18
    Ispin
    Registered Users Posts: 44 ✭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.


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    #19
    Sham Squire
    Registered Users Posts: 501 ✭✭✭Sham Squire


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


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    #20
    lamai
    Registered Users Posts: 312 ✭✭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?


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    #21
    cue
    Registered Users Posts: 564 ✭✭✭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.


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    #22
    pegasus1
    Registered Users Posts: 1,490 ✭✭✭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!


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    #23
    Jomob
    Closed Accounts Posts: 30 ✭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/


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    #24
    AnonymousPrime
    Registered Users Posts: 196 ✭✭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?


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    #25
    uberwolf
    Registered Users Posts: 7,580 ✭✭✭uberwolf


    the forum charter reads:
    No trolling
    That means don't set out to get a rise out of other users.


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    #26
    spoonface
    Registered Users Posts: 339 ✭✭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.


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    #27
    stevire
    Registered Users Posts: 1,512 ✭✭✭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...


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    #28
    keryl
    Registered Users Posts: 287 ✭✭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.


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    #29
    NickDrake
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,916 ✭✭✭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 .


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    #30
    locomo
    Closed Accounts Posts: 103 ✭✭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.


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    #31
    Poster King
    Registered Users Posts: 260 ✭✭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.


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