Surfline

Ireland's Biggest Swell of the Season

On Sunday, December 12th, 2021, the North Atlantic went into overdrive — sending an XXL swell to Ireland and an ominous shot across the bow of impending winter lunacy. Now, reflecting on the nonstop XL-to-XXXL Winter of 2021-22, the Mullaghmore event stands its ground as one of the most glorious sessions in a season branded with glory sessions.

🎥: Clem McInerney (@clemmcinerney)

Freakish Friday at Nazare

We went reasonably mad on Friday, covering the largest swell of the very active season at Nazare as it unfolded. Ace drone filmer Tucker Wooding pulled together this amazing edit from his all-day affair at Portugal’s biggest, scariest a-frame. While watching, one thing becomes pretty clear pretty quick — the safest place to be at XXXL Nazare is probably in the air. Even the cliff looks sketchy.

Video: Tucker Wooding

Check out the full coverage from the day of, here:

XXXL Nazare: Exclusive Highlight Reel

On Saturday, January 8th, 2022, the strongest storm the North Atlantic has seen, or will see, all winter unloaded a fierce, XXL-approaching XXXL swell upon Praia do Norte, prompting Portuguese officials to green-light the Gigantes de Nazare event just three weeks after the WSL Nazare Tow-In Surfing Challenge wrapped. As far as we can tell, no records were broken this day. But the consensus is that Saturday, January 8th, 2022 was, nonetheless, “one for the books.” Here are some highlights, filmed by intrepid Portuguese lensman Helio Antonio.

Full story, gallery, and coverage here:

Wave of the Day: Benji Brand at Backdoor, Dec 17th, 2021

Vid: Jason Crane

Yeah, we already covered last weekend at Pipeline. It was pumping, day-of-the-year-so-far type stuff. And while we thought we saw everything come through (which was a lot!) this wave, ridden expertly Friday evening by local charger Benji Brand, slid in last night, and our collective minds were blown. It wasn't as perfect as some of the Pipe waves that were ridden, but it was probably the most committed, deepest and well-executed tube of the swell. Hence Wave of the Day status. Worth noting: Brand is probably one of the most tubed humans on the planet, from home on the North Shore to the wilds of Skelton Bay and beyond, meaning that it's a mind-blowing ride, yes, but if anyone was gonna make that last section, it'd be a guy like Brand.

"It was the first time I paddled out at Pipe this winter," said Brand. "I was super shaky and nervous out there -- really wasn't comfortable after not being out there for so long. I had to jump on a left before, so that didn't help settle the nerves. [Laughs.] This wave came in as a big teepee and broke far out at Backdoor and had a really sick looking line on it. I was in the perfect spot to chip shot in and catch it and I knew I was going to have to link it through Off-the-Wall cause that's where the energy was going. I took a pretty big high line -- that I actually regret, because I wish I was deeper after the fact. Anyways, I went through Off-the-Wall and then it hit this really shallow sandbar inside Off-the-Wall that just kept peeling! Was super stoked to just make it out the other end and settle the nerves. I actually claimed it -- I think out of pure relief! [Laughs.] Couldn't hold the emotion in. But yeah, definitely stoked to finally link one from Backdoor through OTW!"

Conor Maguire Drives Through Bus-Sized Irish Slab

An epic session went down in Ireland while the world waited for the Nazare Tow event with bated breath. Conor Maguire caught one of the biggest waves of the season last year and picked up where he left off with this emerald cavern.

Out Front: Maui

“How lucky are we?” legendary Maui shaper, Matt Kinoshita, rhetorically asked Surfline in 2011. “We have three waves that are known worldwide: Maalaea, Honolua Bay and Jaws, so our kids can make a name for themselves any way they want and pick their avenue to perform: Peahi for big waves; Lahaina Harbor and the Breakwall for tricks; open-faced waves on the Puamana side; rubbish in Hana… Everyone has their own different ocean program, so they’ve all made names for themselves doing unique things. That’s what Maui has to offer: beachbreaks and Jaws and everything in between. There are certain spots where old-timers rule, certain spots that are crowded no matter what, but if you’re willing to drive around for a half-hour you’ll find somewhere that’s empty.”

Directed by Dan Norkuans (@takeshelterprod)

Freshies - Episode 1

Picking up a new board has got to be one of surfing's best moments. That's the subject of our new series, Freshies. Ep one live now with Dylan Longbottom and Laura Enever.

Worth A Sickie

It was November 1. It was four feet with a light nor-easter blowing. It was the first day anyone had been allowed to simply drive out of Sydney and up or down the coast in over four MONTHS. And also, it was a Monday. Having the day off and going surfing was practically a patriotic duty. Here’s a little clip with a few buddies who did exactly that.

Out Front: J-Bay

Jeffreys Bay is the best righthand pointbreak in the world. It is. Anyone who says otherwise either doesn’t like cold water or flat-out can’t handle the speed, size and power of this fire-breathing dragon of a wave.

Few other surf spots on Earth have transcended mere relevance to maintain their distinct supremacy for 70-plus years. And in that time, no other righthand point has revealed as many competitive milestones: from Filipe Toledo redefining what a perfect 10 looks like to Mick Fanning showing what a thwarted shark attack looks like… And that’s without even mentioning what the local luminaries have been doing out there on the regular since the 1960s. J-Bay is the best right point in the world. It just is. And although things change, J-Bay does not.

Produced, sourced, directed and edited by Will Bendix and Alan Van Gysen.
Filmed and edited by Nick Christy.

Click the link for the full schedule of Out Front Season 2:

Not Even Crowded

Watch the day no one else paddled out with Laura Enever, Kipp Caddy and friends.