Tom Lowe & Fergal Smith | tow team surfing in Mullaghmore, Ireland

The big wave surfer has a near miss with a jet ski in Ireland

We catch up with the adventures of the legendary Relentless Energy Drink sponsored surfer as he heads back over to this favourite stomping ground: the blustery waters of Ireland. His is a cautionary tale for anyone who wants to tackle some of the big swells that the area serves up, and one of surfing etiquette.

Mullaghmore, County Sligo, Ireland

The surf that day was the most challenging paddle surf I’ve ever experienced. I think there was only me and Fergal in the line up, nobody else thought about paddling, then there were three tow teams. These went based on the set waves, which was cool for us. I didn't get the wave of my life or even one of the heaviest, but just the fact that we were trying to paddle made it special. Nobody has ever paddled Mullaghmore at that size or shape before.

"I had to jump over the ski and take a heavy wipeout with all that carnage"

Too close for comfort

The tow teams out that day were on a different mission than Ferg and me, that’s for sure. Avoiding being run down by skis in between 15ft bombs was hectic, and then the inevitable happened…

I paddled into a solid 12-footer on the first wave of the day and came round the section to have an upside down jet ski with four guys in my way. I had to jump over the ski and take a heavy wipeout with all that carnage. Somehow I made it out unscathed.

They weren’t paying attention to the oncoming wave when they got hit by the wave before mine. Accidents happen, I guess, and after losing their brand new jet ski I’m sure they will learn from this.

After the surf, it was crazy to see how the media blew the session way out of proportion. The guys towing didn’t do anything new. These sessions have been going down like this for years. It wasn't that big or I wouldn't have been paddling. I hope people out there realise this. I wish I was a big-wave surfer of the old days. No talk, no bull.

Light at the end of the tunnel

After that near-death experience it was hard to find my rhythm again. I wiped out shortly after on a solid wave that really nailed me. That was my peak energy gone and I had nothing left in the tank. My body and mind were tweaked, but just at the end I managed to get a smaller wave, which had a heavy bowl section. This ended up being my best and only wave really. All worth it in the end!

Big thanks to JP Surfboards for shaping the 8'2 I rode that day. Click here and here to see some footage of me on the day in question.

Second home

"The waves were pumping here when I arrived"

I’m now emailing you from the Canaries, which is my second home to Ireland, as you know. I arrived here the day after that Mullaghmore swell and it’s great how you can follow swells. The waves were pumping here when I arrived. The pictures below are from Fuerteventura, taken by my girlfriend Janni.There’s a skate park up the road from our flat. The picture of me doing a cut back is a wave right out the front of our flat, a fun little left to get the turns going. The shot of the empty wave is a secret spot known as ‘Barley surfed’; my local friend has a boat so the pictures are from the channel, taken by him with my camera.

Who says the Canaries are busy? We surfed for days alone. It just takes a little effort along with sacrifice and you'll score.