“Tough windy conditions today with a big swell at Mullaghmore, Ireland, but the boys made the best of it.” – Kurt Rist from Southampton, New York
March 7, 2015 saw a macking Mullaghmore that would make most reconsider paddling out. But the men and women who make their way to Ireland in search of surf know what they’re getting into. And the crew in the lineup this time around — Kurt Rist, Lyndon Wake, Neil Britton, Nic Von Rupp, Dylan Stotte, Tom Lowe, Will Skudin and Cliff Skudin — were no strangers to the mix and more than ready to suit up.
What looked like 35 to 40 foot bombs from the Sligo coastline turned even uglier from the water. There was so mich spray and water being hucked into the air by Mullaghmore, that it was near impossible to get a shot off from the water. So I decided to stay dry and pull back for shots highlights the coastline as well.
Nic Von Rupp ascended to legend overnight by taking the wave of the day — and arguably the heaviest wipeout.
“There a lot of energy at Mullaghmore. If you fall in the wrong spot, you have no body control,” Nic explained. “The water is pushing you all over the place. The safety team has been really solid over here, very organized and helping out when there is a bad wipeout.”
One of the youngest chargers in the lineup, he impressed the locals and will surely be welcomed back to tame the beast.
After surviving a wicked swell such as this one early March, it’s off to Brennan’s Pub in Bandoran afterwards for your choice of fine Irish Whiskey and some folklore. When the 80-year-old ladies in the local pub are talking about a Portuguese lad named Nic Von Rupp, that’s when you know you’ve made it big time.
See more from the North Atlantic by checking our Rist and the NYSEA SURF crew’s Instagram.
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