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Name:
John Fitzgerald, 38
Hometown: Dundalk
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Home region: North & WestÌýDonegal/Sligo/Mayo/Causeway
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3 sentences that describe you/what
you do:
Love the sea, camping and traveling, don' t like cities or sitting
in traffic.
Graduated from Belfast, work in Dublin, live outside Dundalk.
Mechanical Engineer in the pharmaceutical industry...but still
holding out for a Lotto win.
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How long you surfing?
About 6 years
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Quiver:
9' 6" 23" 3" McTavish fireball and 7'6" 21" 2 7/8" McTavish Carver.ÌýLove them both but the long board is my real passion.
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Any surfing honours, comp wins
etc?
Wish I was that good!
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Surf wagon/vehicle? How do you get to the water?
Hotel Medi-Terrano.ÌýCommercial jeep with bed in the back. Great for an over nighter and will get you toÌýin-accessible breaks in comfort! Hope to get a camper at some stage.
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Where/Why did you start surfing?
Always loved theÌýocean. Was swimming in nappies. Progressed to diving, kayaking and anything water related.ÌýFirst though of surfingÌýafterÌýseeingÌý"Big Wednesday" when I was a nipper. Took a lesson in Sligo about 6 years ago and haven't looked back. Great sport and great people. Was a bit disappointed to discover the meat head territorial thing was out there but thankfully it's well in the minority and is more than made up for by the vast majority of chilled out welcoming surfers...plenty of waves for everyone!
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Best/Worst thing about surfing:
Sitting on a boardÌýoffÌýByron admiring the beautiful day. Looked downÌýat the crystal clear water and saw a 2 meter grey shape about 10 meters below me turn and swim really fast upÌýat me. When it was about half way up IÌýsawÌýa dorsal fin! Though well that's it then....Luckily it turned out to be a really friendly dolphin which popped up beside my leg and went straight backÌýdown (probably something to do with the water qualityÌýaroundÌýme after the fright!) Started as a potentially really bad experience but ended upÌýgiving me a new appreciation for life...
More recently I lost my new board in heavy surf in Guethary (France) after aÌýbig close out. Was stuck a couple of hundred meters out in the middle. Was swimming back in when aÌýFrench surfer came to my rescue and paddled in with me. Thought my new board would be mashed on theÌýrocks but half way in met another French guy paddling it back out to me.ÌýWould do your heart good to meet a line up like this living the Aloha spirit.Ìý
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Favourite Surfer(s) and why:
Met Belinda Baggs PetersonÌýand her husband DaneÌýin the line-up at Noosa First point last year ..they were nice people and truly gifted to watch. Like the freeÌýsurfer lifestyle choice. Malloy brothers,ÌýBob McTavish ( Thanks for the boardsÌýBob), Wingnut, RobertÌýAugust and too many more to mention.
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Your fave board/quiver me timbers!:
I've got it!ÌýWould love a Balsa board some day but probably just to hang on the wall!Ìý
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Advice for someone just starting:
Enjoy it.ÌýGet a few lessons and try toÌýget tips from more experienced surfers. You'll spend years trying to figure it out yourself.Ìý
Advice for someone wanting to move on from newbie status:
If you got experience mates surfing they'll drag you along. If not I got a intermediate advanced lessonÌýonceÌýfrom Perfect Day in Strandhill. Video analysis and all. Very goodÌýto see what you do right and where you're going wrong.Ìý
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Tip on surviving the Irish winter:
Neoprene!!! Lots and lots of Neoprene...
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Best/invaluable single bit of kit:
Sounds kind of obvious but a good quality wetsuit, booties, gloves and hat. If you're freezing every time you go in you can't function and you'll associate the sport with misery and give up! Neoprene is your very bestest buddy in this game.
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Other kit tips:
New thermal rashies are class. Usually wear a 2mm rashie under a winter suit during the really cold months.ÌýMake sure you have a good heavy leash even lighter new ones can be a bit crap as I found out this year!
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Most surf friendly pubs / gigs
/ eateries:
Byrnes Strand bar and the Dunes Bar and B&B Strandhill Sligo.
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Recommended info -ÌýÌýbooks/movies/websites/clubs?
"Wingnuts art of long boarding 1 & 2"Ìýif you want a few tips. "Step into liquid" and "The endless summer" for entertainment. "Big Wednesday" for retro culture. Books: reading the advance surf manual at present it's pretty good! Loads of choice out there now.
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"Surfing is getting more popular
in Ireland for sure". Discuss:
Absolutely...summer is crazy if you get any swell and winter
mornings are pretty busy too especially at the causeway. Goes
to show it's not just the weather or camping that takes people
to surf spots. If you're out in January...you really love surfing
for surfing alone. Very frustrating and tiring sport but one good
wave makes you forget all of that. One of the few free sports
around (once you've forked out for your gear that is). Once you're
hooked you're hooked.
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Your thoughts now that Ireland is a global surf destination?
AfterÌýseeing crowded aggressive line ups in certain parts of the world I'm a little concerned that that element will slip in here. In general Ireland is a real friendly spot to surf. Because it's mostly baltic it's not too crowded and I've made a lot of friends through the sport. Hope that everyone remembers to enjoy it at all levels and not take themselves too seriously..
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"Surf guidebooks make things too easy, and have been a bad thing for Irish surfing" Discuss:
Don't think so really. When you're starting out it'sÌýa great help in getting to find your way around. Think too many surfers forget that they were learners once and want to keep certain spots secret and to themselves. It can be a bit frustrating if there are learners out who haven'tÌýread up on etiquetteÌýand ruin waves for everyone else. Can't say thatÌýI've found this to be the norm though as most people seem to have a fair bit of savvy or are open to a friendly word of advise
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Any ambition as a surfer?:
To have fun and improve all the time.
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Dream surf trip:
Would love to see Costa Rica and Japan they sound good. Favourites so far have been Byron, Noosa, Guethary.Ìý
What one way has surfing changed your life?
I've rediscovered parts of Ireland I haven't seen in years made goodÌýfriends and seen some lovely parts of the world in the search for waves. It's aÌýfun way to stay in shape too..It's just great
Anything else to declare?
I think you will always be learning atÌýthis game but then that is probably the whole attraction!?
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