Watch: Scoring Giant Waves In Ireland Is No Easy Feat
Nobody ever said being a professional big-wave surfer was going to be easy. Forget the surf itself, sometimes just getting to the beach is a challenge. Case in point, Portugal's Nic Von Rupp and traveling partner Maui's Torrey Meister's mission to massive Mullaghmore Headin in Ireland.
Once the swell forecast came into sharp focus and it was clear just how big the waves were going to be in the Emerald Isles, Von Rupp and Meister pulled the trigger and headed to the airport. Desperately hunting down a flight, they got there at 9:00am and didn't actually sit down on a plane for another 12 hours.
In total, Von Rupp and Meister would spend 48 hours in transit before finally arriving at the Irish big-wave spot. Sleep deprived and highly caffeinated, the two friends paddled out and gave a go.
Von Rupp ultimately came away with three waves, Meister had to settle for a face full of reef and some battle scares to share with the boys back on Maui.
"If you think being a pro surfer is easy, it just shows you how much of a f--king grind this sh-t is. To come all the way here, sleep three hours, travel 48 hours, and then get here and catch three waves, or smash your face, it's a learning curve, you never know," cackled Von Rupp when it was all over.
So, for those wondering what it's like to chase a giant Atlantic swell halfway across Europe on the spur of the moment and come away with a few good waves, or at least a few good stories, spend eight minutes with Von Rupp and Meister for the full behind-the-scenes experience. "It's as grindy as it gets," testifies Von Rupp.
