CLARE big wave surfer Ollie O’Flaherty is preparing to surf the world’s biggest wave, the infamous Nazare break in Portugal.
Nazare has in recent years gained notoriety as not just the world’s largest wave, but also the most daunting and most dangerous feat in big wave surfing. Ollie is hoping that by the end of October he will have tamed the wave which regularly peaks at 60 foot with claims that it has breached 100 ft.
The journey is being made possible in part thanks to the support of Ollie’s sponsors Hotel Doolin, which is just a stone’s throw from one of Ollie’s favourite surfing spots at Crab Island.
Ollie is a born and bred Banner man, he’s been surfing the breaks in Lahinch since he was four year’s old and is no stranger to Doolin with the wave at Crab Island being one of his favourite waves to surf.
His other passions are working with the local kids in Ollie’s Surf Academy, in recent years coaching six kids to national titles. He also has a keen interest in working with on environmental projects, particularly on local issues such as sewage and waste, he has a science degree and a post grad in Corporate Environmental Planning and also runs a community group called Keep Lahinch Clean which does monthly clean-ups and promotes and encourages local businesses to be responsible for the impact of their packaging on the local environment.
A systems approach has been adopted by the Lahinch surfer for his upcoming challenge. “I am focusing hard the last two months on intense cardio, breathe holding, meditating and yoga to give myself the best chance of being fully prepared for the big wave season. It’s a whole system approach, if the mind isn’t prepared, it doesn’t matter how fit you are.
“It also allows me to make the right decisions in the most intense moments and step away if I need to. Being prepared for Irish big waves isn’t like other countries because there are so many variables and the cold really makes it a challenge not for the faint hearted. I’m hoping to head to Nazare at end of October which is looming large. I’m going into it with an open mind and I’m just going to try and get a feel for where the biggest waves in the world break. Who knows what will happen but I do know I’ll be prepared”.
General Manager at Hotel Doolin, Dónal Minihane explained why they’ve backed the local surfer. “Our focus in our collaborations is to support local personalities who share the same values as we do and who are trying to make a difference in their community through their chosen passion. Ollie has surfed at the top level in Ireland for many years, representing Ireland as part of the Irish Surf Team and achieving multiple nominations for international Big Wave Awards. We’re delighted to be supporting Ollie so that he can keep realising his dreams of surfing the biggest waves in the world at home and abroad”.
