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Twenty Eighteen has been off to a pretty incredible start for Europe’s Atlantic facing coastlines.
First came Storm Eleanor, bringing with her a few days of howling winds and giant waves. Then, she was followed closely by a perfectly groomed ground swell, which saw all-time surf grace the south coast of Britain and beyond.
It was a beautiful week for the formerly hard up surfers of the south west. The options were plentiful. There were the go-to spots, where crowds perched atop our coastlines natural amphitheatres, exchanging quick greetings, wet hand shakes and hooting for every head dip. Or, for those who cared to look, rare, fun and fickle peelers tucked away in coastal crannies, with no one in sight.
Whichever you chose, this week saw the days when the grass isn’t greener and the grumbles melt away.
Here are some of the highlights.
(click to enlarge)
Sunshine and beautiful waves greeted an elated crowd on Saturday morning. Photo @lugarts
Porthcawl harbour taking a pasting in the eye of Storm Eleanor. Photo @adschooly
Ben Skinner slots in during his second surf of the day. Photo@lugarts
Mike Lay dancing between swell and squall during Storm Eleanor. Photo @gregwdennis
Ritchie Mullins lining up for a perfect tapering drainer. Photo@lugarts
Angus Scotney found shelter and punt sections as the west winds howled. Photo@lugarts
Irish corners. Photo @garymccall
Adam ‘Bearman’ Griffiths cruises through a glassy nug. Photo @lugarts
Marcelo Luna drops in to a huge new years day Nazare bomb. Photo Photo @maquinavoadora
An empty one at dawn in Wales. Photo @timboss81
Aritz Aranburu stands tall during an incredible Mundaka 2018 season opener. Photo @ata_alikate
Stormy skies and sunlit corners. Photo @lugarts
Jayce Robinson pulls in to a wind whipped drainer. Photo @lugarts
Mullaghmore was big and scary during the height of Eleanor but seasoned Irish waterman Ian Mitchinson ventured out none the less. Photo @ianmitchinson
The Jurrasic coast was as good as it gets on Saturday with picture perfect waves breaking under Cretaceous cliffs as far as the eye could see. Photo @sincadam
Bearman again, snagging one of the waves of the day and sending the assembled pack scrambling for the shoulder. Photo @lugarts
Rhys Barfield and a long hollow drainer at Wrestles. Photo Cam Wickins
Angus Scotney finds a sun drenched barrel alone amongst the wedges. Photo @lugarts
Ishmael Hamon stands tall in a perfectly groomed emerald keg as it drains across the reef at low tide. Photo @lugarts
Wild wedges in Wales. Photo @jackabbottfilm
James Parry slots in to one of the waves of the day on this particular patch of reef on his 70’s creamed honey single fin. Photo @jasondreyerimages
More Jurrasic coast reelers. Photo @sincadam
Max Payne charging in North Cornwall. Photo Jonathon Payne
Offshore groomed canvases. Photo @alexchittock4
Sam Lamiroy snags one last barrel as the sun disappears below the horizon on Saturday evening. Photo @lugarts
Cover photo @lugarts