Jarrad Howse, A Bleak But Beautiful Vista, Scotland

The northern Scottish coastline boasts, among other things, a well-formed slate which, according to Australian Jarrad Howse, “slopes its mossy and urchinless way back into the North Atlantic and creates hollow drainers on most corners and bays.” Set-ups like the one you see here are quite common and most are yet to be overrun with crowds. Though that may have something to do with the water temp. “It’s polar over here,” says Jarrad. “Four-degree mornings, nothing quite dries and I get changed in a muddy field, wrestling icy boots and gloves. It makes the while experience more rewarding at the end, when you’re replaying it over a java. I’ve been wearing a 4/3mm suit, 3mm gloves, boots and hood and I last about an hour out there in the morning before I lose fingers and feet. It’s really wild – it’s six degrees in the water.” The reason Jarrad’s been in Scotland was to compete in the O’Neill Cold Water Classic, which finished yesterday. Brent Dorrington, who featured in yesterday’s Full Frame, won the contest and Kiwi Jay Quinn came second. The result will also see Brent take the ratings lead in the overall CWC series ranking for 2011. Will the temptation of waves like the one you see here be enough to keep competitors hanging around in the icy conditions, now that the contest’s done? This particular right didn’t require a jetski and began with a relatively easy take-off. In fact, there’s not many skis around at all – Jarrad’s seen a few being driven around behind trucks, but none in the soup yet. Though if he had his own there, he’d have launched it a few times by now. The right was holding six-foot sets this day and Jarrad’s crew were the only ones out there for two hours. “It was wild,” said Jarrad.”Ninety-six surfers roaming the area and no one bothered us?”