D A G D A

Our friends in France, Wasted Talent, have been making these beautiful little clips with some of Europe’s lesser-known characters, hitting us each month with portraits of the continent’s more interesting underground guys.

Here’s WT’s Alexei Obolensk’s take on a recent trip, featured in the edit above, with young Irish goofy foot Gearoid McDaid, aka DAGDA, a stocky lad of just 19. 

For those of you who are unfamiliar, Gearoid (Pronounced Gea-akdjhaipudh) is one of Ireland’s, nay Northern Europe’s, hottest prospects right about now. A supremely well-rounded surfer. He’s an amazing value on the beers, so we get along outstandingly well.

Wanting to visit him at home, a phone call was made: “Guys I’d love to have you come stay, and shoot, it’s pumping! But I’m stuck in Portugal and it sucks!” Gearoid told us.

More phone calls are made, to powers that be with credit cards shinier than ours. Messages back and forth. “Is this actually doable” Back to phone calls. Boards and Cameras lie packed, hinting at a trip but un-sure of their destiny. Much like their owners. More emails. Travel agents with superpowers have our tickets. Gearoid has a ticket. Life is fine and life is great. That night’s plans for beers and dinner in France are politely blown off (we’re still very sorry). One high-tail up the motorway. A full long-stay car park. We’ll leave it in short haul, deal with that on the flipside.

We are so stupid. We are so clever. One Flight. One tiny hire car. 3 Guinness’s. Sleep.

And 24 hours later we are there. The waves pumped outside of our hostess with the mostess,

house, and him and Gearoid ruled the roost. The forecast of emerald barrels and Guiness kegs rang true. A glorious three days.