Watch: Conor Maguire And Russell Bierke Trade Coordinates To Their Preferred Elevator Shafts

Over the past few years, two things have become obvious in our global surfing community.

One, we enjoy watching people attempt to ride surfboards on ugly waves that may kill them and two, despite the eternal lament of a year-round winter, the Republic of Ireland seems to be the hottest surfing destination on the planet. 

If the above assumptions are true, then we must open our hearts to Conor Maguire. Not only is he all red-cheeked, innocent, and delightfully Irish, but he also happens to be fabulously ambitious in grey waves of oblivion.  

“Why do anything, I suppose,” says a cheerful voice when asked whether continuously risking one’s life to go surfing is worth it. This voice, of course, belongs to Conor, who is the main character in the latest episode of the Red Bull series ‘My Last Two Winters.’

Episodes 1-3 have featured Natxo Gonzalez, Ian Walsh, and Lucas Chianca, but episode four belongs to the Irish prince. As you’ve probably gathered by the assembling cast, the series documents the tribulations of big wave surfers as they attempt to surf even bigger waves than other big wave surfers. 

In this episode, Conor is joined by good friend and fellow shelf gallant Rusell Bierke. Russ, who is well regarded as Australia’s kindest psychopath, takes Conor on a trip into the mythical zone of rural South Aus, where the names of the waves are unutterable, the fish big and angry, and the ocean imprisoned by a vista of cockeyed cliff faces. 

Minutes later, both Russ and Conor are towing into what appears to be the snake-blooded cousin of maxing Teahupoo — in fullsuits, boots, hoods etc. Welcome to Ireland. 

Want more of Conor charging Irish behemoths? You can experience the bonny thrill of modern surf cinema in Conor’s 2024 Stab Edit of the Year entry ‘Hounds of the Storm’ here, throughout which Conor repeatedly offers his heart to hulking Irish tombs. 

And reminisce on Russ’s Bitcoin-winning Irish expedition in his 2023 SEOTY winner, ‘Outer Edge of Leisure’ here.