Watch: Nathan Florence And Co. Get Rocked At Monstrous Mullaghmore

During an informal orientation a while back, I hastily scribbled down a Sam McIntosh mantra that, as an aspiring surf scribe, I’ve tried my best to stick to: “Fact over froth.”

After watching the video above, I found it hard not to do the latter. So here are the facts. 

One year removed from his award-winning performance, Nathan Florence returned to Mullaghmore earlier this month just in time for the first significant winter swell to hit Europe this season. 

What emerged from the North Atlantic Ocean on November 9 was a bone-chilling display of power and beauty over the heavy Irish point/slab. With Mullaghmore as square and offshore as you could draw it up, Nathan and a dedicated crew of masochists went at it in full fervor. The result was several remarkable 25-foot tubes and many truly horrendous slams. A handful of folks (Lucas Chianca included) opted for the rope instead. 

Gearoid Mcdaid rode something that resembled Tahiti’s Code Red swell, only a lot colder. Taz Knight’s water bending at 9:29 is salute-worthy. And Rest In Peace to whoever went over the falls at 10:24. On Nathan’s first wave, the air-drop-to-face-plant bomb, his hood was wrenched around his head, which made him unable to pull the cords for his CO2 canisters. Instead, it was 15 strokes to the surface. Welcome back, Nate. 

Click the video above and hold on to your seat. Have fun mind surfing. And someone buy the Irish water safety crew a few pints.