Al Mennie interview p3

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datrip: Yeah, the mainstream media likes to jump on that mad man cliché. What about locals like fishermen, coast guard or anyone else with a professional relation to the sea? How do they react when they see you going out for some personal pleasure in conditions that for them means threatening their life whilst doing their job? Do they understand your passion and give you respect or do they call you a lunatic?

Alastair: I have had a very mixed reaction to what I do. I know a couple of coast guards and they have praised me and been genuinely interested but that may be because I have known them for years.  Others would rather ignore it and pretend I don't do it. Local people around the coast who know me or recognise me are usually amazed that these waves exist and maybe don't understand just how big these waves are but they seem to enjoy seeing photos. I don't really know how other surfers react to what I do, I try to keep my head down and stay focused on what I do without getting involved in too many surf talk beach car park discussions about it. When Cotty drove the ski over the falls at Mullaghmore we got a lot of grief from people and we were called inexperienced and reckless. A bystander called the coastguard helicopter when we didn’t need it and people said we were in difficulty when we weren't. I think to sum up the answer to your question I would say Big wave surfers, like anyone else who is pushing limits that others don't want to, are heroes whilst things are going well and they are successfully riding giant waves but the minute something goes wrong, as it inevitably does, we are reckless and inexperienced in the eyes of onlookers. When Cotty drove the ski over the falls, no one commented on how dedicated we are, how we were pushing the sport in these waters, how we are trained and fit for what we do, they just jumped straight on the negative! It’s all relative. We are trained and capable in these conditions or we wouldn’t be going out there. Obviously some other sea users and professions don't have to deal with the same seas on as regular a basis so don't experience what we do and therefore maybe don't feel as comfortable. Don't get me wrong, it's very scary but I think you learn to deal with the fear and understand how the ocean works and know what to expect from it, usually the unexpected! The craziest and most hardcore sea users are definitely the fishermen. Have you seen some of the conditions they go out in to make a living? They don't think twice and they are out there getting rocked by giant waves all year long-absolutely terrifying and hero like. There is nothing heroic in big wave surfing but as far as those guys on the trawlers go I´ve nothing but praise, admiration and awe!

datrip: On the other hand, the use of jet skis makes tow in surfing often look like a fairly easy task and may open big waves to people who are not experienced and fit enough. What’s your opinion on tow in surfing? As an experienced paddle in big wave surfer, do you appreciate the motor assisted extra opportunities without any regrets?

Alastair: I find that the people who put tow in surfing down either can’t afford a jet ski or don’t have the desire to surf bigger waves than they can catch themselves. Yes, I agree there are quite a few teams popping up who I have never seen out paddling on a big day. It’s funny, my friend and I were paddling Aileens the other day and two very well known professional English surfers were there tow surfing. They couldn't believe how big our boards were and yet they have a jet ski and tow boards for conditions too big to paddle. The fact that they had never seen boards that big tells me one thing they haven't paddled big waves and now they are using a jet ski to tow in. It’s like learning to run before you can walk! There are guys who actually just have a ski and tow boards because they need the photographs to further their surfing career, nothing else. Some of these guys (no names mentioned) literally come here surf one wave and go and tell the world in press releases and stuff and lead the world into thinking that they do this regularly. 

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