Excitement gripped hard in the stomachs of the entire team waiting out the night somewhere in Western Ireland. Years ago this wave had been spotted from a helicopter and a previous recee surf revealed it's potential but not at any size. This was the first attempt on the spot at size and all the usual thoughts crowded the mind. Like, how do you actually know it is surfable until you go?

"Pre-dawn and we were all ready to go" Said Conn Osbourne photog. "We packed up the rib and jetted off, our first sight of the wave was impressive and it looked surfable. Drawing-up off the seafloor, throwing a prefect lip before setting up a right-hand wall. Probably paddleable was the first thought."

"Cotton and I were going to paddle at the start." Said Al Mennie. "Initially there was a shoulder on it just like Mavs but then the real sets arrived...

"As the swell grew the wave began to focus more and more on the reef in a huge peak. I've surfed Mavs a good few times and although it looks very similar I think this wave has breaks with more violence and power."

© Conn Osborne/surfingphotography.co.uk