Approximately one week ago, Myself and Jonny, along with Newport based zeke twins Taylor and Jared Thorne ventured to Scotland for the second stop of the Cold Water Classic Series. I was the last one to arrive at Aberdeen airport, which was advantageous because all I had to do was throw my boards atop the rental car and we were on our way to the contest site of Thurso. We wound our way through the magnificent Scottish countryside. A glimpse out the window from time to time was met by the sight of lush rolling hills accompanied by the odd abandoned castle on the horizon, with not a cloud in sight. Our first stop for water and snacks was an interesting one, the accents here are so incredibly thick that it was nearly impossible to understand how many pounds the bearded lady wanted from me...
The journey continued and after 6 hours of driving, the rolling hills and stone walls on our right gave way to a welcoming view of the glassy, frigid Atlantic Ocean. We were nearing Thurso. After settling into our hotel we were immediately off in search of waves to rinse off the filth of traveling. The main break of Thurso was flat, so after a little research we were in pursuit of Brims Ness, the backup site a ways down the road. We were pointed in the right direction by an exceptionally kind farmer, and stumbled upon a waist high, glassy, punchy little right slab.
Jonny and the twins paddled out (sans gloves) as I struggled with my 5 mil suit... luckily my delay gave me time to ask a local surfer if I should wear gloves...she replied "Oh God yes!!" and I was out there doing my best not to trip or slip on the kelp covered rocks. We were stoked to have the wave to ourself, but the session was filled with the boys complaining of their bare freezing hands. Ha! Nonetheless Jonny still managed a little air and Taylor even got a cover up. The session was followed by a hot shower, fish n chips, and a Guiness. Not a bad first day in Scotland.
The morning of the contest a few days later we awoke to some of the sickest waves I have ever seen. Offshore slabbing overhead rights reeling across the Thurso reef. I paddled out for my heat, and got a high 5 with a little runner barrel to 360, which left me needing a 9 to make it. I sat out the back, paddled around some guy into a bomb and got a good barrel off the take off, barely came out, went to pull into the pitching end section, but I was too high and I got sucked over. 6.80. I lost. But it was okay because the waves were pumping.
Jonny was 2 heats after me. He locked into a solid 7 early in the heat with a screamer tube, but failed to back it up late in the heat. He was pissed.
Jared was the only one to make it through his heat (the last heat of the day) by snagging the 2 he required with under a minute to go in the deteriorating conditions. In his heat the next day, Jared barely lost out with a 2.50 heat total, he only needed 5 more 2's and he would have made it..
We stayed the entire week taking in the local culture and surfing fun waves in frigid water, while I tried my best to get the boys to film, but to no avail... Perhaps the most interesting thing set in front of our faces during our stay was a round black breakfast item known to the locals as Haggis. We all had a go but found that it tasted like burnt brown rice mixed with mashed up beef combined with bad coffee. When we asked Rachel, our kind young hotel manager, she told us that it was made from sheeps blood...
I'm writing to you from my hotel room in Aberdeen, where I will be flying to France tomorrow. I will post photos and footage when I return to Carmel on the 28th, so check back for that...But for now, just remember to never eat the Haggis.
Dane
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