With a beastly nor-west swell bearing down on Europe, big wave surfers had to make a decision: height or grunt? Nazare or Mullaghmore?

Already on site at Mullaghmore was Russell Bierke and he managed to stroke into a few sizey ones though the erratic curves of Mullies again played havoc. Meanwhile, there was a good array of passports in the lineup with Natxo Gonzalez, Benjamin Sanchis, Will Skudin, and plenty of the locals lads digging in.

Andy Smyth from South Oz was in the area...well, Scotland actually, when he saw the storm forecast and made the trip across the Irish Sea to Mullaghmore.

All photos by Andy.

Natxo Gonzalez in sequence..

Russ on the rocks.

Unidentified dropping in late.

Looks like Will Skudin.

Unidentified in sequence on an incredible wave.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Two pieces and counting.

Aside from the obvious, the lack of a board track would indicate something has gone awfully wrong here.