THE Hawaii of Europe - that's what they call us in the US, believe it or not. And, as you might well guess, it's not the tropical sunshine that has earned the Emerald Isle this exotic title. It is, in fact, our fantastic tubes breaks, peaks and swells. Ireland, you see, is an internationally renowned surfing paradise.
The Stormrider's Guide To Europe - a kind of surfing bible - says the northwest coast is "one of the few places in Europe to warrant the title of surfer's paradise".
There's nowhere a true Californian "surfer-dude" would rather be than on a cold, empty Donegal beach facing the "wrath of the North Atlantic". And that's just where about 400 of Europe's finest wave-riders will be this September as the European championships take place in Bundoran.
Guinness Eurosurf '97, the largest surfing contest ever held in Europe, takes to the water on September 19th, with competitors from 17 different countries taking part.
One man who is eagerly anticipating the event is six times all-Ireland surfing champion Andy Hill. "I'm feeling pretty confident," says Port rush's "Godfather of Surfing" who, at the age of 28, has already been surfing for 18 years. "I've dedicated the last five years to travel, I've surfed and competed all over New Zealand, Hawaii, Western Samoa, Costa Rica, Puerto Rico - I've been around the world twice."
Hill says he is eager to get back his All-Ireland title which he lost to Darren Toomey of Tramore last year, when appendicitis forced him to withdraw from the competition. Asked how the Irish surf compares to other places, he says: "We have some of the best waves in the world, and the standard of skill is up unbelievably in recent years."
The current Irish women's champion, Zoe Lally, will also. no doubt, be looking forward to the competition. From Easky in Co Sligo, she will be competing in familiar waters. Easky is internationally renowned as a surfing spot. One often finds surfers of five or six different nationalities there, negotiating what the Storm rider's Guide calls Easky's speedy "world class right breaker".
Co Clare is another revered locality in surf culture, boasting "some of the knarliest tubes you could ever want to ride". Crab Island and Lab inch serve up some of the most demanding waves around, I'm told, with S**t Creek being probably the most "animal". It takes a daring dude to go up S**t creek without a paddle.
Rosemary Buckley from Lab inch Surf Shop says the area offers lots of breaks within easy reach. Doolin, Spanish Point and the infamous Crab Island are all within shouting distance. Lahinch itself is a hospitable town for surfers; relations with the local community are good and the beaches are graciously free of the kind of territorialism that often accompanies surf-spots in other countries. September and October are the peak months.
TO many of the locals, she says, surfing has become "like a religion, their next surf is the most important thing in their lives. They go out and surf regardless of the temperature or anything else."
Most people, fortunately, can keep their habit under control and take a few weeks between hits. Those who can't often head south to Inch reefs in Dingle - where you can find the longest rideable waves in the country.
Contesting Lahinch's reputation as Ireland's surf capital is Tramore in Co Waterford. The qualifiers for Eurosurf '97 were held there recently and both the Perfect Wave (a place name) and the Incredible Wave (also a place) lie in Tramore Bay.
Brian Britton, chairman of the Irish Surfing Association and manager of the Irish team, says "the popularity of surfing in Ireland has grown hugely in the last 10 years. We now have 3,000 members around the country - that's a rise of 600 per cent since 1985."
Britton feels we should be taking proper advantage of our wealth of surf. "Its a real resource," he says, "and we're not fully exploiting it." The ISA uses an annual £180,000 grant from the Sports Council to develop and promote surfing in Ireland - and to provide facilities, equipment and coaching all around the country.
He is eager to point out that it need not be expensive to get into surfing. £10 will pay for your membership of any of the numerous clubs around the country, and they will provide all you need.
Andy Hill agrees with him, saying that "Ireland is a potential surfing mecca. We have surf 12 months of the year and we've got great swells - thanks to the Continental Shelf. There's also a programme of European qualified coaches."
He says that you can pick up a quality second-hand board and wetsuit for around £250 - but there's no need even to do that as the equipment can be easily hired. And, as Hill himself says "if you do buy the equipment the running costs are very low - you see, the ocean is free".