The Point at Brims was firing this morning for The O'Neill Highland Open by Swatch. Double-overhead bombs, held up a fraction by a stiff offshore, were detonating on the slabs of Scotland's North Shore. It was even sunny, with a hint of warmth.
As I write this I'm back at my hotel, to which I returned to write up an interview with legendary surfing cinematographer Larry Haynes. Here in Thurso it has not escaped my forensic journalistic gaze that the town's fabled right hand reef break is working. Not at size, but just right for me.
Trouble is, I have to undertake more of that dread four-letter word - "work" - and am not sure that time allows me to paddle out and, at long last, try Thurso East. Then again, perhaps I'm ahead of schedule...
Meanwhile here's what Larry Haynes had to say about The Point at Brims today: "It was really gnarly out there. There are rights setting up nicely but they're alternating with big close out sets. I got worked on the inside and taken away by the rip. It's really heavy, like Backdoor Pipeline."
Now that's praise indeed, coming from a man who knows. Check out the photo gallery on the O'Neill website later for images of what, so far, has been the best surf (in a contest) that I've ever seen in the UK.
(Yes, the picture here is of yesterday's inclement conditions. It's a lot, lot better today.)
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