Ireland

IRELAND

Jim Fitzgerald - Manager Jims' paddling career began in college six years ago at the University of Limerick. And it has only got extravagant (i.e. international) since starting a PhD after an engineering degree. A sucker for punishment, Jim has been events officer for the ICU surf committee for two years, organising national surfing events around the country, and got nabbed to be this years manager simply cos he was in Scotland paddling superb grade V rivers at the time. Switched to surfing ski last year which left him dead in the water in a boat, so he left the team places to the veterans. Hopes to borrow a boat (fat chance) to tackle Thurso East in the individual class.

Stephen Hannon Age 33. Stephen Hannon was born and bred in Dublin. He is a primary school teacher and spends his summers as a sea kayaking guide. Stephen has been competing in surf championships for the last ten years. In 1991 he competed in Thurso and came second. Since then he has competed in Santa Cruz and Costa Rica.

Denis Dowling - Mens I have been canoeing for 20 years and have participated in all branches of the sport including K1, K2 paddling, White Water, Slalom, and Canoe Polo. I have always found canoe surfing the most exhillarating aspect of canoeing. I think it is because of the challenge of big waves and the sheer enjoyment of surfing. I live in Dublin and am a member of Espoir Canoe Club. Unfortunatley, surf in Dublin Bay is relativley rare and often with a bitterly cold onshore breeze. Bigger cleaner waves are further afield on the west coast of Ireland. I have been activley involved over the years in the organisation of canoe surfing competitions in Ireland. These have included both ranking and inter-provincial competitions.

Alistar Donald - Mens Ali has been paddling competitivley for 12 years, although only surfing for 3. He has represented Irish schools and Junior teams in Long Distance and Sprint racing, and has played against Scotland and Wales in canoe polo. Studying in University College Galway, the surf Mecca of NW Europe, he has just finished a BSc in Marine Science and wave riding. An ICU instructor, he also surfs a board. Has surfed in Tenerife and Florida. Will travel to Thurso directly after representing Ireland in the Rodeo Championships in Ottowa, Canada.

Lorcan Callarain - Men Lorcan has been paddling for nearly 10 years. At present, he is an ICU instructor, based in University College Galway for the majority of the year. He has surfed kayak and board for many years both competitively and recreationally, mainly in Lahinch and other breaks in Clare. He spent 3 weeks last summer surfing in Portugal, mainly in Peniche (super tubes!!).

Rory O'Connor - Men Boats - Jester 'Titan', Topo, RPM Age – 22 Sex - Once in Lahinch Occupation - Eternal Student Turn ons - Kevlar, leather, flotsam, jetsam, profit, virginity, nuns in bikinis, stoppers, waterfalls, hiace vans, clean surf, big personalities. Turn offs - Weather forecasts, smelly farts, Hughies' feet, non-alcoholic beverages, minimum age limits, leggings. Mankinds' greatest invention – vaseline Favourite Spice Girl - Baby Spice Other Interests - Spastic Plastic Canoe Club, Guinness, poker, climbing up/jumping off/paddling down anything big.

Niall Power – Men Boats - Jester 'Titan', SuperSport, RPM Age - 22 Sex – Yeeeeessssssssss Occupation - Unemployed Production Manager Turns ons - Wealthy farm girls with 'great big tracts of land', Sunny days at the beach, pints of Guinness, glassy surf, white water and of course big tits Turn offs - Bongo sliders, wetsuit crotch rot, swimming, cellulite, horizontal Irish rain, work. Mankinds' greatest invention - Guinness coolflow system Favourite Spice Girl – Victoria Other Interests - Spastic Plastic Canoe Club, Rocky River paddling and the outdoors.

Sean Egan - Men Boats: Jester "Titan", SuperSport, RPM Age: 23 Sex: Only on Thursdays Occupation: Software Engineer (Occasionally). Turn ons: Surf babes, Big fast surf, Fast cars, Rivers with memorial signs, and tall cliffs to jump off. Turn offs: Crashed fast cars, small nipples, female facial hair, dry rivers, and small surf. Humanities greatest invention: Latex rubber Favourite Spice Girl: Ginger Spice Other interests: Climbing, mountain biking, sky diving, basically anything remotely dangerous.

Eadaoin Ni Challarain - Ladies Eadaoin has been canoeing for 8 years and and is an ICU instructor. She spent the last 3 years in University College Galway and is at present living in Nottingham, training full time for slalom in Holme Pierpoint. She has won the ladies Liffey Descent on 2 occasions and is a proud member of Spiddal paddlers, where she hails from.

Orla Boyle - Ladies Orla is from Ballybunion, the surf capital of Kerry. She has been paddling four years, everything from long distance, canoe polo, whitewater, and of course surfing. A graduate of the University of Limerick, she is now based in Limerick, she mainly surfs ski.

Marcus Lally - Junior Marcus (16) lives in Spiddal, Co. Galway with interests in Gaelic football, hurling, board surfing, skate boarding and of course kayaking. Marcus started kayaking at the age of 8 in Spiddal in a Tuffy Master. He still has this kayak in the very very back of the garage.

Brian O’ Beirn - JuniorBrian (15) has been kayak surfing since the age of 11. He also enjoys rugby, surfing, tennis and white water kayaking. Brian lives in Spiddal, Co. Galway which is a small Gaelic speaking community. His ambition is to have as much fun as possible with a reasonable income.

Martin PattenMartin is also from Spiddal on the West coast of Ireland. Spiddal in right on the sea with good swells after Atlantic storms. Martin also enjoys other sports such as canoe polo, board surfing Gaelic football and hurling. Martin is looking forward to paddling in Scotland and representing his Country. He claim that he never realised his standards were that good.