Description

An immersive memoir about a groundbreaking surfing career and a stunning portrait of Ireland as one of the worlds most captivating bigwave surfing destinations
Born and raised in Bundoran with the waves of the west coast of Ireland breaking at his doorstep Richie Fitzgerald was moulded by his environment from his initiation to surfing at the age of 9 in the cold Atlantic water to becoming Irelands first ever pro surfer and competing on a global scale
But learning to surf in 1980s Ireland wasnt without its challenges With little to no equipment Richie ducttaped Marigolds over woollen gloves to protect his hands from the freezing water and even melted Christening candles to pour on his board in place of surf wax
Yet the west of Ireland boasts waves of size and quality to rival those in California and Hawaii attracting surfers from all over the world who want to test their mettle and Richie has surfed the biggest and most dangerous of them
ColdWater Eden is not just a captivating memoir about a transcendent sport it is at its heart a comingofage story about one mans pursuit of big waves and the dawn of Ireland as a singular destination on the global surf scene