Al had a great artcle in The Belfast Telegraph last night with front cover and a great spread inside. Local Photographers Gary McCall, Aaron Pierce and Conn Osborne had photos published in it too. To see the article online visit… http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/lifestyle/features/master-of-the-waves-14787220.html?r=RSS

Surf talk is cheap. In this book, the waves do the talking.

Al’s autobiography, Surfing Mennie Waves was released on March 24th, 2010. This is not a book written by an onlooker or a photographer giving their view and take on what they think is going on in the minds of the big wave riders. Nor is it a book fuelled by sponsorship incentives or magazine adverts. This is an ego free, honest and first hand account of Al Mennie’s life as a big wave surfer.

Al was inspired at the age of 13 by the hell men surfers at the deadly ‘Mavericks’, California. It was his dream to surf one of those huge waves someday. Aged 22 and just after losing his father Al followed his dream and embarked on what turned out to be the first of many trips to Half Moon Bay to surf ‘Mavericks’. He was so inspired by the guys he met and waves he surfed that he wanted to surf big waves all the time. He knew Ireland had untapped potential and upon his return from that first trip went in search of huge waves in the uncharted waters of Irish big wave surfing.

The journey Al went on to Mavericks turned into the opening chapter of a story which is still evolving today. Not only did Al find his true passion in life but he also found waves big enough to rival any of the famed big wave spots on the planet off the coast of Ireland.

The book tells his story and recounts numerous experiences, sessions, feelings and emotions from the past 20 years of Al’s story.

If you have ever wondered what goes through the mind of a big wave surfer, what possess them to do it, how they deal with fear, how they are capable of putting themselves in places and situations that most people cannot comprehend then read ‘Surfing Mennie Waves’