AL MENNIE
BIG WAVE SURFER - OCEAN ADVENTURER - BLACK BELT
Most Notable Achievements
100km Surf Swim at night (Swim Through Darkness) during the Irish Winter to raise awareness of depression during the pandemic 2020/2021
Recognised by The City of Nazare, Portugal by being invited to hang a board and plaque on their Surfer Wall Hall of Fame 2018
Irish National Surf Team Member, multiple times
World Tow in Cup Championships Chile 2008 10th
Nazare Tow in Championships Portugal 2011 2nd
La Vaca Gigante Spain 2011 big wave paddle in finalist (final called off due to conditions)
Mananan Big Wave Challenge Winner 2004
Nominee in Surfer Magazine’s Heavy Water Award 2007
Named as one of the best big wave surfers of all time by surfertoday.com
Several Billabong XXL Entries
Freeflow Magazine award winner 2007
Paddled a board from Giants Causeway Northern Ireland to the Scottish Island of Islay in March 2010 in aid of NI chest Heart and Stroke, ‘The Giant’s Crossing’.
Winner of British Universities Surfing Championships.
Guinness Surfing Champion.
Causeway Coast Junior Champion
South West Britain Student Champion
Red Bull Tour Winner
BIo
Al Mennie is probably best known for his big wave surfing exploits. From humble beginnings playing on the beach at Castlerock, Northern Ireland to eventually becoming a pioneer of big wave surfing in both Ireland and at the infamous location of Nazare in Portugal. But, big wave surfing is only part of Al Mennie.
Al was one of the originals that began launching boats and jet-skis in Ireland in pursuit of giant waves and the first person to push the barriers of what is possible in our ocean. Al has pioneered and surfed big wave spots in Ireland and globally. He thrives in wild conditions off his native shoreline.
For decades Al has searched, discovered, located and pioneered several big wave spots. He rode the record breaking storm on December 1st 2007 at Mullaghmore Head when the biggest swell ever recorded in the Atlantic ocean smashed into Ireland. From 2010, Al worked with American surfer Garrett McNamara in Nazare Portugal over a three year period in the early days of tackling huge waves off the Portuguese coast. Al was one of four men in the water the day the biggest waves ever ridden swung into Nazaré in Portugal in 2011.
Al's board and a plaque are displayed on The Surfer Wall among around 30 other international surfers in the lighthouse at Nazare. Al believes this to be the highest honour in surfing as it comes directly from the heart of the Portugeuse local community in Nazare.
Al Mennie is the epitome of an athlete pushing the boundaries both physically and mentally. In every sense of the word he is a waterman. Other than pushing the limits of big-wave surfing he has also paddled a surfboard from Ireland to Scotland, against the tide, and has a reputation as having one of the most gruelling and effective training regimes in the world; his activities range from rock running on the cold ocean floor to being held underwater by his trainer after sprinting up his local sand dunes.
He recently swam 100km in the surf zone, in the dark, during the coldest and darkest months of the year to raise awareness of depression and funds for charity Aware. Swim Through Darkness.
As well as his passion for the sea Al has a particular passion in helping others survive what life throws at them…
Al is a writer and has written several books from an autobiography to books to help adults and children with fear, anxieties and being confident! He has also written a book about the loss of his father in the hope that the book may help someone else survive the depths that can come with bereavement. Al has written several pieces for other authors and publications too.
At 6'5" Al holds a third degree black belt and a Master Instructor position in Krav Maga Northern Ireland! He is an imposing but gentle figure. He has also written a self defence guide and teaches regularly with a particular interest in teaching young people self defence!
Always articulate, Al is a very experienced public speaker having spoken at everything from multinational sales conferences to emergency consultants, schools, clubs and small businesses.
Al's image has recently been featured in campaigns for international brands such as House of Fraser, Johnson and Johnson, Guinness, and Air BnB among many more. He recently performed stunt work for Kristofer Hivju the actor known for his roles in Game of Thrones, TWIN, Beck, Downhill etc
‘A surfing colossus has arisen from the chilly waters off Ireland’s Causeway Coast. I think of Al Mennie as the modern day Fionn MacCool.’ Mark Patterson BBC.