About Al Mennie

For more than two decades, Al Mennie has built a career exploring demanding environments and helping other people navigate them.

Sometimes those environments are the Atlantic Ocean.

Sometimes they're ships, buildings, personal safety, business, grief or uncertainty.

Across every discipline, the principles remain the same: understanding risk, staying calm under pressure, making good decisions and adapting when circumstances change.

From pioneering big-wave surfing in Ireland to surveying ships and buildings, writing books, speaking internationally and teaching practical personal safety, Al's work has always been driven by curiosity, resilience and the pursuit of mastery.

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A Life Built Around Exploration

Born in Belfast during the Troubles, Al grew up with the sea as both an escape and a classroom. Long before Irish big-wave surfing became internationally recognised, he was exploring some of the country's most demanding coastlines, developing the judgement and resilience that would later define his career.

His work has since taken him into many different environments. As a surveyor he has inspected ships and buildings. As an author he has written more than twenty books. As a public speaker he helps audiences understand resilience, decision-making and performance under pressure. As a third-degree black belt and former close protection officer, he has taught practical personal safety built on awareness rather than fear.

Although these careers appear very different, they are connected by the same mindset: understanding complex situations, managing risk and helping people navigate uncertainty with greater confidence.

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Selected Career Highlights

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Exploration & Adventure

• Pioneer of Irish big-wave surfing.

• Pioneer of the early exploration of Nazaré's giant waves, among the small international crew who helped establish the location during its formative years.

• ​First person to paddleboard across the North Channel between the Giant's Causeway and Islay.

• Multiple endurance and awareness expeditions, including long-distance cold-water swims and charity challenges.

• Internationally recognised for exploring some of the world's most demanding ocean environments.

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Surveying & Maritime

• Professional surveyor of ships and buildings

• Experience assessing structural condition, defects and risk in complex environments

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Writing

• Author of more than 20 published books

• Titles ranging from autobiography and adventure to personal development, children's fiction and practical guides

• Published internationally in multiple languages

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Speaking

• More than 20 years of public speaking experience

• Corporate events, schools, universities and conferences

• Conversations focused on resilience, performance, leadership and decision-making under pressure

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Personal Safety

• Third Degree Black Belt

• Former licensed Close Protection Officer

• Practical Personal Safety instructor specialising in awareness, prevention and confidence

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Competitive & Performance Record

• Nazaré Tow-In Championships, Portugal — 2nd place (2011)

• World Tow-In Cup Championships, Chile — 10th place (2008)

• La Vaca Gigante, Spain — Big-wave paddle-in finalist (2011; final called off due to conditions)

• Mananan Big Wave Challenge — Winner (2004)

• Irish National Surf Team — multiple selections

• British Universities Surfing Championships — Winner

• Guinness Surfing Champion

• Causeway Coast Junior Champion

• South West Britain Student Champion

• Red Bull Tour — Winner

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Major Endurance & Awareness Projects

• Swim Through Darkness — 100km surf swim at night during the Irish winter to raise awareness of mental health struggles during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020–2021)

• Rode 154 waves in under two hours, in darkness, for Pieta House and 14 partner charities (2023)

• Ambassador for Pieta House – Darkness Into Light Campaign (2024)

• The Giant’s Crossing — paddled a surfboard from the Giant’s Causeway, Northern Ireland to Islay, Scotland in aid of NI Chest Heart & Stroke (2010)​

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Recognition

Institutional & Archival Holdings

• Archive comprising over 300 press clippings, photographs, and documents held in the Linen Hall Library Sporting Archive, Belfast (ent. 2025)

• Broken helmet and replica surfboard from Mullaghmore exhibited in the Ulster Museum, Belfast (ent. 2022)

• Recognised by The City of Nazaré, Portugal, with board and plaque installed on the Nazaré Surfer Wall / Hall of Fame (ent. 2018)​​​

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Awards & Media Recognition

• Nominee, Surfer Magazine – Heavy Water Award (2007)

• Freeflow Magazine Award Winner (2007)

• Multiple Billabong XXL Award entries

• Named one of the best big-wave surfers of all time by Surfertoday.com