Jason Coniry on Surfing

Surfing is described as the international club with no membership fees.

With opening hours as reliable as the tide, and with images in recent decades of Irish surfing being beamed internationally, Ireland has become a surf destination, whether you are looking for small mellow, or heavy extreme waves.

One man whom we now miss very much (RIP Jase), was Cork man Jason Coniry. A legend in Cork surfing, and extremely well known nationally and internationally, Jason encouraged the development of Irish surfing for years. We were stoked to have Jason join the Bigsurf team in 2015.

Jason…how it happened, and why surfing is for me

An intrinsic need to be able to escape to the beach whenever the waves were here, led the Little Island native to set up his own surf business. Coniry opened Incide surf shop on Bridge Street in the early 2000’s, but became involved in the sport well over ten years before that…

“I met a few guys through water safety and as surfing is a full-on lifestyle, I got addicted,” he explained. “There were about ten of us that surfed together in Cork for about five years before anybody started to take it up. I travelled and lifeguarded around the world for a time and I knew then that I wanted to make a living from it. I also wanted a lifestyle that meant I could go surfing anytime the surf was good.”

“The surf in Cork can be as good as anywhere on its day but we don’t have as many of those days in Cork as the guys do in Clare or Donegal for example. It’s reasonably consistent in Inchydoney and Long Strand but what’s really noticeable is the industry as a whole in Cork.”

Surfing has seen a massive growth in popularity across the world in recent years, along with several other board-based sports. This has had a knock-on effect in Ireland, especially with many more thousands of Irish people having travelled more extensively throughout the past decade.

“Surfing and skateboarding are far more sociable than other sports,”

“You go and hang at the beach for a couple of hours with your friends. This isn’t just a sport – it’s a culture and a lifestyle. Fashion goes with it, along with certain genres of music. Everybody aspires to it, whether they are a solicitor or sweeping the street, because once they are in the water there are no social barriers, everyone experiences the same thing and that’s a very powerful bond.”

“Just last week I was out surfing and the sun was absolutely incredible. The sky went through all shades of orange, purple and pink and there were only about five or six people at the beach. You’re experiencing something that’s fairly unique on a regular basis. A big part of it is simply being absorbed in nature – as clichéd as that sounds.”

“I go to South Africa and a place called Jefferys Bay every second year. The last time I was there, I met guys in the water who were a bit cold at first but when I said I was Irish, there was a certain respect there. They know the waves are good but that the water and conditions are cold and we get a credit for ‘roughing’ it. When we’re surfing in January, we know the people we meet are passionate about what they do. It’s not about how they look when it’s lashing rain and two degrees. Right then, it’s only about the surf.”

Jason…Getting set up

“I advise people to get at least one lesson so that they have an idea of what they are getting into before buying any equipment.

A beginner board is priced in the region of €300-€400.

A wetsuit that will keep you warm all year round from one of the better international brands, with a proper guarantee is available for about €150. Add boots, a pair of gloves and a hood for the depths of winter, and then you’re ready to go.

After that it’s only petrol money. There are no membership fees, there are no pay-as-go fees like golf, you don’t have to replace equipment regularly and you don’t break a lot of gear. It’s actually a relatively inexpensive lifestyle once you get yourself set up.

Support a shop where the people there actually participate in the sport…the staff will be able to give plenty of good, practical and honest advice.”