Rob Tibbles

ANDREW COTTON, North Devon's answer to Laird Hamilton, this week caught the wave of his life off the coast Ireland.

With swell charts predicting massive surf and a rare combination of favourable winds, the Analog-sponsored rider from Croyde made the dash to the Emerald Isle for Monday's session.

Cotton said: "This is a new spot that we've been checking for a while, located in the middle of the ocean.

"The right-hander comes out of really deep water, unloads on a ledge and rumbles through for about 500 metres.

"It's been scoped out for some time but because it's so exposed it's rare to get the conditions as most giant swells come with gale-force south-westerly winds."

Thoughts of paddling some big waves as part of his training for the Quiksilver Invitational in Spain were soon abandoned.

"We checked it out for 30 minutes to see if any were paddle-able – they weren't.

"Just before we were about to bail to another spot we had in mind, I asked my tow partner Al Mennie to whip me into one and the session was on."

As the tide got lower, the waves got bigger and the wind was non-existent.

And eight months after undergoing surgery to rebuild his knee for a second time, the Croyde hell-man got the biggest waves of his life, estimated at 60ft.

"The knee felt good, although it was playing in the back of my mind and the first few waves I kind of shoulder hopped, playing it safe and trying not push it too much," said Cotton.

"My last two waves were the bombs and I knew I had to call it quits as I was getting far too confident out there.

"After this wave (pictured) I was shaking, there so much adrenalin I just knew it was a bomb. The boys were going nuts in the channel, I'm just glad I couldn't see that was behind me."

The waves are sure to be nominated for the Billabong XXL awards.

Sunday saw an epic day of competition at Combesgate as Woolacombe Boardriders held the last contest of the Grunta League. With perfect 3 to 4ft surf hitting the shores and sunshine bathing the bay, it went down as the contest of the season.

O'Neill ripper Stuart Campbell took victory in the open, while Tiki's rising star, Alex Gibson, won the juniors.

Trev 'Toes' Lumley, the surf forecasting guru, said: "This was the local contest of the year and not what you would expect in November.

"Sunshine, good waves and a great vibe to end the 2010 contest scene in Woolacombe. Happy days."

Paul Barrington, the contest director, said: "Standouts on the day included Cory Lawson, who made both finals, and Alex Gibson, who scored the highest wave score of the day with three backhand hacks.

"Stuart Campbell ripped, along with Jack Dougal and Steve Hutchison.

"It was a really excellent comp with good waves, weather and friends."

The Boardriders presentation night is on Saturday at the Red Barn from 7pm.

Croyde surf club have confirmed the last event of the 2010 season, the Steve McKewan Memorial, will run on Saturday, November 20, with under-10, under-12, under-14, under-18, under-18 girls, women, open, masters and veterans divisions.

Woolacombe Boardriders Grunta League contest: – juniors: 1 Alex Gibson, 2 Cory Lawson, 3 Will Bailey. Open: 1 Stuart Campbell, 2 Cory Lawson, 3 Charley Charlesworth, 4 Jack Dougal.