McGoldrick set for next month’s APB world event
STRANDHILL native Seamus McGoldrick will be Ireland’s sole representative at next month’s Nazare Pro body boarding event in Portugal.
Part of the APB World Tour, the event attracts some of the best body boarders from across the globe to the Portuguese coast for the eleven day event.
A regular of both European and world events, incredibly, it was only recently that ‘Shambles’ broke his duck locally.
Competing against established boarders such as Andrew Kilfeather and Shane Meehan, it took Seamus twenty years to finally win last weekend’s Sligo Open, which is held annually in Strandhill.
“When I was younger I joined the County Sligo Surfing Club and took part in the County Sligo Open when I was 13”, he recalls.
“I’m 33 now and have been competing in that event nearly every year and only now I’ve won it!”
Seamus has been a main stay of the Irish team since he was 12 and even coached with Irish youth body boarding teams.
To excel at body boarding, indeed any minority sport takes a lot of personal sacrifice and determination.
Even raising the cash required to compete at events such as next month’s can be tough. But Seamus feels he’s lucky to be affiliated with the County Sligo Surfing Club in Strandhill.
“They’ve been so good to me”, he says. “You might have to spend up on €400 heading to a European championships but they would put on a raffle or a car wash or do something to help you. ”They’re always very supportive.” The proprietor of the Sligo Surf Experience, Seamus is sponsored by nine time world champion Mike Stewart who supplies Seamus with his signature Science Bodyboard gear.
“It’s hard to get the sponsorship if you’re in Ireland”, Seamus continues.
“If you’re based in England, Spain or America where there’s a bigger market then it’s a lot easier.
“I had a sponsorship with a company in England and I sent Mike on a few YouTube videos I’d made.
“He had a look and emailed me back and said yes. You get a certain amount of equipment off him every year. But more than that, it was amazing to be in contact with your childhood hero. If you’re in to football, Mike would be the equivalent of Pele to the body boarding world!”
Seamus’ body boarding career was almost ended in March 2016 when he snapped his femur and had to get staples in his head following an accident on the waves.
”It was a pretty heavy time”, he explains. “But I got good care and worked hard on my recovery. There are consequences with some of the waves we surf, but I was lucky and got back to full health.”
Just a few short months later, he received an invitation from Stewart to take part in the world tour in Hawaii.
“I thought ‘this is a once in a lifetime chance’. I rang my sister and I wasn’t sure but she told me no you have to!” A fundraising drive ensued.
“All of a sudden I’m on a plane to Hawaii.
“I got through first round but was knocked out in the second. It was tough because I think I could have got further. But the whole experience of recovering from that injury and being the only Irish person going, it made me feel like a winner. It re-lit that fire in me.”
Previewing October’s competition on the Iberian peninsula, Seamus says the experience will be personal as well as professional.
“You’re surfing with guys at the very highest level and getting to know them. I can’t wait.”
The Strandhill surfer will compete in preliminary trials with 31 other competitors, each with dreams of making it to the final eight.
“I would just love to get through the trials . It’s a big field. You’ll have a lot of Portuguese, Spanish who are well set up. The system, the funding and the coaching for the sport is unparalleled there.
“But to do well, get through the trials and be seeded for the next event in Hawaii would be the goal.”
Seamus has his own personal goals but a big ambition of his is to promote water sports in Sligo and the surrounding areas, his own discipline in particular.
“Hopefully in the next few years we’ll see some younger surfers from the Sligo club reach the level where I am where they can compete on a world stage”, he says.
“We already have Kerry Larkin, who’s a master, you’ve got Gearoid McDaid who is this country’s biggest hope for Ireland in surfing.
“These guys will inspire ten more in their wake and I’m already seeing the younger guys come through. At the Open, I saw a young kid, James Horan, who’s from the Sea Road who’s brilliant. He’s ranked fourth or fifth now in Ireland only a few years after taking it up.
“For me, seeing someone come into the club and rise to be so good is huge.
“Unfortunately, the waves at the Sligo Open meant James couldn’t compete. But even though I won the main event but the highlight for was seeing kids like James come out and give it everything.”
Like any proud Sligo man, Seamus is as keen to promote his home county as the next.
“Ireland is one of the best places in the world for body boarders”, he says.
“When I was in Hawaii, everyone was asking me about Sligo and what the waves in Mullaghmore and Strandhill were like.
“Although when you ask would they come over, they’d reply no because it’s cold and you’ve got to wear a wetsuit!”