RICHIE FITZGERALD, the youngest of the Fitzgerald clan was born and raised in Bundoran, County Donegal, which has become known as a world-class surfing destination largely due to Richie's exploits as the undisputed face of Irish surfing. Having represented Ireland at both World and European Championships, Richie chose not to pursue a competitive surfing career and concentrated on soul surfing and owning and managing the North West Coast's first and leading surf shop, Surfworld. Having said that, 13 years since his last contest Richie recently went on to win the Billabong Easky Open Masters division on the 2/3rd October, 2010. Then in October 2011 Richie represented Ireland in the European Surfing Championships. He made the semi-finals and finished 6th in Europe.
Richie was the co-lead character in Eye of the Storm directed by Joel Conroy. Richie also appeared alongside the Malloy Brothers in the surfing documentary, Step Into Liquid directed by Dana Brown. Richie is featured devoting his time to the cross border integration scheme that attempts to integrate children from the North and South of Ireland through surfing.
Richie features worldwide in the mainstream and surfing Press. He faced the biggest surfing challenge of his life on the final day of filming WAVERIDERS surfing the biggest swell (60ft+) ever attempted off Ireland to become Ireland's most renowned big wave surfer. WAVERIDERS has since gone on to win the Jamieson Dublin International Film Festival, the IFTA (Irish Film & Television Award) for best Film Documentary, the Surfers Poll and has now become the biggest grossing film/documentary in the history of film/documentaries throughout Ireland and the UK.
Recently Richie and a team of fellow surfers discovered a new big wave off the West Coast of Ireland. They've named it 'Prowlers' and rank it as one of the biggest waves in the world, on a par with Mavericks, only made up of much more water and heavier. Richie continues to pursue the Irish big wave scene and is always looking for new waves to ride.
You can catch Richie for a surf lesson at Surfworld. Richie has only the best local surf instructors working with him and guarantees a small student to instructor ratio to ensure all of his clients get the ultimate surfing experience. He offers first time surf lessons, beginner surf lessons, improver surf lessons, intermediate surf lessons, advanced surf coaching, surf bootcamps and pro surfer weekends - something for everybody whatever level of fitness and standard of surfer!
Richie would like to thank his sponsors (Billabong, Volkswagen, VANS, Northcore & 3G) for their continued support.
