Gearoid McDaid’s rollercoaster year. Photo: Clem McInerney
No surfer likes being sidelined for even a day but for world-class tube hounds like Gearoid McDaid, injuries, bumps, and bruises, bring a whole other level of frustration.
Two seasons ago, McDaid had a hip injury and he took the hiccup as an opportunity to train hard with the intention of preventing future injuries. With qualifying for the 2024 Summer Olympics on his to-do list and a big win at the ISA European Championships, one could argue that opportunity to train more could be a blessing. Unfortunately, McDaid suffered an unexpected early round loss in Puerto Rica at the ISA World Games and those Olympic dreams were dashed (for now, at least). Now, with another winter approaching in the northern hemisphere, McDaid is on the sidelines again. This time, he split his leg open with a fin and is out of the water altogether – for the time being.
One would call that a bit of a roller coaster. And that’s exactly what Gearoid McDaid does call it. So it’s a perfect name for the highlights he came away with from the 2023-2024 season — one with ups and downs but still plenty of absolutely insane waves. He is one of the hardest chargers out there, after all.
