“It was insane,” opens Flynn… “just fucking insane.”
Most of us have flirtatiously gazed at the Sliema coastline on a windy day. We’ve seen rollers, barrels, dumpers and ugly messes. The coast there is open, jagged with lots of little nooks and crannies. Yes, it’s literally the perfect swim spot on a hot summer’s day, but during the windy season that coast changes character.
From calm and peaceful with a mirrored texture, the sea wakes up and shows us it’s schitzo side. It happens in the blink of an eye, and the entire Sliema/ St Julians promenade becomes a danger zone. We’ve all tried to finger surf it, but even our fingers would break in our imagination. Flynn decided to take matters into his own hands, grabbing his board and wetsuit, and gunning to the coast.
“I had been looking at the waves for a long time and always wanted to surf it and decided it was the day for it.”
Motivated by Hadrien and Carlo’s expedition at Ghallis, he gunned to Exiles right after fitting an engine onto a boat. Yes, that’s Flynn for you. Nothing half measured.
“I was terrified – there was no margin for error”
“There were rows of people watching and the noise of the wave breaking on the rock and the amount of power was something I’ve never seen before. I was terrified,” admits Flynn. Of course people were watching, we are all addicted to watching train wrecks, and that wave happens to peel off a super popular bar, which is itself also closed off in winter due to the absolutely insane conditions.
He rated the wave 8/10 for sketchiness, “Before jumping in I was so pumped up but as soon as I paddled out I realized what I had got myself into.”
He got himself into a mess. The entry was easy, but the way the water hit the flat concrete of Exiles’ water polo club made exiting very dangerous.
The crux of this wave is time. There was none. “You barely had any time to decide which wave to go for, and I had to commit 100% to get one, with no margin of error.”
“The most adrenaline I’ve had surfing”
He got the one wave—one insane wave, one unsurfable but surfed wave. “It was such a sketchy wave, and I was alone in the water… honestly, the most adrenaline I’ve had surfing, I think.”
Sliema will always rise up with the wind but after his experience Flynn recommends you back off. “It’s such a dangerous and crazy wave, unless you know what you’re doing and a very confident and comfortable surfer.” The consequences can be dire, ranging from “a broken board, or drowning if you get stuck in the wrong spot.”
We told you this is not for newbies, kooks, wannabees, or heroes. It is for the extremely capable and gutsy few.
“Sliema has as some potential and Exiles too but conditions need to line up perfectly and only the most advanced surfers could do it safely.” adds Flynn.
Looking back, Flynn’s face changes. His smile is there, but it’s a little guarded. The typical excitement his eyes share shows signs of experience. “That day, I learned that I can be terrified in the water… and that’s not a bad thing either!”
“I love surfing undiscovered and unsurfed waves”
His experience in Exiles is another part of the growing surfing history of this island. The surf is here, the characters are present, the talent is increasing. In chasing this wave, he became the first person to surf Exiles. He “loves surfing undiscovered and unsurfed waves” and with Exiles finally off his bucket list, you can be sure Flynn will hunt down the next dangerous spot. This time, he’ll call a friend. Watch this space for more adventures!
