The partnership reinforces the role of high-performance training facilities in the development of Europe's next generation of surfing talent.
Irish Surfing has officially designated Scotland's Lost Shore Surf Resort as its National Performance Centre for Surfing and National Olympic Training Facility, marking a significant step in the preparation of Ireland's athletes for the road to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
The partnership will provide Ireland's elite surfers, coaches and performance staff with regular access to Europe's largest wave pool, creating a dedicated high-performance environment to support training camps, technical development and preparations for major international events.
The announcement comes at an important moment for Irish Surfing following a historic 2025 season. At EuroSurf 2025 in Santa Cruz, Portugal, Gearóid McDaid became the first Irish surfer to win the European Open Men's title, while Ireland also secured its first-ever team podium finish at the championships.
EuroSurf 2026 will represent another key milestone on the Olympic pathway, with Irish athletes looking to build on their recent success before continuing their qualification campaign towards LA28.
Lost Shore will become the main training base for Ireland's elite programme, serving senior and junior EuroSurf teams, Olympic pathway athletes and adaptive surfers. In addition to its wave technology, athletes will benefit from the resort's dedicated high-performance facilities, including the SurfLab research and innovation centre developed in partnership with Edinburgh Napier University.
Irish Surfing Head Coach Gavin McCrea highlighted the importance of the new training base, noting that the combination of world-class waves, on-site accommodation, performance facilities and international connectivity creates an ideal environment for elite preparation.
The partnership also builds on an existing relationship between Lost Shore and several of Ireland's leading athletes. McDaid trained at the facility before claiming his historic EuroSurf title in 2025, while rising star Ruby Knox—bronze medallist in the Women's Longboard event at EuroSurf 2025—is also expected to benefit from the programme as Ireland continues developing its next generation of international competitors.
Further strengthening the initiative, internationally renowned coach Glenn "Micro" Hall will support Irish Surfing's high-performance programme, bringing extensive experience working with some of the world's top surfers.
The collaboration underlines the growing investment in elite surfing infrastructure across Europe, providing national federations with new opportunities to support athlete development and strengthen their Olympic ambitions.