Strandhill in Co Sligo is the place to be this weekend if you want to try to glean an understanding of why bodyboarding is the fastest-growing watersport in the world.
According to the Irish Surfing Association, about 80 of Europe's leading bodyboarders will be competing in Strandhill in the fifth and final event on the European Bodyboarding Pro-Tour for 1999. The four previous competitions were held in Portugal and France.
Ireland's Tania Ward is ranked fifth out of 27 women and is hopeful of finishing in the top three. In the men's event, Portugal's Filipe Ochoa, currently in second place, will be trying to take over the lead from former world champion Nicholas Capdeville of France.
A Euro Africa Surf Challenge will also take place in Strandhill this weekend with team members drawn from 15 different countries in the two continents.
The president of the Irish Surfing Association, Mr Brian Britton, said the weekend would give the north-west the opportunity to show off the standard of its waves and surf. Seemingly Ireland is gaining the reputation for having "the best surf outside of Hawaii".