Another incredible athlete flagged early on Dawn Patrol Surf Tracking and for good reason.
North Devon’s Malakai Hagley just delivered one of the standout moments of the winter at Mullaghmore, a mutant slab so heavy it had even Kelly Slater questioning what he was seeing.
At just 19, Malakai spun, committed, and drove into a towering Irish bomb that looked borderline unreal. Mullaghmore isn’t a wave you ease into, it’s a ledge that throws hard, shifts constantly, and punishes hesitation. Malakai didn’t hesitate.
From the outside, it almost looked too clean. Too perfect. Hence Slater’s now-viral reaction: “That looks fake.”
Why We Track Moments Like This
At Dawn Patrol Surf Tracking, this is exactly what we’re about, tracking the sessions, waves, and surfers that matter as they happen.
Not just the polished highlights, but the real data, raw moments: early calls, heavy water, and breakthrough rides that shift a surfer’s trajectory overnight.
He’s Built for Heavy Water
Malakai Hagley’s performance isn’t luck, it’s progression.
Cutting his teeth in the cold, powerful setups around the UK, and learning from experienced chargers, he’s been steadily building toward moments like this. Big-wave surfing rewards preparation, positioning, and trust in your crew and this wave had all three.
After the session, Malakai kept it real:
“Wave of my life… inspiring to see how everyone goes about this wave and it’s incredible being humbled by nature.”
He also credited the team around him for getting him in the right spot and having his back when it mattered.
We’ve been backing Malakai Hagley at Dawn Patrol, and this is exactly why.
Mullaghmore has a reputation for exposing limits, but this time, it revealed a new name ready to step up.
From the Save The Waves North Devon World Surfing Reserve to one of Ireland’s heaviest slabs, this wasn’t just a good wave it was a career starter.
And if you’re following along with Dawn Patrol Surf Tracking, you’ll know: this is only the beginning.
Hats off to you Malakai, lets go!
