A legendary figure in the world of windsurfing has died “doing what he loved” in southern France. Farrel O’Shea, 60, from Abersoch, Gwynedd , was taken ill walking on a beach in La Palme on Sunday morning, June 2. As well as developing a series of new technical moves for the sport, he held the British windsurfing speed record, at 51.
20 knots. He was an innovator who wrote books on the sport and he went on to develop a commercial platform based on the Llŷn Peninsula . He founded the O’Shea Surf clothes store in Abersoch and later moved his O’Shea International windsurf and surf equipment operation to nearby Pwllheli .
Having honed his skills at Rhosneigr, Anglesey , and Porth Neigwl (Hell’s Mouth) on Pen Llŷn, he settled in the area and went on to organise the Wakestock festival , combining competitions and musical concerts. READ MORE: Man drove on wrong side of road during 'foolish' Anglesey police chase READ MORE: Stunned driver charged £638 after collecting family from Manchester Airport Social media has been flooded with tributes from shocked friends and admirers. His colleagues at O'Shea Surf wrote of their “profound sadness”, adding: “He died on the beach in France, doing what he loved.
Farrel was one of life’s good guys, an absolute legend, he was deeply loved by so many and will be forever in our hearts.” Originally from Wellington in the West Midlands, Mr O’Shea discovered windsurfing in the late 1970s on a small lake in Telford. By the ea.
