The large surf on the South Shore associated with approaching Hurricane Leslie has created irresistible conditions for local surfers.Among the adrenalin junkies taking advantage of the natural phenomena is Olympic sailor Zander Kirkland.Mr Kirkland, who competed with younger brother Jesse in the high performance 49er skiff at this summer’s London Games, has been out several times this week surfing near The Reefs Hotel in Southampton with other local surfers.“It’s always special whenever I’m home to get waves and it’s fun to hang out with all the local guys in the surfing community,” he said.Mr Kirkland, 29, used to body surf at Horseshoe Bay Beach as a kid during hurricane season with his brother who carried Bermuda’s flag during the opening ceremony of this year’s Olympics in the UK.“We used to just go down after school and get in the water and cool down,” he recalled.It wasn’t until seven years ago that Mr Kirkland started surfing more seriously in California during his summer breaks from university in Boston.“Everybody surfs out there in California,” he noted. “I was out there and my attitude was when in Rome do as the Romans and I have always been intrigued by surfing.“Surfing in California is real high level and it’s probably the epicentre of the whole industry around the world. There are a lot of other people out there so it’s pretty crowded.“Surfing is an amazing sport. It really clears your head and provides great exercise.”Monday’s conditions on the South Shore have so far proven to be the best for local surfers, conditions Mr Kirkland thoroughly enjoys.“We had world class surfing conditions on Monday, it was a magical session off the reefs,” he said. “ We were probably 200-300 metres outside of the bay and there were some good waves, it was Bermuda’s best hurricane waves.“People take crazy trips to get waves like we had on Monday so that was pretty cool. It was good and some of the veterans like Colin O’Hara were ripping. Colin was the standout during the session while Rupert Henagulph and Alex Hart were also getting some good waves.“I still have a lot to learn and there are more veterans here that are more experienced and frankly better at surfing. I started late so I’m just trying to catch up. There’s a whole surfer community here, but they keep a low profile.”Over the past several days local surfers have ignored red high warning signs erected along the South Shore from Church Bay, Southampton to John Smith’s Bay, Smith’s to feed their appetite for surfing in extreme conditions.“It can be hazardous because these waves are powerful,” Mr Kirkland warned. “With these waves it’s all about committing to the drop because you have to make that drop and it’s pretty big. “You have to peddle really hard and have your balance kick in and make it because you can get tossed pretty easily in those set waves.”One hazard Mr Kirkland doesn’t have to worry about surfing in Bermuda is the presence of Great White Sharks. In California surfers have been attacked by Great White Sharks that mistake them for prey.“To be honest the majority of my surfing has been done in Southern California which traditionally doesn’t have as much as a problem with Great White Sharks like Northern California,” Mr Kirkland said. “They are definitely there but you can’t let fear run your life.“We don’t have Great Whites here, but we do have other species and they are there.”