Biggest Wave Ever Surfed

This category needs no explanation. This week we look back at the most colossal swells from Nazaré, Jaws, and beyond to honor the mad men and women crazy (and talented) enough to tame them. Will a wave from this season set a new Guinness World Record? The cbdMD XXL Biggest Wave Awards go to the male and female surfers who, by any means available, catch and ride the biggest wave of the year.

Lucas Chianca (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) at Nazaré, Portugal on February 17, 2020..
(Photo by Helio Antonio. Video by Nuno Dias.)

Kai Lenny (Maui Hawaii) at Jaws, Hawaii on December 31, 2019.
(Video by Marcus Rodrigues.)

Kai Lenny (Maui Hawaii) on a left at Nazaré, Portugal on February 11, 2020.
(Photos by Helio Antonio, Pedro Cruz, Vitor Estrelinha and Brady Lawrence. Video by Johnny Decesare.)

Kai Lenny (Maui Hawaii) on a right at Nazaré, Portugal on February 11, 2020.
(Photos by André Botelho. Video by Laurent Pujol.)

Sebastian Steudtner (Nuremberg, Germany at Nazaré, Portugal on February 11, 2020.
(Photos by Helio Antonio. Pedro Cruz and Laurent Masurel. Video by WSL Video Team.)

Justine Dupont (Seignosse, France) at Nazaré, Portugal on November 13, 2019
(Photos by Maria Fernanda and Rafael Riancho. Video by Pedro Miranda.)

Justine Dupont (Seignosse, France) at Nazaré, Portugal on February 11, 2020.
(Photos by Helio Antonio, André Botelho, Vitor Estrelinha and Laurent Masurel. Video by Antoine Chicoye.)

Maya Gabeira (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) at Nazaré, Portugal on February 11, 2020.
(Photos by Helio Antonio, André Botelho, Mauro Correia, Vitor Estrelinha and Guilherme Soares. Video by Ben de Sá.)

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Maya Gabeira awarded big wave world record

Please note: This is not my film. I have simply edited out some of my favorite scenes and a song for your enjoyment.

Song is ‘Jumper’ by ‘Hardwell and W&W’
See on Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09_51TDRS1c

Brazilian surfer Carlos Burle surfed an estimated 100-foot wave off the coast of Nazare Portugal, possibly making him the new WORLD RECORD holder for largest wave ever surfed. This wave does appear to be larger than the 78-footer Hawaii surfer Garrett McNamara rode at the same location back in 2011, but may not be a full 22 feet higher. Let’s wait for the Billabong XXL authorities’ response before we call it a “100-footer.”

Either way, all of the surfer’s featured in this video are demonstrating what astonishing feats human beings are capable of achieving – surfing rogue waves for example.

The enormous wave Burle caught was caused by a combination of two things: the regions geography, and the extreme weather produced by St Jude’s Atlantic storm. These waves are famed for being the largest in the world and surfers from all over congregate there to brave the swells together.

There is a 125 mile long underwater canyon that leads from the depths of the Atlantic Ocean to less than half a mile from the coast line. This ravine is more than 3 miles deep and the currents running through it combine with swells produced by Atlantic winds to create massive waves. As the canyon narrows these waves converge and spill over to the shallow water just off the coast. And that’s where these daredevil’s await on their jet ski’s and surf boards for their chance to catch one.

Most who see these videos and watch as the water rises, and rises…and rises until it’s over eight stories tall towering above a tiny man or woman on a board, believe it’s impossible for the surfer to ride out the wave and survive. Or they simply call the person crazy or the video a fake. This video, however, is not fake.

I believe that this is our true nature as humans and that we are designed to achieve courageous acts, such as catching freakishly huge waves, yet more often than not we simply choose to ignore these abilities. And as a surfer, I believe there’s nothing more fun than catching a wave – even the much smaller ones. Once you learn how to balance on a board and trust in your own abilities even the scariest waves become playmates.

Kudos to Carlos Burle, Garrett McNamara, and all the other surfers who demonstrate these abilities!

…and as if this wasn’t already amazing enough, Burle saved a fellow surfer that same day after emergency workers failed to grab her from the waves. By jumping back into the dangerous water he pulled her to the shore, performed cpr and saved her life. That’s true courage!

On January 10th of 2004, Pe’ahi, the famed big wave tow surfing spot located on Maui, was host to the biggest waves ever ridden. A new era was born and the bar was risen. Explore the origins of Big Wave Surfing at Waimea Bay. Then witness the awesom power of Pe’ahi, and the never ending search for bigger waves.