Man Surfs 70 Foot Wave - Biggest Ever

[matcom]

<snip>

"HOLY crap, Pete ... that was a bomb!" Those were the exact words used by surfer Pete Cabrinha's jet ski tow-in driver, Rush Randle, after the revered Hawaiian waterman rode a 70 foot (21.5m) giant.

Randle was right, almost. It was more than a bomb. It was big enough to get Cabrinha into the Guinness Book of Records for the largest wave ever ridden.

Cabrinha's fearless effort at the infamous big wave reef called Jaws in Hawaii on January 10 was given official status at the Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Awards in California yesterday.

Cabrinha was swelling with pride as he collected a cheque for $95,000 for his ride of a lifetime at Jaws, a frightening break off the north shore of the island of Maui.

http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,9333397%255E13762,00.html

[Superfly]

1. This month's Outside Magazine

has a great article about the Billabong tour in search of the 100 foot monster wave. They say the Cortes Bank has the highest probability of producing that sized wave.

Me? No zanks.

[wtmusic]

2. Damn! How do you get off a wave that big?

n/t

[Superfly]

3. First rule: don't wipe out.

[Atman]

5. Even a wave that big has a shoulder eventually

even it was still 20 feet high, it would have been nice gradual slope compared to what this crazy bastard went through! I can't believe they called him "fearless." He is/was many things, but I'd bet you a gazillion dollars "fearless" he was not! What a rush that must have been...if he was even able to do much more than remember the terror and survival instinct! I can't wait to see the video. Congrats to Pete...you sir, have cajones!

[wtmusic]

6. So you just stay ahead of the break

and hope you don't get caught inside? (Xcuse the ignorance of a non-surfer)

[Bonhomme Richard]

4. God I miss surfing. Note to self...........................

This summer, get a board and start riding again.

[radwriter0555]

13. I can watch Endless Summer I & II OVER and OVER and OVER again..

and I'll watch ANYTHING that features LAIRD HAMILTON, who really IS the ultimate surf god!!!!! He makes the sport, the ultimate Watermans' SPORT.



http://www.lairdhamilton.com/

http://www.quiksilver.com/?pageID=1602

http://www.tim-mckenna.com/page/hot/02_teahupoo/teahupoo-01.htm

[ForrestGump]

7. Just for a visual

this is 'Jaws' on anotehr day, when it was smaller, complete with Australian surfer dude.



Just too big.

[toddzilla]

8. that is so damn cool.

i hate living in missouri.

i want an ocean, now.

[ForrestGump]

11. Close-up of the surfer...

[DinahMoeHum]

9. Well, these days, the big wave riders don't paddle out to the waves

themselves. They get towed by a PWC-jockey.

:wow:

[Nailzberg]

10. The balls on that guy

70 Feet????

Holy Shiite.

[AP]

12. Yes, the article has a picture:

http://www.news.com.au/common/imagedata/0,3600,337527,00.jpg

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

14. Had to be exhilarating. Highest wave I ever surfed in my 20 years semi pro

was 40 feet down by the Isthmus. The waves there are not quite the density of those at Jaws. I had heard of this back when it happened but hadn't seen pics.

On a side note for the non surfers...the height of the wave is measured by the back of the wave..not the side you see....the poundage per cubic inch of water in that wave probably would have been enough to damn near disintigrate him had he wiped out at its crest...

[ForrestGump]

15. Ouch

You went beyond my comfort level -- not for surfing, but for surf kayaking and anything else on the ocean wave -- by a good 30 feet. Always been freeaked out by freak waves, and anything that size or larger might as well be one. :scared: