Topic Author's Original Post - Jan 30, 2013 - 08:39am PT
Kinda on topic, almost need a belay to surf this wave
Enormous wave dwarfs surfer Garrett McNamara along coast of Portugal
By Natalia Jimenez, NBC News
Surfer Garrett McNamara catches what could be the largest wave ever surfed, off the coast of Nazare, Portugal, on Jan. 29. The estimated 100-foot wave, if confirmed, would beat the current world record of 78 feet, which McNamara has held since 2011. According to SurferToday.com:
Garrett McNamara traveled from Hawaii and hit the water with Kealii Mamala - with whom he surfed waves generated by glacier blocks in Alaska - Kamaki Worthington and Hugo Vau, as their support team on the jet ski. The conditions in Nazaré were heavenly perfect. Light southern winds and strong swell coming from northwest and hitting the local canyon as it should.
Judges with Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Awards will work to determine the actual size of the wave.
McNamara's surfing skills developed when his family moved to Hawaii from Pittsfield, Massachusetts, when he was 11 years old. As a professional big wave surfer, he regularly seeks out the largest waves in the world.
Going over he falls on one of these would hold you down under the water for a long time, assuming the impact didn't kill you you might go unconscious. I would carry a pony bottle strapped to my leg if I had to surf that wave, but I am a pussy.
Sorry .... that I'm so stupid. What's a pony bottle?
Werner, you know the poster who goes by Da Dweeb? And all those wonderful happy fun ponies he posts pictures of? Where do you think he gets them?
From a pony bottle, of course.
Just imagine being crushed to death by a million tonnes of surging water. Wouldn't you want to be able to pull the cork on the magic pony bottle and have hundreds of rainbow-colored ponies whisk you to safety?
That's huge, for sure. Respect for the surfer and the ocean.
While XXL contest organizers try and figure out the actual size, they are faced with the dilemma"how do you measure a wave that doesn't break?"
Worthy OT. I know these elite big wave riders do breath training. A local I met while underwater rock running at Waimea Beach last summer who told me Ken Bradshaw could hold his breath for 5 minutes in a pool.
Let us know!