This HD slow-motion video of Jaws was shot by “iamkalaniprince” (Vimeo user) on December 7, 2009. This clip shows a seemingly endless set at the monster break. Jaws broke countless times this winter and Sebastian Steudtner, won the Billabong XXL was a massive left at Jaws (video link). This really shows how big tow-in big wave surfing has become. Every wave of the set has a rider on in, with I’m sure a few left after the set waiting for more.
Billabong’s XXL contest (official site) has become a regular in encouraging and recording the biggest and best of the world’s waves as surfers charge for the chance at $50,000 to ride the biggest wave of the year (other awards given for Monster Tube, Monster Paddle Wave, and Ride of the Year). So far, the results have been impressive with the Aussie clocking in some serious waves from Shipstern’s Bluff in Tasmania, all them coming from what some are calling the Biggest Shipsterns Ridden. Here’s the video of the biggest wave submissions so far to the Billabong XXL.
This happened in 2005 at Teahupoo, Tahiti, but is still incredible to watch. The surfer is Tahitian, Raimana Van Bastoloer, as he is towed into a wave by his tow partner, Reef McIntosh. Neither were injured, though it was probably the last time Reef piloted a jet ski.
Hellmen, Ross Clarke-Jones and Tom Carroll, take on insane waves in storm conditions at Shipsterns Bluff, Tasmania. Check the fullframe slideshow at Surfermag.com along with a full sequence of what has to be the wipe-out of the year (Ross Clarke-Jones). Shot of sequence below:
Surf Photographer – Tim McKenna – narrates a selection of photos of Teahupoo courtesy of Surfer Magazine. Tim has shot Teahupoo for close to a decade and has some incredible images.
Yeti, a new slab was discovered in Oregon and surfed by Mark Healey, Greg Long, and crew. Check out the photos and story in Surfer Mag. Story via Surfing Stoke Blog. Photos by Jason Murray.
Ghost Trees, one of the biggest waves in the world and situated in Pebble Beach in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, is now off limits to personal watercraft (PWC). The ruling by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) was expected as the protected sanctuary has become increasingly crowded with personal watercraft over the past few years. In an effort to protect the environment and the surrounding marine life, the decision was made to close off the entire sanctuary to personal watercraft, meaning there will be no more tow-in surfing at Ghost Trees or Moss Landing (Story DailyStoke). Ghost Trees, a relative new comer in the big wave world, put on a display of big wave might as well as a couple of XXL contenders last year on January 4th (Video surfline).
I never really knew that as a surfer I would have such big transportation problems, well at least not until I saw these machines made by Gibbs Technologies. Suddenly, my Toyota 4Runner and Schwinn beach cruiser seem wildly inadequate compared to an amphibious 4×4 off road ATV and truck. This is some of the coolest gear I’ve ever seen! I don’t care if you can drive to pretty much every break in California. I’ll take the Humdinger up the coastal highway and drive it straight into the line-up at Malibu. Combine these with the James Bond surfboard and even North Korea’s hidden surf breaks are within striking distance. Watch these videos:
Red Bull teamed up with the world’s best barrel riders (Jamie O’Brien, Jamie Sterling, Ian Walsh, and Raimana Van Bastolear) to film the world’s heaviest barrel in the that’s never been done before. Using a 360 cam (I’d never heard of one either) strapped to their backs, they film the barrel from all angles. The resulting footage allows you to see the barrel from the surfer’s perspective and actually move the camera around the barrel for 360 degree views! Incredible stuff. You can actually pause the camera at any point and move the camera around and see the barrel from all angles. Since most of us won’t probably ever be dropping into 10 ft. Teahupoo, it’s a good as we can get for now. Here’s the link to the Red Bull site on the project with videos. Check out the photos below.
