RAW VIDEO: Garrett McNamara breaks the world record for the largest wave ever surfed.
Garret McNamara was towed into a rogue wave that turned out to be 90 feet tall. Garrett McNamara was back in Portugal to embark on another mission exploring the waves of Nazaré, in the ZON North Canyon Show 2011. This is the second mission of a three years project, initiated last year. The competition and demonstration is a Nazaré City Hall and ZON project to internationally promote the region as a destination for surfing, showcasing the unique aspects of the “Nazaré Canyon”.
Big wave surfing is specific type of surfing involving experienced surfers that paddle themselves or are towed onto waves which are at least 20 feet (6.2 m) high. Their surf boards are known as “guns” or “rhino chasers”. Sizes of the boards vary by the size of the wave as well as the specific technique the surfer uses to reach the wave. A larger, longer board allows a Big Wave surfer to paddle fast enough to catch the wave and has the advantage of being more stable. However, a longer surf board is limited in maneuverability and surfing speed.
One of the greatest dangers of Big Wave surfing is the risk of being held underwater by two or more consecutive waves, each of which can slam the surfer dow 20 to 50 feet underwater. Pressures can rupture eardrums and disrupt equilibrium — making it difficult for the surfer to detect which direction is up. Surfers can also be slammed into a reef or ocean floor, which can cause serious trauma to the surfer’s head or body.
Surfers have as little as 20 seconds to get back to the surface to get a breath. The next wave can slam them again.
Surviving a triple hold-down is extremely difficult and surfers must be prepared to cope with these situations.
The Nazaré Canyon is an undersea canyon just off the coast of Nazaré, Portugal, in the Eastern Atlantic Ocean, and north of Lisbon, Portugal. The Nazaré Canyon has a maximum depth of at least 16,000 ft (5,000 meters) and is about 140 miles (230 kilometres) long. The Nazaré Canyon is larger than the Grand Canyon.
ESPN’s Steve Levy and Scott Van Pelt in Awe: “Name a surfer dude. Garrett McNamara breaks the world record for the largest wave ever surfed.
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Garret McNamara’s official website: garrettmcnamara.com