“It was the most intense I’ve ever felt here,” said the man who rode the biggest wave ever surfed and it’s easy to see why. The film from the event, which occurred off the coast of Portugal, is stunning as a minuscule dot slides down the face of a gargantuan wave.
Sebastian Steudtner holds the world record for the largest wave ever surfed (and officially measured). The 37-year-old German had his feat from 2020 formally acknowledged by the Guinness Book of World Records earlier this year.
Praia do Norte in Nazaré is world renowned for some of the biggest waves and is a popular tourist destination. The unique geography and physics of the location which includes an underwater canyon just offshore, combine to create the perfect combination for gargantuan waves.
It was in Nazaré where Steudtner found himself preparing for what would officially become the largest wave ever surfed. On October 20th, 2020, the conditions were just right and Steudtner was towed onto what would later (several years later) become the largest wave ever surfed with a height of 86 feet.
The video of him, a mere speck on the face of this gigantic wall of water, is stunning:
The ride lasted a total of 25 seconds and took a few years to be considered a world record after intense calculations using 3D models that took into account the size of the jetski in the video along with the height of Steudtner’s leg. The result? An official declaration as the highest wave ever officially surfed.
“It was very intense. It was the most intense I’ve ever felt here. There was a lot of energy in the ocean, and it was a very special day for me. We train all year long to be ready for one, two, or three days per season. So, the anticipation and all the thoughts that go into doing it converge into that moment, and then it’s like a release,” shared Steudtner with Surfer Today.
Cover image: clip from YouTube video
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