Big Wave Surfing

Big wave surfing demands conquering ocean swells of 20 feet or taller, with Nazaré, Portugal hosting waves exceeding 100 feet; the central hazard is being held underwater for two minutes or more while unconscious. Garrett McNamara set the world record for largest wave surfed at 78 feet in 2011, but Sebastian Steudtner broke it in 2020 with an officially ratified 86-foot wave—a feat that’s nearly 40% taller than the sport’s 20-foot baseline. The Eddie Aikau Invitational only runs when waves exceed 20 feet and has held just 10 events since 1985, highlighting this sport’s extreme rarity. Big wave surfing’s impact forces often exceed 3,000 pounds per square inch, more than double the average of #3 Big Wave Surfing.