Is This the World's Greatest Thrill Ride?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the thrill and danger of surfing massive waves, particularly focusing on the experiences and techniques used by surfers to navigate these extreme conditions. Participants share personal reflections and insights related to the physical sensations and risks involved in big wave surfing.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant describes the intense experience of a surfer riding a massive wave, noting the impact of air and water at high speeds.
  • Another participant shares a sensory reflection on the experience of surfing, emphasizing the painful nature of water impacts.
  • A participant expresses a humorous take on the fear factor associated with big waves, referencing the increasing size of the waves and the dangers involved.
  • Discussion includes the use of watercraft for towing surfers into larger waves, which some participants suggest makes it easier yet still dangerous to catch these waves.
  • Participants mention safety measures such as carrying compressed air tanks and using helicopter drops to reach the waves more safely.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a shared sense of awe and recognition of the dangers associated with big wave surfing, but there is no consensus on the best techniques or safety measures, as different methods and experiences are highlighted.

Contextual Notes

Some claims about the physical sensations and risks of surfing large waves are based on personal experiences and anecdotal evidence, which may vary widely among individuals.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals interested in extreme sports, surfing techniques, or the physics of wave dynamics may find this discussion engaging.

Ivan Seeking
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IMO a leading contender
http://www.big-boys.com/articles/hurricaneivan.html

When the wave breaks, a blast of air and water known as blow-out hits the surfer at something over 120 MPH, I would guess. How he manages to stay up... Wow!

Two things in life that I would really like to do but never will: One is to fly a near state-of-the-art fighter jet, the other is to do what that guy just did.
 
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Thats the kind of thing you can watch and you can feel the salt water start stinging your nose. The little surfing I have done was enough to let me know ..water is very painful.
 
I don't know about you guys but the pucker factor of that video is about 16 million scoville units if you ask me. That wave just keep getting bigger, and bigger, and bigger...

Since they started used using water craft to tow the surfers it is much easier and safer to catch the monster waves. Of course its still just as dangerous if you catch one. If these 50+ footers [as measured from the back] don't break your neck, or smash you into a coral reef and turn you into hamburger, it will pull you down for up to minutes at a time. In fact, when we were at North Shore in Hawaii - the home of moster waves - I was told that one can be pulled down for up to five minutes. So now what the biggest and baddest boys do is to take a small compressed air tank with five or ten minutes worth of air. Also, since larger waves break farther out than do smaller ones, many people have helicopter drops done in order to avoid a mile or two of paddling; and worse, having to get past the breaks!
 
Last edited:
Ivan Seeking said:
Now what the biggest and baddest boys do is to take a small compressed air tank with five or ten minutes worth of air. Also, since larger waves break farther out than do smaller ones, many people have helicopter drops done in order to avoid a mile or two of paddling
Wow. :bugeye:
 

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