Is This the World's Greatest Thrill Ride?

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The discussion highlights the extreme nature of big wave surfing, particularly focusing on the experience of riding massive waves, such as those seen in the video linked. The intensity of the waves is emphasized, with descriptions of the powerful blow-out that surfers face, which can exceed 120 MPH. The conversation reflects on the thrill and danger associated with surfing these colossal waves, noting the physical pain of water impacts and the significant risks involved, including potential injuries from being pulled underwater or crashing into reefs. The use of watercraft for towing surfers has made it easier to catch these waves, but the dangers remain high. Additionally, surfers often utilize compressed air tanks for safety, allowing them to breathe while submerged, and helicopter drops are increasingly common to bypass long paddling distances to reach the waves.
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!
 
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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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