SURF THE BIG WAVES

What are the dangers that you face when you go big wave surfing? From icy cold waters, hypothermia, broken bones, dislocated shoulders, drowning to shark attacks but the thrill of conquering the wave beats the dangers down

Big-wave fever is relatively new to the surfing world, only in the last 15 years have surfers tackled the monster breaks with any regularity. The addition of jet-ski watercraft in the early 1990s opened up more possibilities, towing surfers into waves unreachable by conventional paddling. Today, surfers scour the planet looking for ultimate waves, from Maverick’s in northern California , to Jaws at Maui, to Chile, Australia, Africa and Tasmania

New Zealand’s biggest wave is on the south of Dunedin. That means the thought of donning a super-thick wetsuit, hood, gloves and booties and crossing a snow-covered beach to get in the water.

Gary Elkerton is organizing New Zealand’s first big wave surfing challenge, known as the Mt Woodgee Challenge, on the south coast of the South Island. He is quoted to have said:

In the South Island there exists a wave that could be the biggest in the world. We know there are waves in the 30ft (10m) to 50ft foot (16m) range - we’re shooting for the 50-footer.

It’s totally different to competitive surfing where you’re catching waves less than half the size of these big waves. There’s just a lot more of a rush.

Alfredo Going Right Jaws

Elkerton is aiming to pinpoint the arrival of the really big waves, at which point he’ll bring together the bravest and maddest surfers in New Zealand and Australia for a competition, in which riders are towed on to the wave by jet skis. Watching daring surfers take on these huge waves will sure be fun!