The moment surfer takes on 41-foot monster wave... and lives to tell the tale

DailyMailonline ^ | 07th November 2008 | Wil Longbottom

[AmericanMade1776]

A daredevil surfer is pictured tackling a giant 41 foot wave in a bid to win himself a prestigious award. Kerby Brown took on the monster during a session at a top secret reef, and nearly didn't live to tell the tale. Moments after these pictures were taken, he suffered a devastating wipeout which nearly killed him.

He said: 'Usually the wave never steps out or goes evil like that one, but it just went dry - the hardest wave I've ever had to surf. 'I went straight over over the lip and did about 10 backflips and then pulled a muscle in my shoulder. 'It felt like I ripped my arm out of its socket, my leggie snapped and then I felt like I was the deepest I'd ever been.'

[38special]

Any wave over head high is serious business.

[papasmurf]

I snatched the high res shots of this. It’s breathtaking.

I’m a skeered ex-surfer, as I got hurt badly when I was 12 surfing, and don’t have the oysters to go out again. :(

[diverteach]

I’ve surfed 25 footers before. I remember having just paddled out to the lineup and looking at these moving mountains of water rolling in and questioning my judgement to be out there. Once yout out there there’s only one way to get back in, go for it.

I couldn’t imagine being out in 40 plus foot waves. That’s a serious commitment to try. Whew! No thanks, I’ll watch.

BTW, I think the wave at the end of the movie Point Break was bigger and the professional surfer who doubles for Patrick Swayze wiped out 3 times for that shot.

[chris37]

It’s Teahupoo in Hawii, where the reef creates some of the largest, glassiest, most incredibly dangerous waves on the face of the earth. Check out this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9nR90ee-bM

[AmericanMade1776]

Here you go.. http://broadbandsports.com/widgets?bbswstuser=Australia%20Surfing%20Life&id=12984

lots of ASL Oakley Awards and music videos here

[AmericanMade1776]

At least he is ahead of that one..

[fso301]

Looks like a Teahupoo Wave.

[Jeff Chandler]

Could be the Cortes Bank, about 100 miles out from San Diego. It’s one of the spots that require tow-in, and there is a jet ski in the picture.

[So Cal Rocket]

There are some reefs off the coast of San Diego that form some monster waves.

Are you referring to Cortes Bank... 100 miles off the shore of San Diego... it's a chain of underwater mountains that rise from about 1/2 mile down on the ocean floor with peaks that are only about 20 feet from the surface...

[Stevenc131]

I don’t know about this particular wave. However, an excellent documentary on the history of surfing is ‘Riding Giants’, it includes some spectacular scenes.

[Mase]

That's got to be South Australia....?

Here's another one that'll give you cold feet.

Imagine the speed and vertical from that take off!

[ExpatGator]

WOW! I surfed for about 30 years, until my back and neck were ruined. Been around the world and dropped in on some fairly large waves. However, this is insane. Utterly demonic. No way, not me.

[Centurion2000]

bump

[chris37]

Here is another video of phenomenal Teahupoo waves.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E91pK-2TUFg&feature=related

[Jeff Chandler]

Yes, Cortes.

[AmericanMade1776]

Did you read Kerby Brown’s description of riding the wave? He probably will not do it again.

[CollegeRepublican]

It is not Teahupoo. Teahupoo is a left breaking wave and this is a right. My guess is that it is in Tasmania.

[DBCJR]

Reminds me of Bill in “Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure”

[Mase]

California gets their share of monsters. This one's at Mavericks. These waves will look like 10-12' when lining up but can jack up to 25-30' instantly. The water is ice cold, the water is filled with sharks and there's a very shallow bottom covered in rocks. When the north swell comes in it's fun to watch from the shore but I have no idea what possesses these guys to go out and get in front of these.

[chris37]

Hmm. interesting, he is surfing the wrong way for Teahupoo. I was not aware of another location on earth than can produce such waves, but now I would like to know where it is too.