Wednesday, November 9, 2011

 Largest wave ever surfed: Garrett McNamara sets world record (Video)

Praia do Norte, Nazaré, Portugal -- Hawaiian Garrett McNamara has surfed a giant wave in Praia do Norte, Nazaré, Portugal, during the ZON North Canyon Project 2011; the wave caught by McNamara is estimated to be about 90 feet (30 meters) - setting the new world record for the Largest wave ever surfed, according to World Record Academy (www.worldrecordacademy.com).

  Photo: Hawaiian Garrett McNamara surfs a 90-foot wave off the coast of Portugal. Photo: ZON North Canyon Show ( enlarge photo )

  The Guinness world record for the longest distance wave surfed on open water was 43.1 mi (66.47 km) by Gary Saavedra (Panama) surfing on the Panama Canal in Panama City, Panama.

Guinness World Records also recognized the world record for the Most surfboards stacked on a car, set by a group of surfers (USA) who successfully stacked a total of 282 surfboards on top of a car and drove 30.4 m (100 ft ) near Santa Barbara, California, USA.

  Garrett was tow-in surfing with Andrew Cotton and Al Mennie when he suddenly caught this giant wave. Watch the biggest wave of all time, here.

 "Everything was perfect, the weather, the waves. Cotty and I surfed two big waves of about 60 feet and then, when Garrett was ready came a canyon wave of over 90 feet.

  "The jet ski was the best place to see him riding the biggest wave I've ever seen. It was amazing. Most people would be scared, but Garrett was controling everything in the critical part of the wave. It was an inspiring ride by an inspiring surfer", says Al Mennie.

  Praia do Norte is home to one of the only deep water canyons runs all the way to shore in Europe. It funnels large swells from the Atlantic Ocean and, under the right conditions, can create massive waves that dwarf those along the rest of the Portuguese coast.

  McNamara has been working with the Portuguese Hydrographic Institute as part of the ZON North Canyon Project to understand how the waves reach such record-breaking heights at this particular point.

  "I feel so blessed and honoured to have been invited to explore this canyon and its special town. The waves here are such a mystery", says Garrett.