Brazilian surfer Carlos Burle was surfing off the coast of Portugal this week and he may have set a new world record for the largest wave ever surfed. Burle’s wave is estimated to be around 100 feet tall.
The wave was created by the St. Jude storm – at Praia do Norte, near the fishing village of Nazare. The beach where he caught the massive wave is known for its incredibly large and rather scary waves. The area is routinely hit by violent Atlantic storm swells.
Burle was traveling with fellow surfer May Gabeira, who was nearly killed by a strong wave that knocked her unconscious and pushed her under an avalanche of water. Gabeira was dragged onto shore and rushed to a local hospital, where she was treated for a broken ankle.
Mr. Burle said: “At one stage there was a bit of shouting and screaming. Everyone was so excited you know, and I was just shouting back at them, telling them that it’s just another big day, that everyone had to stay focused.”
Speaking to Surfer Today, he added, “It was luck. We never know when we will be catching the wave. I still hadn’t surfed any wave and everyone had already had their rides. Maya almost died. For me, it was a big adrenaline moment to get back there after what happened.”
The current world record according to the Guinness World Records was achieved by Garret McNamara from Hawaii. McNamara rode a 78 foot tall wave in the vary same spot in Nazare on November 1, 2011.
While the waves in the area are very dangerous and capable of claiming the lives of surfers, that has not stopped thrill seekers from taking to the area with the enthusiasm of a daredevil. Dozens of other surfers were also in the water on Saturday when Carlos Burles very likely set the world record for the largest wave ever surfed.
