California Surfer May Have Made History With 108ft Wave
January 1, 2025
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A surfer in California might have beaten the world record for the biggest wave ever surfed on December 23, with one estimate placing it at 108 feet tall, substantially above the current 86-foot record.
The wave was ridden by 23-year-old Alessandro “Alo” Slebir at Half Moon Bay’s Mavericks surfing spot off, situated about 25 miles south of San Francisco.
Newsweek contacted Alessandro Slebir and the Mavericks Rescue Team for comment via Instagram direct message on Wednesday outside of regular office hours.
Why It Matters
The current Guinness World Record for the largest wave surfed is held by Sebastian Steudtner, who successfully mounted an 86-foot wave off the coast of Norte, Portugal, on October 29, 2020.
Beating this height would be a major achievement for Slebir, especially as it didn’t happen off Norte where the current record and two previous records all took place.
What To Know
According to local publication SF Gate, Slebir’s potentially record-breaking surf took place at around 3:15 p.m. PT on December 23, as the Golden State was battered by a winter storm which saw powerful winds and flooding for some areas.
Slebir posted a photograph on Instagram of himself surfing down a colossal wave, and thanked the local Mavericks Rescue Team “for watching over” the proceedings.
Mavericks Rescue member Frank Quirarte said he believed the wave was 108 feet tall, placing it well above the current world record, though he cautioned his analysis was preliminary and this hasn’t been independently confirmed. Guinness World Records took 18 months to approve the previous record, achieved by Steudtner off the coast of Nazare.
Stock photograph showing US surfer Garrett McNamara riding a wave during a surf session at Praia do Norte in Nazare on January 30, 2013. A new surfing world record might have been set on December… Stock photograph showing US surfer Garrett McNamara riding a wave during a surf session at Praia do Norte in Nazare on January 30, 2013. A new surfing world record might have been set on December 23 off the coast of California by American Alessandro Slebir.
PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA/AFP/GETTY
Speaking to SF Gate, Slebir said: “Regardless of the number, it really doesn’t matter how big the wave was to me. It was really the biggest wave of my life and that’s all I really care about at the moment.”
According to specialist publication Surfer Today, Slebir also described the specific wave, commenting: “It felt different. When I turned at the bottom, it felt like I was being sucked back up the face.
“I knew it was a big wave, but the speed made it hard to grasp just how big. When I reached the channel and heard the cheers, I realized it was something extraordinary.”
Slebir worked with his tow partner Luca Padua, who maneuvered him into position with a jet ski, to ride the potentially record breaking wave. Surfer Today reports the pair began surfing at sunrise and remained “until their jet ski nearly ran out of fuel by evening.”
What People Are Saying
Alessandro Slebir said: “I’ve never seen waves of that size in my lifetime.
“You’ll see another one,’ but that was our Mount Everest for Mavericks. You never know, it could happen next week or not again for another 30 years.”
Commenting on social media, professional surfer Kai Lenny said: “100 foot wave,” whilst Mason Barnes, another surfing professional, commented: “That is the world record.”
Speaking to SF Gate, Billy Sharpe, organizer of the annual Big Wave Challenge, said he thought the 108-foot estimate for Slebir’s wave was “generous” but insisted it was “absolutely in the world record territory.”
He said: “Alo’s wave is remarkable. It’s one of the biggest waves that’s ever been seen and captured on photos and videos and they kind of speak for themselves.
“It’s going to require more analysis, but I think 100 percent in the discussion for the biggest wave ridden.”
However, according to Surfing Today, surfer photographer Ryan Craig, who was recording the day’s events, said: “To me, it looked like a 70-foot wave.”
What Happens Next
In order to become the Guinness World Record for the largest wave ever surfed, Slebir’s feet will have to be registered with the organization, along with supporting evidence.
Guinness World Records will then seek to verify whether it actually was the largest wave ever surfed, a process that could take months or even years.
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