German surfer Sebastian Steudtner made history in Nazaré, Portugal when he rode the largest wave ever surfed – an insane 86 footer – on On October 29, 2020.
Guinness World Records has just recently recognized Steudtner having surfed the largest wave ever surfed. It was a 2-year wait that was well worth it for Steudtner. The massive 86-foot wave left Steudtner feeling like tiny little ant.
Steudtner described the experience while speaking to Spanish newspaper Marca, “I had tears coming out of my eyes because of the wind, my face was melting. It was crazy. I didn’t imagine that could happen in surfing until that day.” He told Magicseaweed, “I remember thinking, ‘oh that’s fast’. The wave was chattery, crazy. It felt big, but at the time, I wasn’t really sure how big. That’s how it is out there, you just keep going.”
Germany may not be known for its giant surf or professional surfers, but Steudtner’s record-breaking feat has put the country on the map in the surfing world. It’s moments like these that make us remember the thrill and unpredictability of the ocean. The skilled athletes who brave its massive waves are on another level with the absolutely massive cojones it takes to pull something like this off.