The 'Thickest, Scariest' Waves Ever Surfed

Teahupoo, Tahiti is widely known throughout the world of surfing as having the most powerful break on the planet. There are certainly larger waves found breaking at other places in the world, but none that break with such impact and ferocity as found at Teahupoo.

On Aug 27th 2011 during the Billabong Pro waiting period is what many are calling the biggest and gnarliest Teahupoo ever ridden.

Chris Bryan was fortunate enough to be there working for Billabong on a day that will go down in the history of big wave surfing. The French Navy labeled this day a double code red prohibiting and threatening to arrest anyone that entered the water.

Kelly Slater described the day by saying “witnessing this was a draining feeling being terrified for other people’s lives all day long, it’s life or death. Letting go of that rope one time can change your life and not many people will ever experience that in their life.”

Taylor Miles