Holy Hell. This is Why Giant Waves are the Greatest Show on Earth.

by Chris Dixon

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That’s gonna hurt. In fact it might just kill you. A frozen moment of carnage at Jaws.
All frame grabs courtesy: World Surf League. 

Yesterday I had the honor of reporting on the the inaugural Big Wave World Tour Pe’ahi Invitational for Surfline.com. Holy hell. The. Most. Insane. Surf. Contest. Ever. Watching it live in my living room on, and wondering if Greg Long, Billy Kemper, Carlos Burle, Shane Dorian and a slew of other madmen were going to even survive this cerulean gladiator pit was a wild, stomach clenching ride – even from the safety of the couch.

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Shane Dorian. Will he make it? Frame grab courtesy: World Surf League. 

At the end of the line, feel free to give my Surfline story a click, and comment on whether you agree with my prognostications, or whether I’m missing something altogether. — CD

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A view from the contest HQ. Frame grab courtesy: World Surf League. 

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Maui Local Albee Layer. Frame grab courtesy: World Surf League. 

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Helicopter Pilot Don Shearer gets his cameraman a drone’s eye view. Frame grab courtesy: World Surf League. 

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The ski would end up a casualty of the wildest surf contest in history. Frame grab courtesy: World Surf League. 

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Greg Long. Maybe the biggest wave ever paddled into at Pe’ahi. At least Jaws guru Dave Kalama thought so. Frame grab courtesy: World Surf League. 

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Ian Walsh nails a horrendous drop. Frame grab courtesy: World Surf League. 

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Carlos Burle destroyed three boards in one 50-minute heat. Frame grab courtesy: World Surf League. 

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Ass over elbows. Frame grab courtesy: World Surf League. 

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Head under heels. Frame grab courtesy: World Surf League. 

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Full Hail Mary. Frame grab courtesy: World Surf League. 

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Second place finisher Albee Layer. Think he’s happy? Frame grab courtesy: World Surf League. 

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Layer’s best friend and contest winner Billy Kemper. Frame grab courtesy: World Surf League. 

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Lines beyond the horizon. Frame grab courtesy: World Surf League. 

Here’s my Surfline story: Billy Kemper Wins Pe’ahi Big Wave Challenge. 

And here’s the highlight reel that produced the above images:

 

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