Sport Big Wave
“The wave of my life” – surfer breaks world record
Status: 09.11.2023 | Reading time: 3 minutes
The new world record holder: Laura Enever surfed a huge wave
Quelle: picture alliance/ZUMAPRESS.com/WSL
When the monster wave came, Laura Enever was ready. The Australian surfer paddled in and is now being recognized for setting a record months later. She achieved the record ride off Hawaii.
“Fearless, passionate and a real inspiration” – these are the words used to describe Australian Laura Enever. This was announced by Jessi Miley-Dyer, sports director of the World Surf League (WSL), on Wednesday at a special honor: This year Enever surfed a 13.3 meter high wave, the largest wave ever mastered by a woman and paddled into it . So while most big wave surfers use jet skis to be towed into big waves, Enever paddled into them under his own power.
“When that wave came I was in the perfect place,” Enever told the Sydney Morning Herald. “It was such a gift. I was so excited, there’s just no feeling like it.”
The 31-year-old had already achieved the record on January 22nd on the Oahu Outer Reef in Hawaii, as Guinness World Records announced. As part of the WSL Big Wave Record Chase, the World Surf League officially analyzed, measured and verified Enever’s impressive ride. The previous record was 12.8 meters, set by the Brazilian Andrea Moller seven years ago. Enever has now been presented with the Guinness World Record certificate in her hometown of Narrabeen, Australia.
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The record for men’s paddle-in waves is held by American Aaron Gold at 19.2 meters. Another record has been held by a German for three years: Sebastian Steudtner holds the record for the largest wave ever surfed at 26.21 meters – he achieved this in Nazaré/Portugal.
“A monumental moment in my surfing career”
At the award, Enever looked back on that day in January: “I knew the wave was big when I paddled into it,” said Enever. “I knew it was the wave of my life, the way it all came together, the way I told myself I could do it and trusted it,” she said. “The ride was a breakthrough for me and a special and monumental moment in my surfing career. To receive this award now, months later, is really cool, I can’t believe it.”
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For the Australian, it is the crowning achievement of her career, which began successfully at an early age. Among other things, she was Junior World Champion in 2009 and qualified for the WSL Championship Tour in 2011, where she consistently finished in the top ten for many years in a row before finally switching to big wave events. Enever also took the opportunity to pay tribute to her predecessors at the award.
Worn on hands: Laura Enever is celebrated for her victory at the Australian Open of Surfing 2015
Quelle: Getty Images/Cameron Spencer
“I would never be in this position if it weren’t for all the big wave surfers who came before me and paved the way for me, especially the really brave women who always inspired me and made me feel like that I can try out there,” she said. “So thank you to all the amazing women. I’m just always in awe. Andrea Moller held this record before me and it is an honor to hold this record and continue to advance big wave surfing.”
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