Australian professional surfer Laura Enever has made waves in the world of surfing as she officially shatters the world record for the largest wave ever paddled into by a woman. Both the Guinness World Records and the World Surf League (WSL) have confirmed the staggering size of the 13.3-metre(43.64 feet) wave that Enever courageously surfed in Hawaii on January 22.
Enever shared her exhilaration, stating, “I knew it was big when I paddled into it and then when I took off I looked down and I knew it was definitely the biggest wave I’ve ever caught.” She also added that this momentous ride was a breakthrough in her career, one that will always be special and monumental.
The method she used, known as paddling-in, involves surfers entering waves without assistance, unlike being towed-in by a jet-ski, which is often used to access larger breaks. (I know, if you surf you know this, but some non-surfers read these articles). The record she broke was previously held by Brazilian professional surfer Andrea Moller, who conquered a 12.8-metre wave eight years ago, also in Hawaii.
At 31, Enever is grateful to the previous generation of female surfers who inspired her and “paved the way” for her success. She hopes that her own achievements will encourage the next generation of girls to pursue the sport.
Enever’s journey in surfing started when she was just 11 years old. She had a successful junior career and was named the World Junior Champion in 2009. By 2011, she qualified to compete on the WSL Championship Tour where she competed for seven years. Now, she participates in WSL Big Wave events, always pushing her boundaries.
WSL Chief of Sport, Jessi Miley-Dyer praised Enever, “Laura is fearless, committed, and a real inspiration, and I’m so proud to celebrate her. These world records really allow us to shine the spotlight on athletes like Laura who are pushing the boundaries of Big Wave surfing.”
The overall record for the largest wave surfed paddle-in is held by Aaron Gold since 2016 when he rode a 19.2-metre (about 63-foot) wave off the coast of Hawaii. The record for the biggest wave ever surfed is held by Germany’s Sebastian Steudtner who rode a 26.21-metre (86-foot) wave in 2020.
Watch Sebastian Steudtner’s wave here: