How a 20-Year-Old Shredded His Knee at Maverick’s: “My Leg Was Getting Fully Torn Up”

Hamilton said he had caught a few waves before paddling deep on the peak, aiming to snag a steep left. A few capper sets came through, but nothing major. Until this one. “My leash was pulling on my leg so hard I couldn’t release the pun because there was so much pressure on my leg and my body,” he said. “It was like someone tied my leg up to a bull at a rodeo. My leg was getting fully torn up.”

So after getting caught, slammed and tearing his knee Hamilton couldn’t get on a rescue attempt No. 1 from Alo Slebir and took a solid 20-footer on the head. He kept his wits about him when water safety ace Drake Stanley pulled up in the whitewater. 

“He told me he could feel his knee separating as the board was pulling on his leg,” Drake said. “I just grabbed his arm and didn’t give him an option not to get onto the board. Threw him onto there and he was able to get his leash off that leg. And all that happened right in front of the rocks.

“He was in a lot of pain on the way in,” Drake said after Eric Nelson (cliff filmer and safety spotter) called emergency services. “We actually weren’t what had happened to his knee and we were kind of worried he might go into shock.”

If you want to tip the cap and tip some coin to the volunteers who keep an eye on Mavericks, click here. Then enjoy the rest of the session featuring Luca Padua, Luke Shepardson, Jojo Roper, Wilem Banks, Francisco Porcella, Mason Barnes and more.