The Biggest Waves Ever Surfed at Cloudbreak (Video)

Originally posted on SURFER | By Dashel Pierson | Last updated Aug 31, 2025 2:15 AM ET

Lounging at the Fiji Marriott Momi Resort, between eating way too much good food, mingling with WSL staffers and pro surfer entourages, every now and then, us media folk are granted to opportunity to surf the mythical lefthander of Cloudbreak.

We’re in the midst of the waiting period for the 2025 WSL Finals Day event, and thus far, the waves have been less than stellar. But there’s swell on the way – keep an eye out, set your calendars, for a likely run day on September 2nd at either Cloudbreak or Restaurants. Depending on the swell and conditions, the day will call the wave.

In the meantime, however, why not look back at one of the most historic, groundbreaking, and downright scariest sessions to ever go down at Cloudbreak.

It happened on June 8th during the 2012 Fiji Pro, and after a few heats, contest organizers decided to call off the event. It was just too big. And that was one of the only times in history that’s ever happened. What followed was a free surf session for the ages.

And things started ominous. In the morning, that day, a lightning bolt struck Tavarua Island Resort, casting a strange omen over the event. It even spooked Kaiborg, the Hawaiian heavy built like a tank. As he told Men’s Journal:

“The flash went off right here. Then the explosion went off and I freaked out. My balls almost came out of my mouth, brah.”

Even though the comp was officially called off, a handful of CT surfers joined the big-wave hellions during the momentous free-surf – including, but not limited to, Parko, Mick, John John, Yadin Nicol, Ace Buchan, Pat Gudauskas, CJ and Damien, and Mitch Coleborn.

“Barriers were beyond broken, I’m pretty sure everyone got the wave of their life out there today,” beamed Dane Gudauskas, who scratched into some bombs. “That’s a heavy quote but I’m sure it went down. Some of the unridden ones were beyond heavy!”

As for the 2025 Lexus WSL Finals in Fiji, don’t expect anything like 2012. There is swell on the way, but that session was a once in a lifetime occurrence. One for the history books.

Stay tuned for the official call on Finals Day, likely going down September 2nd (Fiji time).

This article first appeared on SURFER and was syndicated with permission.

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