Watch: Biggest Wave Ever Foil Surfed at Maverick’s?

The sensation associated with hydrofoil surfing, quite often, is likened to flying. It makes sense because you’re literally hovering above the ocean, and the foil cuts through the water, limiting drag, and creating a floating feeling. But that’s mainly when it comes to foil surfing in small waves.

In big waves, and being towed in on a foil via PWC, it must feel like…a human cannonball? A peregrine falcon (the world’s fastest animal with a top speed of 200 mph)? Sure, something like that.

Matt Etxebarne Aguirregomezkorta, the Basque Country big wave foil surfer, knows what it feels like. And recently, during the historic swell that slammed California at the end of last year – producing a potential new world record wave, 108-feet, surfed by Alo Slebir – Matt got whipped into a few waves on his foil at Maverick’s. It begs the question: Biggest wave ever foil surfed at Mav’s? See below.