Watch: Jet Ski Launches Off Gigantic Wave at Mavericks

Originally posted on SURFER | By Dashel Pierson | Last updated 2/20/24

These days, jet skis are essential in big-wave surfing safety.

When a surfer wipes out, gets caught inside, gets knocked unconscious, or worse, a jet ski can whip into the impact zone, retrieve the surfer, and rush them to safety. As such, many of the world’s best big-wave surf spots are flooded with jet skis.

But sometimes, those jet skis (and their drivers) can wind up in a bad spot. Malfunctions can happen. Drivers can fall off. Sneaker waves can roll through.

It was the latter, seemingly, that happened in the video above from Mavericks. Not much context is provided, but a slew of jet skis are crowding the lineup. Like, a lot of jet skis. Waterworld-level of jet skis. Then, a rogue wave breaks wide.

The jet skis scramble, most of ‘em to the south towards the channel. Some, however, hit the throttle and gas it straight out, attempting to make it over the wave. One, in particular, doesn’t quite make it. The unnamed ski driver launches off the top of the wave, goes soaring over the back, and gets bucked off their PWC.

Carnage.

In the aftermath, the fallen jet ski driver is rescued by – you guessed it – the other jet ski drivers. They swooped in and picked up their fallen soldier. And it would appear that nobody was hurt.

Captioning the clip, Mavericks Surf Awards wrote:

“Waterworld at its finest, Mavericks played host to big wave tow surfers from around the globe when a monster swell slammed Half Moon Bay on December 28, 2023. Jet ski chaos ensued, as one of the safety teams tried to escape a massive wave by punching through the lip to no avail.”

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

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