On December 23, 2024, Mavericks, the world-renowned surf spot near Half Moon Bay, Northern California, delivered waves so massive they left even the most seasoned chargers in awe.
Ken "Skindog" Collins called it the "swell of a lifetime"; others talk about a potential new Guinness World Record (GWR).
It has been described within the big-wave surfing community as one of the greatest days in the history of the break, with waves towering over 60-80 feet (18-24 meters), fueled by a once-in-a-decade swell.
Santa Cruz surfer Alessandro "Alo" Slebir, who has spent years honing his skills at Mavericks, was among the standout performers.
He and his tow partner, Luca Padua, were the first to hit the water at sunrise, staying until their jet ski nearly ran out of fuel by evening.
During the peak of the swell in the afternoon, Luca towed Alo into a wave so big that some are already calling it a potential world record.
"It felt different. When I turned at the bottom, it felt like I was being sucked back up the face," Slebir said.
"I knew it was a big wave, but the speed made it hard to grasp just how big. When I reached the channel and heard the cheers, I realized it was something extraordinary."
Surfer photographer Ryan Craig, who spent the day capturing the action from a jet ski, described the wave as potentially the largest ever ridden at Mavericks.
"To me, it looked like a 70-foot wave," he said.
Into Guinness or Not Into Guinness
However, as always, there are different opinions, some of which refer to Slebir's grandiose Mavericks right-hander as a 108-foot ride (33 meters).
If that's the case, it would break Sebastian Steudtner's October 2020 GWR wave.
At the time, the German surfer descended a mountain of water estimated at 86 feet (26 meters).
Currently, the official wave height measurement model is controlled by the World Surf League (WSL), the entity that validates GWR achievements.
Nevertheless, in recent years, several alternative measurement methods have been proposed, including Henet Wave and Steudtner's partner, Porsche Engineering.
So, not only do we have different lobbies aiming to set the standard in big wave size calculation, but regional interests are also trying to shift the location of world records.
Can Mavericks on a historical swell day top Nazaré's underwater canyon and recurring winter storms?
The truth is that an independent assessment of this obsession with superlative feats will hardly exist; there are too many economic pressures at stake.
Conditions Align Perfectly
The December 2024 swell, born from a powerful Pacific storm thousands of miles away, brought waves with a striking 25-second period, which, for those who are not familiar with the variable, translated into immense energy.
Veteran Mavericks surfer Peter Mel explained the significance.
"The longer the interval, the more power the waves carry. Yesterday, the waves moved so fast I had to gun my ski just to stay ahead of them," he told the San Francisco Chronicle.
Thick fog and relentless sea spray obscured the view from land for much of the day, but those on the water were treated to a spectacle.
Alongside Slebir and Padua, surfers like Lucas Chianca, Jojo Roper, and Peter and John Mel tackled the colossal waves on offer.
Mark Foo would be proud of his comrade's session.
Local talent Michael Joshua had a harrowing experience after being thrown off his board and dragged underwater, but fortunately, there were no serious injuries reported.
A hydrofoil riding Mavericks? Why not?
Matt Etxebarne Aguirregomezkorta made sure to give his foil board a chance at the Northern California wave, making it a first-ever run at the spot.
"It was one of the craziest days of my entire life and probably the biggest waves of my life, too!" the Basque Country surfer expressed.
"It's Like Being in 'Jurassic Park'"
Mavericks is known for its raw power and unforgiving conditions, and December 23 was no exception.
Surfers had to rely on jet skis to tow them into the massive waves, as paddling into such steep and fast-moving giants was nearly impossible.
The break's notorious danger was on full display, with waves breaking far beyond their usual boundaries and sets lasting 15 to 16 waves, leaving little room for error.
Longtime Mavericks photographer Frank Quirarte once again witnessed the experience of being among living, breathing giants.
"It's like being in 'Jurassic Park,'" he said. "You're out there with these monsters, and the goal is to survive the day."
Mavericks has a storied history as one of the world's premier big-wave surf spots, pioneered in the 1970s by Jeff Clark.
Reflecting on this recent session, Clark called it one of the three biggest days he's witnessed in nearly 50 years.
Words by Luís MP | Founder of SurferToday.com
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