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Big Wave Surfing

Big wave surfing usually means riding waves with faces of 20 feet (about 6 metres) and more. It combines athletic skill with ocean science, rescue planning and a lot of waiting.

In this section we explain how the biggest breaks work, how surfers stay alive, and how women won access to the sport's major stages.

In this section

The fight for a women's heat at Mavericks Equal pay in professional surfing Big wave safety The world's legendary big wave breaks Living in a surf town Buying a home near big wave breaks: what surfers should check first Big swells and coastal property: understanding storm and flood risk Surf-town second homes: how mortgages for vacation properties work