“Oh, it’s had a humungous affect on the progression of
big wave surfing over the past 30 years. No question. ”
This from Frank Quirarte, the renowned surf photographer and
heavy water safety expert from Half Moon Bay, California who, having recently
returned from an epic strike mission to Cortes Bank, definitely knows what he’s
talking about. He isn’t referencing any particular surfboard design,
breath-holding training method or inflatable vest. He’s not talking about
different GoPro mounts, either. What Quirarte is pointing to as having arguably
the single most significant influence on big wave surfing over the past few
decades is the Jet Ski.
Peahi, Teahupo’o, Aussie bommies and slabs, Mullaghmore, Cortes Bank and, of course, Nazarè — all tackled at size with a hand on the throttle, and in each case completely redefining the parameters of what is considered to be rideable surf. Then there’s the paradigm shift when it comes to safety, with the introduction of precise teamwork and coordinated rescue protocol. Yet although having become ubiquitous in big wave lineups around the world, and the topic of much discussion and even controversy since gaining popularity in the early 1990s, the wider surfing world has been told virtually nothing about how and why these machines work, or, in fact, anything about their performance and design evolution. So let’s fix that right now. Read More
