Big wave surfer Jeff Rowley ‘paddles-in’ to historic 50-foot face waves at Peahi “Jaws” and becomes the first Australian to ride the waves without Jet Ski tow-in.All for the rush of surfing and a good cause.Rowley and his girlfriend/videographer Minnie Vuong, from Torquay Victoria, have based themselves in Hawaii for three months to catch and document the monster North Pacific winter storm surf.Rowley and Vuong flew from the island of Oahu to Maui Tuesday night, and arrived at the infamous Peahi ‘Jaws’ cliff top before sunrise to see the 50-60 foot waves (15-18m) for the first time.

Jason Murray photo....
Kohl Christensen doing what he does best: steep and deep.paddling into a wave over 20' at Jaws

The revolution may not be televised, but it will be discussed at length on Facebook, splattered across the pages of surf magazines around the globe and prominently featured on websites like the one you are now reading. Big-wave paddle surfing has progressed more in the last five years than in all of history. The once long list of waves formerly considered off limits to paddle surfing is shrinking faster than you can say, "Throw me the tow rope."

Big Wednesday at the Bay. Some went head over heals over the swell! Thanks to Chris Skapik for the shot...

Swell  peaked in the morning with 12-15' with 18' and occas 20' sets(local scale or 20-35' faces). The lips were thick and back breaking. Crowds were typical: ludicrous.GQ.

Check out the Report by: Manolo Morales

Big waves drew a crowd at Oahu's North Shore Wednesday. The northwest swell provided quite a show for the spectators, but it also kept rescue workers on their toes....

January 4, 2012 01:50AM