Can we talk, just for a second, about how much surfing has progressed in such a short period of time? Back in the 90s, when Kalama and Laird et al first started yanking each other into waves too big to paddle, the surfing world was rocked to its core. “That’s possible?” we asked. “Waves that big are surfable?” Since then, of course, tow surfing enjoyed a brief moment in the sun before the paddle resurgence. Still, though, there are waves that are just too big to paddle. The Right in WA can be one of those waves, and now people you probably haven’t heard of are towing into waves no one in their right mind would surf. Like Rudi Schwartz, for example. Although you may not have heard his name (you should have!), Schwartz ain’t no stranger to waves of extraordinary size. The Hobart, Tasmania native is so comfortable in caves like this that he pauses to survey his very, very scary surroundings. As is the case with waves this big, someone was there to document it, and it just so happens to be Tim Bonython, a man who has probably documented more giant swells that anyone else. And you know what’s strange? Somehow, since giant waves are so well-documented and towing has fallen out of vogue, waves like this run the risk of losing their lustre. It’s like The Clash said: “Death or glory becomes just another story.” So sit back, watch the clip, and try to put yourself in Rudi’s shoes. The wave above occurred on September 18th, 2017, and now it’s an entry in the Ride of the Year Award category of the 2018 WSL Big Wave Awards.
