There’s something about surfing Maverick’s that inspires fear in all of us. Whether it’s the dark water, the treacherous, rocky inside section, or simply the fact that Northern California is a haven for great white sharks, there isn’t a wave rider on the planet that doesn’t take the place seriously.
But Pillar Point isn’t always so brooding. Yes, it always needs to be treated with respect, but when it’s smaller, it can be more manageable, and us “mere humans” can paddle out there and attempt to get a wave. But there’s always the threat of a sneaker set that can catch the unprepared off guard. In this beautiful clip from drone pilot Sammy Rigling (from April 2), you can see the terror I’m talking about.
As the wave starts to jack up out the back, all the surfers scratch to get outside like their lives depend on it. And who knows, maybe they do? But on this occasion several of them have their boards go over the falls in violent fashion, with the surfers surely following with their leashes attached. It’s always a crap shoot at California’s most iconic big wave.
Rigling, who hasn’t been creating imagery all that long, captured an absolutely gorgeous sequence. He got his start shooting with friends outside of San Francisco. “I’m actually a plumber, but I had shoulder surgery and just got a drone to keep myself occupied,” he told me. “I instantly fell in love with filming and went and got my Part 107 FAA License (for flying a drone).
Rigling started filming with big wave surfer Colin Dwyer in Pacifica, California. Filming at Maverick’s is almost as intimidating as surfing (almost), but Rigling says the community of image-makers welcomed him in during his rookie season. “The first real day of filming Maverick’s happened to be the day everyone has been talking about, December 23,2024,” he said. “One of the largest days surfed there in history and I fell in love with filming. Every time I saw there was a swell I would plan the day to head out there. I met some really cool surfers and other drone photographers as well. It’s a great community and there are a lot of up-and-coming surfers.”
The clip above was from Rigling’s last day filming for the season and the conditions were crisp, to say the least. “I knew it was going to be a good paddle day, but I didn’t expect such perfect conditions,” he said. “The wave in the video (above) was bigger than anything else that day, the swell was picking up and I saw the surfers all paddling for their lives.”
You can find more of Sammy Rigling’s excellent work on his Instagram page or on his YouTube channel. Or check out the full drone edit, below.
