Distributor of Ideas
Staff
View this post on Instagram

A post shared by raimanaworld (@raimanaworld) on

Raimana Van Bastolaer is a living legend. He’s the keeper of Teahupoo, one of the heaviest waves in the world. For years, he’s been the ever-smiling host to visiting surfers and the person locals look up to. A couple of years ago, he took a position at Kelly’s Surf Ranch and can be heard often screaming at surfers from the ski, more stoked than anyone else. Long before he was screaming in Kelly’s pool, he was screaming at anyone who went for a big one. Just because he’s working 100 miles from the ocean, however, doesn’t mean he’s still not the king of Chopes. And he proved it a few days ago.

After a very large blob appeared on the forecasts, he decided not to fly back to California in favor of getting a very large tube. When dawn arrived, Raimana was in the water, watching as enormous waves folded over the infamous reef. When the right one darkened the horizon, Raimana, like he’s done so many times before, whipped into a cave and showed us all that he’s still the king.

 
Newsletter

Only the best. We promise.

Contribute

Join our community of contributors.

Apply