- Laura Enever is now etched into the Guinness World Records
- A Sydney surfer was launched into a monster 13.3 meter (43.6 foot) wave
- Unfolded during the break known as the Himalayas on the north coast of Hawaii
Fearless Aussie Laura Enever has written herself into the Guinness Book of World Records after surfing the biggest wave ever ridden by a woman.
The 31-year-old from North Narrabeen on Sydney’s northern beaches was on the professional WSL tour for seven years, competing against the likes of Tyler Wright and Stephanie Gilmore, before boldly deciding big wave surfing was her passion a few years ago.
On January 22 this year, Enever launched a monster wave of 13.3 meters (or 43.6 feet) at the infamous Himalayan fault on the north coast of Hawaii.
A mistake could have been fatal, but Enever seized her moment and surpassed the previous record of 12 meters, set by Andrea Moller in Maui in 2016.
It’s a stunning achievement for a rider who was always told as a child that she wasn’t strong or tall enough to be a world-class athlete.
Fearless Aussie Laura Enever has written herself into the Guinness Book of World Records after surfing the biggest wave ever ridden by a woman
Enever (pictured center, with yellow surfboard) was launched into a monster 13.3 meter (or 43.6 foot) wave at the infamous Himalayan Fault on Hawaii’s north coast and survived to tell the story
The natural footer was a junior world champion and also competed on the WSL tour for seven years before turning her attention to big wave surfing
She previously told Ny Breaking Australia how she stays motivated and how surfing led her to find a second passion: art
“It was the swell of the decade, there was no wind, the conditions were perfect,” Enever told Sunrise presenters Matt Shirvington and Natalie Barr on Thursday.
“I knew it was by far the biggest wave I had ever caught… I just didn’t know if it was photographed or videotaped.”
The anxious run-up to the record ride lasted a whole week for the surfer.
“You’re always nervous, but the week before you’re most scared when you see the swell on the forecast,” she told the Sydney Morning Herald.
“You have a week to cook on it and you start thinking about all the things that could happen, like breaking bones, concussions, drowning.
‘I knew straight away that this was the biggest wave I had ever ridden. I just had to hold on for dear life.”
The Sydneysider was quickly dumped after riding past the monster wave, but she explained that she stayed upright long enough for Guinness to endorse it as a new world best.
In the hectic seconds that followed, Enever had to put on her playing face.
Enever is in this photo somewhere under tons of water after being dumped by the monster wave – but her world record still counts
She recalled taking a “violent beating” from the whitewash, but even as she was crushed beneath the surface, the natural foot star remained calm.
“I smiled, it was a full circle moment for me after leaving the WSL tour,” she said.
“It was a bit surreal… For me, big wave surfing is about pushing myself and connecting with the ocean to put myself on a big, beautiful wave.”
After Enever was told that her exploits had been immortalized in photos and video, she was elated.
“When I got the images sent to me a few days later (on Instagram), I showed it to mum and dad, they were proud,” she said.
“But at the same time, a little angry that I had taken on a wave of that size.”