4 Best Locations in the World for Big Wave Surfing

1. Jaws, Maui: Hawaii’s Legendary Wave

Jaws in Maui is known as one of the best big wave surfing Spots in the world. The waves at Jaws can reach heights of over 60 feet, creating an extreme challenge for surfers. Conditions here are extremely unpredictable, with waves that can appear and disappear suddenly. The power of Jaws, Maui, has made it a revered spot in the surfing community. Surfers use tow-ins with the help of jet skis to reach the speeds needed to conquer these massive waves.

Nazaré, Portugal: Home to the Highest Wave Records
Nazaré in Portugal has captured the world’s attention with its waves that reach over 100 feet. The location holds several world records for the highest waves ever surfed. This is due to the phenomenon of the “Nazaré Canyon,” an underwater canyon that amplifies the waves. The waves here are huge and fast, making it a favorite spot for big wave surfers looking for an extreme challenge.

Mavericks, California: A Challenge for Daring Surfers
Mavericks in California is one of the most famous places for big wave surfing in the United States. The waves here can reach 50 feet, with steep formations and dangerous crests. Surrounded by coral reefs, this location requires a high level of skill and courage from surfers. Mavericks is known for its strong and ferocious waves, often forcing surfers to prepare for emergency situations.

Teahupo’o, Tahiti: The Fastest and Most Beloved Wave
Teahupo’o in Tahiti is known for its very thick and steep waves, creating the perfect “tube” for surfers. The waves here are not the biggest, but the power and speed of the waves are extreme. The combination of high waves and shallow waters make Teahupo’o one of the most dangerous locations in the world for big wave surfing.

2. Nazaré, Portugal: Home to the Record for Highest Wave

Nazaré in Portugal has become a major highlight in the world of big wave surfing. The location is known for its giant waves that can reach heights of over 100 feet, making it a frequent site for breaking world records. This unique phenomenon is caused by the “Nazaré Canyon,” a deep and long underwater canyon that acts like a natural channel, amplifying the energy of the waves before they reach the shore.

Jaws, Maui: Hawaii’s Legendary Wave
Jaws in Maui, Hawaii, is one of the most famous spots for big wave surfing. The waves here can reach heights of over 60 feet and are known for being extremely powerful and fast. Surfers often use a tow-in technique with the help of a jet ski because the big waves at Jaws are too fast to paddle manually. It is also a major venue for extreme surfing, with surfers from all over the world coming to conquer the legendary Jaws wave in Maui.

Mavericks, California: A Challenge for Daredevils
Mavericks is located off the coast of Half Moon Bay, California, and is known for its ferocious and unpredictable waves. The waves at Mavericks can reach 50 feet and above, with extremely steep formations. The challenge here is not only the height of the waves, but also the rocky bottom, making it one of the most dangerous spots.

Teahupo’o, Tahiti: The Fastest and Most Beloved Wave
Teahupo’o in Tahiti is known for its incredibly thick waves and perfect tubes. The waves are not very high, but they are very powerful and fast. The shallow bottom adds to the risk for surfers, making Teahupo’o one of the most challenging places to surf big waves.

3. Mavericks, California: A Challenge for Daring Surfers

Mavericks off the coast of Half Moon Bay, California, is one of the most challenging and dangerous big wave surfing locations. The waves here can reach heights of 50 feet or more, with fast-moving waves crashing into the rocky seabed. The steep nature of the waves and unpredictable crests make Mavericks a test of a surfer’s courage and skill. Plus, the cold water temperatures and strong currents add to the risk, making it a place that only experienced surfers can conquer.

Nazaré, Portugal: Home to the Record for Highest Waves
Nazaré is known for its giant waves that can reach over 100 feet, breaking multiple world records. This is due to the “Nazaré Canyon,” an underwater canyon that amplifies the waves before they reach the shore. Nazaré is often visited by professional big wave surfers looking for the ultimate challenge. One famous moment was when Garrett McNamara rode a 78-foot wave here, setting a world record.

Jaws, Maui: Hawaii’s Legendary Wave
Jaws, located in Maui, Hawaii, is one of the most famous big wave surfing spots in the world. The waves here can reach heights of up to 60 feet and over, and surfers often use the tow-in technique to catch waves that are too big to paddle by hand. Jaws is known for its impressive power and speed, attracting professional surfers who want to test their limits.

Teahupo’o, Tahiti: The Fastest and Most Beloved Wave
Teahupo’o in Tahiti is known for its incredibly thick and steep waves, forming perfect tubes. While not as big as the waves at Nazaré or Mavericks, the power and speed of the waves are extreme. This location is often considered one of the most dangerous places to surf due to the very shallow waters and sharp coral, making it suitable only for professional surfers.

4. Teahupo’o, Tahiti: The Fastest and Most Beloved Wave

Teahupo’o in Tahiti is one of the most iconic and challenging surf spots in the world. The wave is known not only for its power, but also for its speed and perfect tube shape. Teahupo’o’s waves may not be as high as those at Nazaré or Mavericks, but its steep formation with thick walls of water makes it extremely dangerous. The wave crashes into a shallow reef, creating extreme and deadly conditions. It’s not uncommon for surfers to get slammed hard here, so only experienced pros dare to take on the challenge.

Nazaré, Portugal: Home to the Highest Wave Record
Nazaré in Portugal has broken multiple world records with waves that reach over 100 feet. Located near the “Nazaré Canyon,” an underwater canyon that amplifies the waves, it attracts big wave surfers looking to conquer the highest waves. Nazaré is often the highlight of surfing competitions, with legendary surfers like Garrett McNamara challenging the big waves and setting world records.

Jaws, Maui: Hawaii’s Legendary Wave
Jaws in Maui, Hawaii, is one of the most famous destinations for big wave surfing. The waves at Jaws can reach heights of over 60 feet, often challenging surfers to tow-in on jet skis. The sea conditions here are powerful and dangerous, making it a favorite among surfers looking for a thrill and adrenaline rush. Jaws is known for its destructive power, attracting top surfers from around the world.

Mavericks, California: A Challenge for Daring Surfers
Mavericks is located off the coast of Half Moon Bay, California, and is known for waves that can reach 50 feet and above. The waves here move fast and form steep crests that are difficult to predict. Surrounded by coral reefs and frigid water, Mavericks only attracts experienced surfers who are ready to face extreme danger.