EVERYTHING BIG WAVE RELATED YOU WANT TO READ
This last week the Basque coast received a swell that the Big Wave Community around us had been waiting on for a long time. Last winter didn't deliver as much as we would have liked it too so, this one is paying up for it.
FIRST THINGS FIRST
Fast forward to our friend and @pukassurf team rider Natxo Gonzalez (@natxogonzalez1) catching this bomb at Playa Gris.
A tiny window is what they saw for the morning of the 27th of January. There was supposed to be a huge swell and a shitload of wind coming in later that morning. To them it was clear. Natxo Gonzalez, Indar Unanue, Xabi Lopez and Axi Munian met at 7:00 am at the port in Zumaia, got their jet ski's ready and headed out.
The whole road starting from Playa Gris all the way down to Orrua was full of surfers, photographers and mere spectators waiting for the miracle wave to break after so many years without seeing and enjoying it.
But how it mostly is with surfing, just when you think everything is turning out exactly like planned. It doesn't. The ocean is capricious. The huge swell that was supposed to arrive, never did.
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Once they arrived at Playa Gris, Indar and Natxo (who went to the water first) started eying the situation by watching the waves from a spot a bit closer to the coast. Indar, who has already surfed the wave a few years back during a huge swell knew right away that what they were seeing wasn't what was to be expected from a solid Playa Gris. But hey, the swell was supposed to be growing during that morning so, they waited.
By the time Axi and Xabi joined them, they hadn't seen any potential good wave yet, but they decided to give it a try anyways. Axi and Natxo went to the water. And then, the wave came. From outside the water it seemed more than clear that it was Axi who was going make it, as he positioned himself more on the inside of the wave but finally, Natxo made the take off. And that was when the real size of Playa Gris' wave got visible to everyone watching.
He made the take off. And also the first three bumps... but then he wiped out, breaking his 10'0 gun. He went back to the port to get another board and came back but it didn't happen again. Natxo was the only one that morning who managed to paddle Playa Gris. Zorionak!
MORE FOOTAGE OF THE SWELL
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 @adur
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And some waves just came to be admired, not surfed.
BIG WAVE SURF GEAR
The vibe that builds up when heading into these kind of conditions is, in its own way, very intense. Hoping that you're at the right place, at the right time, making the right call can get pretty nerve wracking.
The importance of what comes before you hit the water to surf big waves is nearly as relevant as everything you do when you're already inside. Trusting your go to quiver and gear for big wave surfing is one of the most important parts to be confident out there.
Adur went for his Joshua Keogh Haz Gun 8'5" at Roka Puta.
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Luckily for everyone practicing this sport, the variety and quality of Big Wave gear has improved a lot during the last years and surfers are getting more and more conscious about the risks. Helmets, impact vests and leashes for big wave surfing have joined the scene and made a pretty big entrance.
Here are some suggestions of surf gear that could make your big wave sessions safer:
SURF HELMETS - IMPACT VESTS - BIG WAVE LEASHES
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When it comes to more technical aspects, fins and guns have kept on improving too. From the sharpest guns from Pyzel such as the Padillac or the Puerto Padi, to the most famous Christenson blades like the Sicario and the Carrera, guns have been transformed and refined to be suitable for a huge spectrum of wave conditions.
If you're still looking for the right gear for the next swell or haven't found the right match for you to feel comfy in the water, feel free to reach out to our crew. We have specialists in big wave surfing ready to help you out with any possible doubts. Contact us here.
