Cool post
How's the launch, throw your gear of the rocks with the luxury of having a jet ski to save the big swim and getting rinsed eh

Balls the size of Optus stadium

As a true pure hardcore wave rider they don't come any better than Thomas, an thats from a Pommy about a Frenchie...

Bonus points for uphauling without an uphaul. At 1:30.

To my mind, what TT does at these sketchy large wave spots is far more technical and challenging than what the Maui crew do at Jaws. Yet they get all the media praise. I guess pretty blue water and a consistently perfect wave are easier to dream about?

Launch looks hairy.
I always thought Mundaka was sailable.
Closest I've come to a left point wave is 7th Hole in Kahuku...the launch way easier, but the locals really intimidating.

Might be wrong but think TT is sailing the point at Hondarribia/Hendaye on the boarder. Once saw it twice the size in the videos, fear of God stuff just standing ashore!
If you ever get the chance, a truely beautiful stretch of coastline in a magnificent corner of the world to visit.

Yes it's Cabo Higuer : en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cape_Higuer

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LeeD said..
Launch looks hairy.
I always thought Mundaka was sailable.
Closest I've come to a left point wave is 7th Hole in Kahuku...the launch way easier, but the locals really intimidating.

Sailing Mundaka = how to win friends and influence people

Ah, but I've logged in....Sunset, Chun's, Lanikai, Turtle Bay, Kamiland, and 7th Hole on the N Shore.
All before 1988.

All this talk about the Basque Country... thought there must be someone who has had a go at sailing Mondaka.

Great stuff!

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philn said..
To my mind, what TT does at these sketchy large wave spots is far more technical and challenging than what the Maui crew do at Jaws. Yet they get all the media praise. I guess pretty blue water and a consistently perfect wave are easier to dream about?

It's easy to get desensitised to Jaws given how much exposure it gets but it's still (from what I can tell) way thicker and more powerful than most of the waves TT sails (other than Nazare). I'm not trying to take anything away from Traversa as he's easily one of the best and most hardcore waveriders on the planet, I'm just pointing out that height isn't the only thing to consider when you're looking at the dodginess of a big wave. The wipeout at Jaws is easily heavy enough to kill or cripple you, and the holddown is even more potentially lethal. I might be wrong but the power there is in the swells that hit the Peahi reef far exceeds that of a lot of the other spots TT has explored.

obviously Traversa gets bonus points for innovation, exploration and novelty etc, but if we're just looking at the risks involved - both parties have jetskis with skilled drivers, there are rocks at Jaws that are as sketchy as almost anywhere else, and Jaws takes the edge on almost every big wave spot for power and weight (exceptions include Teahupoo, Nazare and maybe Mavericks on its day), it doesn't matter how warm the water is as Jaws is still more likely to kill you than almost any other spot on earth. Ease of access and popularity are valid arguments but they don't tend to change the dangers all that much if you have a safety crew in all situations. Again, not trying to criticise Traversa, just trying to defend the Jaws crew ha ha

Has anyone windsurfed Mavericks? On a big day.

The rocks inside Mav, whitewater 12' high, might be the hardest mistake, and 52 degree water.

Little sharks?

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LeeD said..
Has anyone windsurfed Mavericks? On a big day.

Didn't Levi do a mission there about 10 years ago?

Would be interesting to know the facts.
I live 35 miles North of Mavericks.
Surfed until 1984. Checked out Mavs with Jeff, Peewee, and Mike Crook. At the time, Jeff had not surfed a big day there.

I remember watching a video about big wave surfers and they talked about paddling in at Jaws. There was no attempt to deny the fear factor, but one surfer said that compared to other big wave spots, the wave at Jaws is very consistent and almost always perfect. Or something to that effect.

Either way, TT has massive balls compared to me.

I guess nobody surfsailed Shipsterns?
That one looks hairy.

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LeeD said..
I guess nobody surfsailed Shipsterns?
That one looks hairy.

Petra Blanca is where it's at for those locals and visitors with an optimistic outlook.

Nice.......those ledges freak the heck out of me.
I've sorta mentally categorized a few NorCal unsailed spots, all really big and hairy.

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LeeD said..
I guess nobody surfsailed Shipsterns?
That one looks hairy.

I've observed Shippies when it would have been double mast high. I think the problem for sailing it would be the rebound off the rocks. Plus getting constant wind in the right direction. Plus access. Plus the risk if you get it wrong. And if you mess up, bye bye gear. Too hard. There's lots more Tassie waves that are far more rewarding to sail without the jetski/boat to access and death if you mess up issues.

And just to clarify, I hard ABSOLUTELY no intention of sailing it - or getting anywhere near the water in those conditions. Full respect to those who are gutsy enough to surf it.

Another unsailed huge wave spot is Ghost Tree on the 17 mile drive near Carmel.
Spanish Bay Southpoint also on S winds

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Brent in Qld said..
All this talk about the Basque Country... thought there must be someone who has had a go at sailing Mondaka.

Hi
This video shows two different spots. The first one with the big swell is not Mundaka, it's another beach at another province in the north of Spain. The second part is not exactly Mundaka, it's the beach in front of Mundaka, same bay. I've sailed both and the first one has better wind side-off direction. The second one is almost completely off. Both south-south west gusty winds.

Cheers.

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LeeD said..
The rocks inside Mav, whitewater 12' high, might be the hardest mistake, and 52 degree water.

god damn! 52 degree water!! - that would be like sailing in a hot steam sauna. Big mistake for sure.

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Reflex Films said..

LeeD said..
The rocks inside Mav, whitewater 12' high, might be the hardest mistake, and 52 degree water.

god damn! 52 degree water!! - that would be like sailing in a hot steam sauna. Big mistake for sure.

Us dumb Americans are still stuck on the stupid imperial system. The USA is in fine company, supported by Liberia, Palau, and the Marshall Islands in our stand against progress and enlightenment.

He means 52 Fahrenheit, approx 11 degrees Celcius.

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philn said..
Us dumb Americans are still stuck on the stupid imperial system.

Actually you are metric too, you just don't know about it...
I'm too new here to post a links but look up "Is America Actually Metric?" on Youtube...

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SurferKris said..

philn said..
Us dumb Americans are still stuck on the stupid imperial system.

Actually you are metric too, you just don't know about it...
I'm too new here to post a links but look up "Is America Actually Metric?" on Youtube...

Yes, all the official government measurements are metric. But us hoi polloi refuse to accept common sense.