Keali'i Mamala, Log Cabins 7 February 2006 : image Fred Malone (click to enlarge)

Big Wave - Tow-in

Is this Hawaiian monster the Biggest Wave of the year - will it win the XXL Awards?

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 23 March, 2006 : - - On the 7th February 2006, the morning of the Tow Surfing Championship at Puaena point, Keali'i Mamala and Garrett McNamara set out to Haleiwa to sign up for the contest. Little did everyone else know, Garrett and Keali'i had four missions planned for that day. After signing up for the contest, they headed straight to log cabins

Mission #1 Logcabins;- 
At log cabins, Keali'i rode the monster wave shown in the photo which was by far the biggest wave of his life. Garrett whipped him in and instead of running for the shoulder, he dropped to the bottom with true Hawaiian style.  He then punched it straight back up the face and went full speed ahead.

The wave was so enormous and so fast that after successfully riding the wave for at least seventy five yards he was forced to straighten out. The wave exploded behind him and ate him up, dragging him for approximately 400 yards underwater.  He endured the heaviest poundings of his life taking three thirty to thirty five-foot waves (hawaiian) on the head.

Garrett was worried when Keali'i didn't kick out the end of the wave. He realized then that Keali'i was getting pounded and began searching for him. After the third wave, he finally saw Keali'i so far in, he couldn't believe it. He raced in to him as fast as possible.  Keali'i got on the sled with silver-dollar eyes and a huge smile.  Keali'i said "Ho braw, I got pounded! It's your turn now!" 

Garrett rode a few waves, but nothing compared to Keali'i's.  Then they had to rush back to Haleiwa for the contest.

Keali'i Mamala, Log Cabins 7 February 2006 : image Fred Malone (click to enlarge)

Keali'i Mamala, Log Cabins 7 February 2006 : image Fred Malone (click to enlarge)

Keali'i Mamala, Log Cabins 7 February 2006 : image Fred Malone (click to enlarge)

Keali'i Mamala, Log Cabins 7 February 2006 : image Fred Malone (click to enlarge)

The only visual record of the wave (to their knowledge) was this video footage from Fred Malone. 
Luckily, in the Billabong XXL rules, it states:

1) Summary: The Billabong XXL Award will be won by the surfer who, by any means available, catches and successfully rides the single biggest wave of the year based on analysis of the available images. The prize will be awarded in the amount of $1000 a foot, but with a minimum award of $60,000. The photographer who captures the winning still or video image will be awarded $5,000.
They got it on video!!!

Though they had great success at the first two missions, there was not enough day light to accomplish the other two missions.  Those must be left to your imagination.

With God's blessings they ended up winning the Tow Surfing Championship and riding, what looks like, the biggest wave of the year. What a day!

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Mahalo / G-MAC

Big Wave - Surfersvillage