Scenes of carnage, fueled by a humungous and treacherous swell, have been filtering through social media feeds from Australia’s east coast, and the area surrounding Sydney in particular. Coastal infrastructure has been taking a beating, like the iconic swimming pool at the Bondi Icerbergs Club.
And yet, amidst the tremendous swell energy, certain surf spots have lit up. As we saw before, the aptly named Deadman’s was going off, at least for those willing to huck themselves over the ledge and pray for the best. Now, nearby, at Bondi Beach’s Ben Buckler Point, footage has emerged of a young local charger snagging what many are calling the biggest wave ever surfed at the spot.
Chase Hardaker, a 23-year-old local lifeguard, was the one who caught the colossal beast.
“My heart was in my throat already,” Hardaker told local news. “I’m paddling out to the horizon, then it finally stood up in front of me, and I was in the spot for it. I knew it was a really big one. It was the biggest one I’ve ever caught. For me to catch that wave out here, and for my pop to be proud, that was the happiest thing that’s ever happened to me.”
Related: Aussie Surf Spot ‘Deadman’s’ Lives Up to its Name (Video)
Capturing the image was 19-year-old student photographer Orlanda Golfin. Here’s her account:
“It’s just crazy because, just capturing that moment in time, and I got lucky. Right moment, right time. I’ve never, ever seen something so big in my life. It was just humungous.”
For the full shot, which looks sorta like an inverse Waimea Bay, see below.
