Photo: Porsche
It’s a tricky business, measuring wave heights. There’s the Hawaiian scale, which takes from the back of the wave, not the face; there’s the issue of the wave’s trough, or the bottom, and determining exactly where that is; and then there’s the element of subjectivity embroiled in it all, which, in surfing, is forever an issue.
As such, wave heights have always been somewhat controversial.
But Porsche – the luxury car brand and an unlikely player in the wave height calculation game – has teamed up with German big wave surfer, Sebastian Steudtner, with a new, innovative measuring method. And they think they have a new world record.
Per a press release:
“German big wave surfer Sebastian Steudtner has surfed the possibly biggest wave ever measured at 28.57 meters (93.73ft) in Nazaré, Portugal. The height was measured using state-of-the-art drone technology developed by Porsche Engineering and Team Steudtner. Official confirmation of the new record is still pending.”
The wave comes from February 24th, 2024 in Nazaré, Portugal. That day, both Steudtner and Lucas “Chumbo” Chianca both surfed potential new world records. Currently, according to the Guinness Book of World Records, Steudtner holds the title for “Largest Wave Surfed” from an 86-footer, also at Nazaré, back in October of 2020.
Related: Potential New Record for Largest Wave Ever Surfed (Video)
But many suspect that either Steudtner or Chumbo – or both – may have ridden bigger waves during this historic session back in February. Some even think the waves might be bigger than what Porsche put forth, breaking the elusive 100-foot barrier.
For now, the speculation continues.
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