Eric W. Nelson has been shooting nearly every significant Mavericks swell for close to 30 years. As the other half of Powerlines Productions, Nelson prefers cliffside perch at Pillar Point. He’s spent who knows how many hours there, lugging his equipment, food and water around to film Mavericks at its best and worst. He also helps coordinate the water rescue jetskis thanks to his high vantage.
Nelson was in his spot to get the only land angle of Luca Padua’s high-flying bottom-turn-to-airdrop combo on the morning of December 28, 2024. It was one of those rides that stood out on a day rile with jaw-dropping walls marching in from the Pacific Ocean.
Since first surfing Mavericks at age 13, the 22-year-old Half Moon Bay local has had a knack and tenacity for finding waves of all shapes and sizes. Lefts, rights, paddle and tow. He was already a standout before he started training with Laird Hamilton at his Malibu estate. Things have only escalated from there.
This one certainly will find its way into the season highlight reel and is already an entry into the 2024 SURFER Big Wave Awards. Even an understated vet like Nelson had to acknowledge it.
“Wow,” he said in the video. “That was nice.”
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