Super Swell Saturday was a moment in time that won’t ever be forgotten in the world of big waves. It’ll likely be one of those days that creates stories passed around for generations. It produced the biggest waves seen at Jaws in a decade.
Mark Healey had his “biggest wipeout ever” and surfed what he called “probably the biggest wave I’ve paddled.” The North Shore of Oahu was next-level. Photographer Ryan Moss broke his back. It was a wild swell, to say the least, especially in the islands. The best swell in a decade, some said. The biggest and cleanest ever, said others.
Now, a few months on and with some hindsight, Ian Walsh, Jaws connoisseur, has taken the time to break down what happened that day.
“The winter had been really high-paced so far,” he remembered. “We’d already had a massive swell at Jaws and I’d just finished my third trip to Maverick’s within three weeks. This Jaws swell on the 16th was shaping up to be the biggest swell of the season and possibly the first tow day we’ve had in years.”
As it turned out, it was indeed a day for the history books, and Walsh’s breakdown is a thorough one.
