Albee Layer, givin’ it hell. Photo: Tucker Wooding//Screenshot
Tucker Wooding has made his love of Jaws no secret. “My favorite wave to shoot is definitely Jaws,” he told The Inertia last year. “I’d say it’s the best big wave in the world. Nazaré is fun, but it’s kind of chaotic and a weird monster. Maverick’s is special too, but I’d say Jaws is my favorite wave to shoot.”
Because of that, he’s returned to the wave time and time again – and at the end of last year he encountered something special. “During the month of December 2024, we witnessed one of the most historic runs of swell ever in big wave surfing,” Wooding explains in the caption for his latest video, entitled Deep Blue. “For five consecutive days Jaws, a.k.a. Peahi, was breaking. With the last day being the biggest.”
“Out of all the crazy moments during that run of swell, two stick out to me,” he continues. “Wilem Banks from Santa Cruz, California paddled into what I and many others think is the biggest wave ever successfully ridden. The other is Albee Layer, who continues to push the limits out at Jaws with his approach to getting the biggest barrel. The wave he went on (which ended up breaking his board) showed his full commitment and love he has for Jaws. It’s amazing to be able to document and witness the progression of the sport.”
The entire video features the likes of Albee Layer, Torrey Meister, Russell Bierke, Tyler Larronde, and Wilem Banks. Check it out below.
