Suspected Irishman surfs world’s biggest wave

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyBzYCEyUlE

Watch as Garrett McNamara - clearly ours - rides the bejaysus out of what’s being called the world’s largest wave.

Ok, so maybe he was born in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, but with a name like Garrett McNamara, he might as well be from Ballinasloe. Our Garr was surfing with mates off the coast of Portugal where the waves are notoriously big.

One of Garrett’s mates, Al Mennie, who actually is Irish, was on hand to describe what went down to Drift: “Everything seemed to be perfect, the weather, the waves. Both Cotty and I rode two big ones in the 60ft + range and then when Garrett got on the rope a wave, maybe 30 feet bigger came out of the canyon, it was meant to be.

“I had the best seat in the house as I was doing water safety on the ski as he dropped down the face of the biggest wave I’ve ever seen. It was incredible. Most people would look scared but Garrett looked in control as he went down the most critical part of the wave. It was an inspirational ride by an inspirational surfer.

“After the ride it was as if the sea calmed down. We sat out there and just absorbed both what had just happened and the surroundings. What a day!”

So there you have it. A bloke with a moderately Irish sounding name does something amazing – and he’s ours.

Here is the unedited version of the wave: