Sebastian Steudtner Surfed the Guinness World Record ‘Largest Wave’ Three Years Ago; He Reflects on the Anniversary (Video)

In October of 2020, Sebastian Steudtner made surfing history.

He tow surfed a behemoth at Nazaré, Portugal – Europe and the world’s premier spot for ungodly, cartoonishly colossal waves – that clocked in at 86 feet.

And that grabbed him the Guinness World Record “Largest Wave (Male)” accolade.

Now, a couple years out from the accomplishment, Steudtner (who hails from Germany) is reflecting on the wave. On the three-year anniversary, he posted:

“Three years ago today we defined what’s possible, biggest wave ever surfed, world record, history made ????. Let my story be the proof that you need to get up and move your ass, set your goals high and hunt them down ???? I’m from a place with no waves and didn’t start surfing till I was 18 years old. Impossible is nothing if you charge into life, you can do!

“Much love and respect to the humans that shared the day with me @alemaodemaresias on the first horse, @maya on the second horse, @marcoescadote on the third one, @miguel_prata eagle eyes, @joulia_mia @nuno_x21 @dr_axel_haber guardian angles, @bert.burger under my feet, a @spartamedic body to go all out and @polvo32 on the videotape recorder. Everyone of yous is forever in my heart ?? ??”

In other big-wave news, France’s Justine Dupont is poised to take the title for “Largest Wave (Female) from Brazilian Maya Gabeira. Maya’s wave comes from February 11, 2020 and clocked in at 73.5 feet; however, earlier this year, Dupont surfed a wave at Cortes Bank off the coast of California, estimated at 75 feet.

The wave won Dupont the “Biggest Wave” award from the inaugural Big Wave Challenge.

As for Steaudtner, here’s more about that wave from Guinness:

"It was the first big day of the season and it felt like we started from zero to 100," Steudtner recalls, going back to that October day when he hopped on a surfboard and challenged an epic wave.

"The first thing I thought when we checked the numbers on the forecast was: ‘oh sh*t, this is the biggest thing I've ever seen.’

"On the morning of the 29th, there was an extreme uncertainty. What's going to happen now, how will it feel, what will it be like to stand on the board for the first time again after that long break? Then the feeling prevailed that I have waited six months for it, and I was happy to finally surf again."

***

Don't miss another headline from SURFER! Subscribe to our newsletter, follow us on Instagram, and stay connected with the latest happenings in the world of surfing. We're always on the lookout for amusing, interesting and engaging surf-related videos to feature on our channels.

Whether you're a professional surfer or just an amateur, we want to see your best footage and help you share it with the world. Submit your video for a chance to be featured on SURFER and our social channels. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel to watch high-quality surf videos.