As you know by now, Jaws, on Maui, has been firing for the last two days. In an interview Shane Dorian did with Stab yesterday, the Hawaiian said he rode the single best wave he has ever caught. And, he paddled into it. “I think once you catch a really big wave on your own paddle power, you’re hooked,” said the waterman of the year. “It’s hard to go back to the jetski if you don’t really need one.”
Shane’s super crew consisted of men like Ian Walsh, Makua Rothman, Albee Layer, Matt Meola, Nathan Fletcher, Billy Kemper and more, and every single one of them used their arms to catch the waves they rode. No tow ropes. Over the course of the last two days, social media and, more precisely, the Stab-a-gram feed, has been lighting up with images from the front line. We’ve scooped a bunch of our favourites and rolled them out below in chronological order, captioned by whoever posted them. Who’d have thought Instagram could tell such a story?
Alex Gray (@a_gray): Peahi (Jaws) just starting to break. Looking forward to what the afternoon has to offer with the rising swell.
Ian Walsh (@ianwalsh4): October 9, 2012 @shanedorian
Albee Layer (@albeelayer): Wave of the year @shanedorian I just got speechless
Matt Meola (@mattmeola): Biggest wave ever paddled @shanedorian
Albee Layer (@albeelayer): Shit just got real @shanedorian @donkeyshow @ianwalsh4 kinda honored to have the water with those guys on that session
Mark Healey (@donkeyshow): Absolutely incredible paddle session at Peahi (Jaws) this evening. Great crew! @shanedorian @makuarothman @ianwalsh4 @mattmeola @tommyd_2 @albeelayer @billykemper
Alex Gray (@a_gray): That yellow thing is my 10'6" surfboard with me attached to it while getting caught inside by one of the bigger sets of the day today. Incredible paddle session. #turkeymelt #hawaii #jaws @kellyslater @volcom @volcomsurf @bodyglove53 @spy_optics @devon_howard @mizulife @onamission
Surfing Magazine (@surfingmagazine): That's @albeelayer deep inside that Jaws barrel earlier today. See the video on surfingmagazine.com. Photo: @paigealms (Albee later re-posted this and wrote: "Wave of my life and @kaibarger with the claim")
Makua Rothman (@makuarothman): Pe'ahi........ Playing in the sand box with da Boyz....... (Editor's note: Look at that spray!)
Kelly Slater (@kellyslater): Make your kids watch this of @shanedorian before bed tonight. They'll either dream big or have nightmares of drowning. @donkeyshow @a_gray @makuarothman @albeelayer
Shane Dorian (@shanedorian): Feel like a kook posting this but it was a memorable ride barely an hour ago. I got super pounded and my board got destroyed on the rocks, but it was worth it! Yew what a sick swell. Thanks to the Maui crew for all the Aloha!! Time to order new boards... @ianwalsh4 @everythingskullbase @donkeyshow @makuarothman @billykemper @albeelayer @mattmeola @tommyd_2
Alex Gray (@a_gray): Jaws gave us, and spectators, another great day of surfing. Two days of paddling out there makes me a tired and appreciative human 
#turkeymelt #jaws #hawaii
Ian Walsh (@ianwalsh4): 3 boards kissed by the rocks... 2 amazing sessions @redbull @foxheadinc @chris_christenson73 @shanedorian
Makua Rothman (@makuarothman): Thank you to all the Boyz for getting me psyked!!! @shanedorian @ianwalsh4 @billykemper @donkeyshow @bruceirons @albeelayer @pmtenore @bjpenn #natefletcher #kaleoroberson
Zak Noyle (@zaknoyle): Kai Barger( @kaibarger ) shot yesterday at Pe'ahi(Jaws) on Maui. Paddle in. Shot w/ Canon Mark4+70-200mmLens+SPL. #surferphotos
Makua Rothman (@makuarothman): For those of u who don't know this is what happens when u lose a board at pe'ahi....... #scalped #fromboardbacktoblank
Matt Meola (@mattmeola): Dirty lickings
Ian Walsh (@ianwalsh4): This one was fun while it lasted yesterday at jaws. @stonyheff pic
Zak Noyle (@zaknoyle): Shane Dorian( @shanedorian ) paddled into this wave at Pe'ahi(Jaws) on Maui. His surfing out there is on another level. More photos @ www.surfermag.com
