The Biggest Wave Of Justine Dupont’s Life (So Far)

Have you ever suited up to surf in a hangar? I haven’t, but I’d imagine you feel a bit like Batman. Which is pretty cool.

For context, Manera, the France-based wetsuit company, just dropped the above video of Justine Dupont explaining how she prepared for that fateful November 2019 day when she rode the biggest wave of her life (at the time) at Nazaré. Justine’s routine: Suit up in a literal hangar, don the aforementioned armor (5-4-3 mm, with boots and hood), dodge moving mountains with her tow-team, whip into a 65-foot(ish) bomb, then proceed to cash Red Bull checks for earning big-wave performer and ride of the year awards. 

For the most part, the average punter can swap out boards, wetsuits, or fins without it affecting their performance all that greatly. But let’s face it — when the waves push us out of our comfort zone, we all want to rely on something that can give us a little peace of mind, even if it’s 5 millimeters thick. With so many variables in big-wave surfing, having equipment one can rely on plays a critical role in keeping the surfers  (relatively) safe and sound. So no, those bright boards, hulking impact vests and aesthetically pleasing suits aren’t just an attempt to impersonate your favorite superhero. They’re a means of survival. 

Watch Justine go to work above. For the full ride, go here.