Why They Call It Mexican Pipeline

Let’s play Wikipedia. Did you know that Puerto Escondido translates in English as ‘Hidden Port’? Something to do with a legend involving a woman escaping her captors to hide here. The indigenous folk call it Zicatela or ‘place of large thorns’. Looking up, that one’s a little more obvious. The gigantic thorn above, resembles one from across the Pacific, on the North Shore of Oahu. Hence Mexican Pipeline.

Lenswoman Katina Ljubetic, perhaps noticing Puerto’s impersonation – or the frightening raw beauty unfolding before her eyes – decided to capture the moment. It was during the swell surrounding the Puerto Escondido Challenge last week. Members of the Big Wave Tour had been displaying self harm, swinging lengthy craft into exploding caves.

“It was a super entertaining show to watch,” recounts Katina. “The waves were very big, some sets more perfect than others.”

Kai Lenny eventually won. But anyone who can survive being crushed by a mountain of sand and seawater, like the one above, should consider themselves a winner. Speaking of winners, the image above just took out the #stabfullframe x @oneillusa monthly competition. So congrats to you, Katina!

Remember to tag your finest captures #stabfullframe and @oneillusa to feature in our premium gallery. You just might win, score a prize from O’Neill and find your image up in lights.

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