Gerard Butler takes two wave hold-down at Mav’s

You probably know Gerard Butler best as King Leonidas, the Spartan in 300. More recently, you may’ve heard that he’s gonna star in a film about the life and death of Californian surfer Jay Moriarity as Jay’s mentor, Rick ‘Frosty’ Hesson. But during filming for the movie on Sunday, Gerard found out what it’s really like to surf Maverick’s. In conditions very similar to the ones last January when Jacob Trette nearly drowned at the notorious big-wave spot, Gerard took a clean-up set on the head that was in the 10-12 foot range. Relatively small for Mav’s, sure, but certainly sizeable for someone who’s novice, at best (which Gerry is – see above clip of him practising in Malibu). After a two wave hold-down and another four or five worn on the head, the actor was outta breath. He washed into the rocks and was scooped outta the water, before being taken to Stanford Medical Centre. He’s expected to make a full recovery. Method acting, huh? Props to the guy – there’s not many who’d take on 12 foot Mav’s after six months’ surfing.