Laura Enever Smashes Guinness World Record For Summiting/Descending 43.6ft Himalayas Peak
The biggest wave ever paddled by a female.
Laura Enever, the 31-year-old former ISA World Junior Champ, ex-CT surfer and WSL commentator from North Narrabeen has received the distinction of paddling into the largest wave ever ridden by a female. Her record-breaking wave at Himalayas, Oahu on January 22, 2023 was measured at 43.6 feet (13.3 meters) by the WSL.
Previously the record was held by Andrea Moller, a Brazilian-American competitive canoeist, jiu jitsu black belt and paramedic who paddled a Peahi bomb in January 2016, recorded at 42 feet (12.8 meters).
Very few surfers boast a resume which features both extended CT tenure and significant big wave accolades. This puts Loz, who spent eight years on tour, in the leagues of John Florence, Kelly Slater, Bruce Irons and Shane Dorian — all Eddie Aikau/Jaws/XXL winners who also count more than five years on tour.
Of all world records, surfing wave heights tend to prove particularly troublesome, and as a result, more widely disputed by participants. How waves are measured by the Woz for big wave awards is typically kept relatively hush.
This year the Woz unpacked their methods.
“A team of scientists and engineers collaborated on the analysis using a range of wave-measuring techniques including video footage, detailed information about the site, location of the videographers and location of the wave, to determine the wave height. Several frames from the video footage were extracted and geometrically corrected based on camera positions and angles. Using known objects such as jet skis and actual measurement of Enever’s body geometry, it was possible to calibrate the images for conversion from pixels to feet. The location of the trough and crest of the wave was determined from analysis of the video from two different angles.”
Sounds legit.
Other Guinness World Record holders in surf include: Dylan Graves (most turns on a wave), Blakey Johnston (longest surf), plus other Daves: Aaron Gold (biggest wave paddled by a man @ Jaws), Sebastian Steudtner (biggest whip in for a man @ Naz) and Maya Gabeira (biggest whip in for a woman @ Naz).
Some surfers have been able to build personal brands around their Guinness World Record. One example is Seb Steudtner, who owns a Porsche and occasionally hangs from a harness at their engineering facility to reduce drag equations. #missionwavealpha
Last year Loz was the recipient of a $1,000 cash bonus (in brown paper bag) at the Vans Pipe Masters for throwing herself off the top-ropes on multiple Banzai bombs. Unfortunately her loot went straight back to the dealership after a “little prang with a Tacoma”.
With some luck, she’ll be able to cash in on her new Guinness record and roll down Kam Highway in an unmistakable yellow Lamborghini.
Go Loz!
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