Watch: Taming The Beast

With a clean, long-period blast hitting the Eastern Atlantic, veteran Basque standout Aritz Aranburu, and close friend, young Imanol Yeregi, passed on the fable freight-training left they’d been sessioning—along with most every other above-average European surfer—since New Years, grabbed proper step-ups (looks like Aritz is on of PUKAS’ Spicy tube shooters) and struck north for a few of the more mysto spots capable of holding the size. 

Here’s a few minutes of the boys taking on Roka Puta, aka Rock Bitch, which let me tell you, ain’t an easy wave to read, but these two are more than literate. 

“I’m so lucky to live next to Roka Puta, and always be aware of all the swells coming here,” Imanol told Stab, still reeling from the session earlier this week. “That morning was a daydream for me, I arrived with the car there and saw two waves rolling through, with big barrels and perfect south wind that made me want to cry. I waxed my 8’6 and 7’6 Pukas [shaped by Max Stewart by eyesymmetry] and put on my Patagonia impact vest, and paddled out alone, surfed for an hour and a half, just perfect, 4-meter Roka Puta. It was magic, there were tense moments, but to be alone out there was a gift that I will never forget. Later, more surfers came—Ibon Amatriain, Aritz Aranburu, Pablo Garcia, Tito, Iker Amatriain, Rusty… but there were few who could tame the beast. This video reflects what Unai Borda and I have been looking for the last few winters. The dream’s fulfilled!”