“It Was 6-Foot — And Then A 25-Foot Set Came Out Of Nowhere” - Stab Mag

Live Now — Episode 2 Of Surf100 Challenge Series Presented By Pacifico

261 Views

“It Was 6-Foot — And Then A 25-Foot Set Came Out Of Nowhere”

Tales from a trip to a mysterious (and windy) isle.

cinema // Apr 25, 2023
Words by Holden Trnka
Reading Time: 2 minutes

Despite its many beguiling qualities of magic and meditation, surfing produces a handful of viscerally negative feelings (duh.)

FOMO from being violently ill during the “legendary” swell of August 2014, falling just under the Mid Year cutline, and creasing a brand new board on your second surf — all terrible notions.

There may be none more primal, however, than the tummy-softening vision of scratching over a large lump, only to see an even bigger double-up behind it.

Timothé Bisso offers his recollection of one such bewildering instance, from his most recent expedition, “That left in the clip is a crazy swell magnet, it would be 4-foot on the right and 15-foot on the left. There was one session where it was 6-foot, not super big, and then an actual 25-footer came out of nowhere and absolutely smoked all of us,” he laughs. “I bailed, broke my leash, and came in straight away. I wanted to get a video on my phone to explain what happened but, as soon as I got on the beach it went back to being 6-foot again.”

Though we won’t say where this was filmed, we know you’re all capable of doing your own research. Just make sure not to end up five hours from the nearest port in a kayak on a Google Earth whim.

“I surfed everyday alone, it was spooky. You don’t really want to think about the fish too much, just catch as many waves as you can.”

Click above for Tim’s two-week successful strike to a desolate windswept isle.

Comments

Comments are a Stab Premium feature. Gotta join to talk shop.

Already a member? Sign In

Want to join? Sign Up

Advertisement

Most Recent

When Surfer’s Eye Is Actually Cancer

Erin Campbell's brutal journey from surf camp dreams to chemo drops, cryotherapy, and surgical horror.

Jul 3, 2025

Surfing’s 2025 Q2 Report

An assessment of surfing's vital signs throughout the second quarter of 2025.

Jul 2, 2025

What Actually Happened to Occy’s Mad Max Plunger Pool In Yeppoon?

Surf Lakes’ brass talks: internet hecklers, the unplugging of the plunger, and the Tom Curren…

Jul 2, 2025

Poor Goofy Foots 

Data shows that the world is stacked against goofs — they even make 15% less money than…

Jul 1, 2025

Britain’s First Wavepool Has Closed — What Really Happened?

Bankruptcy, social media hackings, debts unpaid — and yet, reopening looms.

Jul 1, 2025

Watch: Was Matt Meola’s Air Actually Better Than Hughie’s?

Watch the full Swatch Nines highlight reel and decide.

Jun 30, 2025

Houshmand Bludgeons Field To Win Second CT — Molly Picklum Tastes Blood, Snatches World #1 In Brazil

You can't argue with big surfing — that's Saquarema wrapped.

Jun 29, 2025

37 Years Old And World #1 — What’s Changed For Jordy Smith?

On rediscovering decades old surfboard templates, having a personality on the CT, and why this…

Jun 27, 2025

Tom Lowe Stars in ‘Let Me Live’

The wild, improbable ascent of Britain’s best big-wave surfer.

Jun 27, 2025

Saq Wrap: Italo Celebrates Mid-Heat, Griff Drops A Freestyle, Jordy + Yago Continue BBQing 20-YOs

Top seeds sow ruin, Final 5 starts to crystallize.

Jun 27, 2025

Surf100 Challenge Series Presented By Pacifico: Episode 2

Our seven surviving surfers confront an oddly large California beach break.

Jun 26, 2025

SEOTY: The ‘Once-In-A-Decade’ Caribbean Swell That Kelly Slater Passed On

Michael Dunphy stars in Jimmicane's 'Blue Veil'

Jun 25, 2025

Who Owns Bingin? Legal Fight To Stop Demolition Begins

Eviction notices served for all businesses built on state land.

Jun 25, 2025

Tony Hawk Just Named Hughie Vaughan’s Internet-Breaking Air Because… No One Else Can

89% of our IG poll respondents claimed the 'stale fish flipper' was the best air…

Jun 25, 2025

German Surfers: AN INVESTIGATION

Truth is the light by which the world can see. 

Jun 24, 2025

“I Lost Everything I’ve Ever Owned, But This Board Came Back”

One month after the LA wildfires, a surfboard washed ashore.

Jun 24, 2025

Shock Therapy: World 1 & 2 Eliminated Early In Saquarema

Gabriela Bryan and Caity Simmers fall victim on Day 1 of the Vivo Rio Pro.

Jun 22, 2025

German University Surf Contest Derails After Local Pushes Competitor Off Wave

The story behind the shove, and why wave-rental politics turned physical in Seignosse.

Jun 22, 2025
Advertisement