Kai Lenny Found This Wave On Google Earth

“When I think of El Salvador, I don’t really think of waves like this. I think of fun, rippable point breaks, not freight training, below sea level, thick-lipped waves that will absolutely smoke you.” 

We owe a surprising amount to the pilotless satellites that orbit Earth. Their most irrefutable claim to fame, other than sparking beautiful discussions about the flat earth theory, is the map app. Ask anyone about their smartphone addiction, and they’ll confess they could quit it all, except for the map. 

But there’s a darker edge to the map. Find any headland, anywhere on the planet, drop into street view, and with a few scrolls, you’ll likely stumble upon someone in the water.

You can even track the swell lines, dig up the exact date the satellite shot was taken, and deduce the swell direction. It’s ethically dubious, sure, but like all dark magic, it’s got its uses. Google Earth has probably exposed more secret spots than every surf mag combined.

And this is how the Lenny brothers stumbled upon the two waves in their Red Bull edit. Not the most delicate surgery of landmark removal, and christening two spots that probably already have names is a little coloniser energy, but they definitely unearthed something valuable here. 

Along with Natxo Gonzales, the Lenny bros track down two rifling right-handers, engage in a war of attrition, and whether or not they emerged victorious, they made sure to plant their flag.

Enjoyable viewing. Watch above.