Words and photos: Peter ‘Joli’ Wilson
I shot nearly 60 frames of this wave as it barreled down the reef unridden. I’d left Namotu in the dark and returned in the dark after witnessing and shooting one of the most incredible days of surfing ever! When I walked into the bar that night I can remember Mick Fanning, Bede Durbidge and Kai Otton sitting around a computer trying to figure out the size of this wave. Mark Healey’s board was just shy of 10-foot long and they were using it to measure the wave. Without much argument they came up with at least 50-foot!! Out on the shoulder you can see a guy paddling, it’s Namotu Lifeguard and all round Sydney waterman, Sean Woolnough. He was the only guy that paddled for this wave, he didn’t catch it and when he saw the shots later he laughed and said, “What was I thinking?”
Win a trip to Namotu Island, Fiji for you and nine mates thanks to Corona Extra. Find out more here: