German surfer (we know, right?), Sebastian Steudtner, backed by the folks from Porsche Engineering, is the current world record holder for the largest wave ever surfed. Most folks, if asked who the world record holder for the largest wave ever surfed is, would guess a Hawaiian native holds the title. Laird Hamilton would be a great guess¹. Not so. At least, not officially.
That record, set in Nazaré, Portugal in 2020, stands at 86.4 feet (26.21 metres). A new record has been set, though it still needs to be officially confirmed. The February 2024 record, according to Porsche Engineering’s drone technology, is a stunning 93.73 feet (28.57 metres).
Porsche goes big
The wave at Nazaré is relatively unique. An undersea canyon acts as a sort of funnel, firing massive swells at a sand beach, making the spot the world’s most extreme beach break. You can read more about the specifics of the spot here but it’s where riders go to really push the limits of what’s possible on a surfboard.
It’s also where Team Steudtner and Porsche Engineering have sent their drone prototype out to monitor the German surfer’s efforts. It’s not just to see how large the wave is. Considerable effort is needed to keep surfers alive in this situation. A jetski is required for takeoff but that’s not enough. Steudtner has developed a surfboard with a reduced wind and water resistance profile with the help of computer simulations and actual wind tunnel experiments. The board, the Caçador RS, is capable of speeds up to 100km/h.
This, plus the prototype drone, is how Steudtner’s achievement became possible. The board prevents the rider from being mowed down by a literal mountain of water and the drone keeps tabs on him while he’s attempting to outrun nature. Included in the drone are sensors typically used in driver-assist systems in motor vehicles. The tech makes sense when you consider who built the hardware. These have a range of functions but the main one is the ability to accurately measure the wave without resorting to video analysis.
Porsche Engineering’s Marcus Schmelz said, “We are very pleased to have created an innovative solution that can advance the sport of surfing. It was a challenge to develop a drone that can measure not only the height of the waves but is also capable of tracking the surfer within the radius throughout the entire wave ride.”
¹Laird, if the legends are true, is certainly a contender. Pe’ahi (otherwise known as Jaws) in Hawaii has one of the craziest waves in the region and Hamilton is reputed to have accomplished… things. At 100-foot Hawaiian. But since the cameras weren’t rolling…