Big Waves, Snow Surf & Pipeline Thanks
The surf community's been serving up some serious stoke lately – from jaw-dropping swells to snowy sessions and holiday barrel feasts. Let's paddle into the stories that have everyone talking.
The Right: A Decade of Death Rites
Tim Bonython just dropped a bomb from his archives: footage from May 2016 at Western Australia's The Right, calling it one of the heaviest days ever caught on film. This 22-minute edit titled 'Death Rites' captures waves described as 'bigger, meaner' – like freight trains charging toward shore. Surfers like Ryan Hipwood, Russell Bierke, and Kerby Brown took on mutant slabs while Bonython filmed from the channel, feeling every detonation like a punch to the chest. If you want to understand raw ocean power without getting worked, this is as close as you'll get. You can witness the mayhem right here.
Lake Superior's Snow Day Surfers
Who needs tropical when you've got subzero stoke? In Duluth, Minnesota, surfers hit Lake Superior with snow on the beach just before Thanksgiving, proving dedication trumps conditions. These hard chargers traded boardshorts for hoodies, launching into cold-water waves while snowflakes fell – the ultimate visual of surf culture's relentless spirit. It's a stunning reminder that the search for perfect waves doesn't stop when the mercury drops. See the frosty action captured by KTBS 3.
Pipeline's Thanksgiving Gift
While most Americans argued with relatives over dry turkey, Hawaii's surfers scored a divine gift: perfect Pipeline waves on Thanksgiving. Surfers like Jamie O'Brien, Barron Mamiya, and Shane Dorian shredded before dinner, turning the North Shore into a holiday playground. As The Inertia noted, it's the perfect reminder of what surfers truly feast on – not turkey, but barrels. Who knew leftovers could be this photogenic?
From oceanic freight trains to frozen freshwater sessions and holiday barrels, these stories showcase the soul of surfing: passion that defies conditions, seasons, and common sense. What waves are you thankful for? Drop your favorite spots below – we might just send a photographer your way.