Australian big wave surfer Laura Enever has officially etched her name into the history books after riding the largest wave ever paddled into by a woman, a towering 43.6 feet (13.3 metres) high.
The monumental feat took place in January off the coast of Oahu, Hawaii, at a notoriously powerful break known as the Himalayas. Enever’s successful ride surpasses the previous world record by just one foot, a record that had stood unchallenged for seven years.
What makes the achievement even more remarkable is that it was a paddle-in wave — meaning Enever entered the wave solely under her own power, without the aid of jet-skis or tow-ins, which are commonly used to access larger swells.
Her record was officially certified by Guinness World Records during a special ceremony in Narrabeen, the Sydney suburb where she first took to the waves as a young girl. Enever, now 31, began her surfing journey at the age of 11, going on to win several junior titles and spend seven years on the World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour.
After stepping away from competition, Enever turned her focus to big wave surfing—a move that led her to this historic moment. Reflecting on her accomplishment, she said, “I’ve surfed a lot of big waves in my life, but this one was something else. It pushed every limit I had.”
Her achievement is being celebrated across the surfing world as a testament to bravery, endurance, and the relentless pursuit of greatness.
