Riding Giants
prev.
play.
mark.
next.

1:29:14
Teahupoo's reputation was fearsome,
but neither Laird nor Doerner...

1:29:18
...could've imagined
the once-in-a-lifetime wave...

1:29:21
... that eventually appeared
on the horizon.

1:29:25
I towed him onto this wave.
1:29:28
It was to the point where
I almost said:

1:29:31
"Don't let go of the rope."
1:29:33
When I looked back, he was gone.
1:29:58
I think it's the single heaviest thing
I've ever seen in surfing.

1:30:04
What could be heavier?
1:30:07
Laird's wave at Teahupoo
was the most...

1:30:09
...amazing, single most significant ride
in surfing history.

1:30:12
More than any other ride.
1:30:14
Because what it did is it completely
restructured, collectively...

1:30:17
...our entire perception
of what was possible.

1:30:21
Go through a surf magazine, you've
seen Pipeline, Off the Wall, Waimea.

1:30:25
You've seen everything,
and none of it has any impact.

1:30:28
But when that photo came out...
1:30:31
...it stopped everyone's heart,
and they went:

1:30:34
"Where and what is that?"
1:30:37
I remember picking up that magazine,
and looking and just going:

1:30:41
"Man, that shit's impossible.
1:30:44
You don't do that."
1:30:47
In my absolute prime,
there's absolutely no way...

1:30:50
...I could ride a wave like that.
1:30:52
Normally, surfers are dragging
this hand along the face.

1:30:55
Laird had to drag his right,
his back hand...

1:30:58
...on the opposite side of his board...

prev.
next.