What kind of wave is this?

Question

I found this picture online and it blows me away. I've never seen anything this huge before, it's crazy! I couldn't imagine being there laying on a surf board and realizing I'm on top of something so massive.

Any details or experienced opinions would be awesome!

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2031/2469493615_aa88753e1c_o.jpg

Answer 1

you guys are right and it's also know as the only wave in the world that has teeth!!

Answer 2

The location is definitely Teahupoo, Tahiti.  As for what kind; it's a massive slabbing reef break, the water is about 3 feet deep and washes onto dry reef.  

The WCT contest waiting period for there starts tomorrow and runs through the 18th.  Forecast for the near term is looking small but it will hopefully pick up.  You can watch it live on the web at http://www.billabongpro.com/.

Answer 3

Mark is right.  That is Teahupoo.  The wave is a "backless" monster and is known as one of the heaviest waves in the entire world.  Tahiti is a volcanic island and there is a large natural coral reef there the ocean breaks over.  The drastic change from very deep water to the reef basically causes the wave to spill onto the inside.

On a related note the contest window for the Billabong Pro at Teahupoo opens May 8 and runs through May 18.  Conditions were good for the trials this past weekend and are supposed to keep up.

Answer 4

I guess it could be Teahupoo, I've never been there. I've never seen a photo from there that looks like this, so I couldn't say for sure it isn't. However, why is nobody paddling to take off? And, isn't that a pretty crowded line-up for an off-shore reef break in Tahiti? I think it's been photo shopped, but, the other guys could be right. It's a neat picture, one way or another.

Answer 5

Hey buddy check this video...I have the answer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMqqSHBPF...

Answer 6

This is a wave called Teahupoo, pronounced cho-poo. It is in Tahiti. It was first surfed about '85 but never really made it onto the surfing radar untill about '95.

Answer 7

Mark and B-Money are right.

Congrats Jamie O

I just wanted to say, wtf is taylor talking about. hey señor kookaliscious, shut up

Answer 8

a party wave dude there rare but if you hear of one comming get your board, i heard of one so i flew out to mexico but i was to late

Answer 9

It probably means there's a narrow underwater spit or sandbar there, or something.

As water gets shallower, waves slow down. So if there was some kind of underwater obstacle, the wave would tend to *bend* around it like that. http://piru.alexandria.ucsb.edu/collecti...