Big wave surfing is crazy we all know that. One slip, or lump of unexpected chop can catch a rail, and you're toast!

But the most dangerous part of big wave surfing is the 'drop-in', the fact is that these huge waves are moving alot faster than the waves that are closer to shore, that's why a longer board with a pin tail is needed. The extra length allows the surfer to paddle the board faster, hopefully allowing him to catch the wave, and the pin tail makes the board turn like a plank but makes sure that it is rock solid at high speed on a steep face.

The point is that once a wave reaches a certain size it is pretty much luck whether or not the take off is made. If the lip is just the wrong shape, it won't happen. Most of us know what it is like to be out on a big day, and slightly under gunned, you go to take off on a wave, just as a lump of chop comes up the face, and you get bounced off the top and pitched forward with the lip - free fall time! And a big paddle from the inside...

This is where tow-in surfing has allowed us to rewrite all the rule books. Being towed into a wave with a jetski is alot safer as you are guaranteed to catch it. Tow-in surfing is an incredible spectacle, and has opened up a whole new world of possible waves to be surfed, with new spots being found all the time. Yes it may be dangerous but hey danger is fun!!

The only problem I have is damn Jetskis - they seem to be a necessary evil. I expect you all know what I am going to say - noise, petrol...blah blah blah. Bad for the environment. etc etc. But you can't do tow-in surfing without them I hear you say - wrong. The most incredible surfing shot that I have ever seen was in a kite surfing mag a couple of months ago. It was Malik Joyeux getting towed into Teahupoo at 20ft by his brother who was on a kite surfer!! Amazing - Malik's brother was hooked into this massive kite and a ski tow rope was fixed to the back of his harness, onto which Malik was holding and he was sling shot into a pitching Fijian monster.

This isn't really practical but it is amazing. There are so many factors that have to be right before this could take place, and the stunt was set up with jetski support - for saftey reasons.

It is very sad that Malik was killed at Pipeline at the end of last year - it was a huge shock to the surfing community, as he as one of the rising freeride heros after his feats at Teahupoo, please if you get time read this tribute to him here.

Images for this blog were borrowed from Oxbow.