surfing news stories on Newser

Man Sets Record Surfing Tallest Wave Ever

Kevin Spak — Fri, 11 May 2012 13:10:05 CDT

American pro surfer Garrett McNamera has done something no other man alive has done: surfed a 78-foot wave and lived to tell of it. Guinness World Record has declared McNamera's wave the tallest ever surfed, topping the previous record, held by legendary surfer Mike Parson, by just one foot, the...

World's Best Secret Beaches

Kate Schwartz — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 15:35:05 CDT

Even for die-hard swimmers, surfers, and sunbathers, sometimes a day at the beach is anything but, thanks to way, way too many people. The good news is that there are still undiscovered beaches out there. Travel + Leisure went scouting for such secret beaches. Here are its best finds: Todos...

Gerard Butler Survives Accident in Surf 'Boneyard'

Rob Quinn — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 00:07:00 CST

A safety worker on a jetski saved actor Gerard Butler from dying at a northern California surf spot that has claimed the lives of pros. Butler, 42, was filming a scene at Mavericks for upcoming movie Of Men and Mavericks when a freak set of waves, some higher than 12...

Man Surfs 90-Foot Monster Wave, Sets Record

Kate Schwartz — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 09:00:37 CST

There are waves, and then there are waves. Garrett McNamara managed to surf one of latter. The Telegraph reports that the Hawaiian set a world record after riding the 90-foot monster off the coast of Portugal. The 44-year-old professional surfer was in a prime position to do so: He was...

Oregon Man Surfs on Shark 's Back

Rob Quinn — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 06:19:00 CDT

A surfer off the Oregon coast briefly rode the waves on the back of a great white shark—and lived to tell the tale. Doug Niblack says he was on his longboard when he hit something hard and suddenly found himself standing on the back of a thrashing shark he...

Fishermen Find Body of Missing Surfer

Fri, 29 Jul 2011 09:03:06 CDT

Local fishermen yesterday found the body of an American surfer who went missing last weekend in waters off western Indonesia. Daniel Bobis apparently hit another surfer's board after emerging from the barrel of a powerful 10-foot wave. His leash broke and his board washed to shore. A member of the...

Prescription Drugs Found in Dead Surfer's Room

Kevin Spak — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 13:30:51 CDT

Speculation is swirling around the death of surfing great Andy Irons after police found a variety of prescription drugs in his Dallas hotel room. Police reports indicate that Irons had generic versions of Ambien and Xanax, and the county medical examiner told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser that one of the bottles...

Surfing World Mourns Death of Champ Andy Irons

Nick McMaster — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 14:50:00 CDT

He may not be a household name, but he was an absolute giant in the surfing world. That community today is mourning the death of 32-year-old Andy Irons, who was found dead in a Dallas hotel room. Police have ruled out foul play. Irons had just withdrawn from a tournament...

Surfers Barrel to Earl

Rob Quinn — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 01:38:26 CDT

People heading away from North Carolina's Outer Banks as Hurricane Earl approaches are passing hardy surfers heading in the other direction. Earl is the biggest hurricane to threaten the East Coast since Hurricane Bob in 1991, and surfers up and down the coast are getting ready to take full advantage...