Surfer Garrett McNamara Rides 90-Foot Monster Wave Off Portugal Coast (Video)

by Patrick McHugh on Thu, Nov 10, 2011 at 8:05PM

When Garrett McNamara saw the swell of waves forming off the coast of Nazare, Portugal last week, he knew he had to go for it.

McNamara, a 44-year-old professional big wave surfer, pulled off every surfers dream in successfully riding a 90-foot wave, believed to be the tallest in the world, according to USA Today.

“It’s the only place in the world in which a giant canyon reaches all the way to the beach,” McNamara said of the area off the coast of Nazare called Praia do Norte, or North Canyon. ”It’s the most challenging, dangerous wave I’ve ever surfed.”

In order to get to the break, McNamara radioed his personal spotter from a cliff to notify him of the waves.

“She told me there was a big set of waves coming,” McNamara said.

McNamara successfully rode the monster wave which experts estimated to be 90 feet tall, which would set a new world record. While measuring wave height is subjective without proper scientific equipment on hand, for now McNamara is unofficially credited with the record.

“Some say it was 85 to 90 feet. I don’t know how big it was. It was definitely a big wave,” he said.

Check out McNamara’s gnarly surfing in the video below.

Video via msnbc.com.