Watch: “Biggest Wave of the Year” Surfed at Jaws

The wave comes from December 22nd, 2024, when, amidst a flurry of swell to cap off the year in the Pacific, Peahi went absolutely psycho. Sancho is whipped into a bomb, descending down the face like an ant on a mound of sand. He attempts a bottom turn, trying to get out in front of the thing, and away from the impact zone, but it’s too late. The wave is too quick. He gets swallowed up in the teeth of the aptly named Jaws. No completion. Biggest wipeout at Jaws ever? Maybe.

When speaking to SURFER about the session a month ago, here’s what Sancho had to say:

“The swell was building all day long and by late afternoon it was flawless. The winds were light, and it was just so beautiful. You could feel the power of nature and every set was getting bigger and bigger.

“You can tell when it’s a big one. When the lines march in from the outer ledge to the channel you get a sense of the scale. Plus the swell was still building, and that was one of the last rides of the day. But as I said, I just wanted a barrel.

“I’ll leave it for everyone else to talk about how big it is.”