American surfer rides a world record 90-foot wave

Going viral is an amazing video capturing Hawaiian big wave rider Garrett McNamara breaking the world record in Portugal mid October for the largest wave ever surfed.

During the two-month long ZON North Canyon Project 2011 held in Praia do Norte, Nazaré, Portugal, self described "extreme surfer" Garrett McNamara caught a monster 90-foot (30 meter) wave and rode it in, setting a new world record. The 44-year-old surfer shattered the existing record held by Mike Parsons. Parsons had set the previous world record three years ago after handling his 77- foot monster back in 2008. Garrett was tow-in surfing with fellow boarder Andrew Cotton and Al Mennie at the time he caught the huge wave. Mennie described the event and shared how he felt at the time with Surfer Today "Everything was perfect, the weather, the waves. Cotty and I surfed two big waves of about 60 feet and then, when Garrett was ready came a canyon wave of over 90 feet." "The jet ski was the best place to see him riding the biggest wave I've ever seen. It was amazing. Most people would be scared, but Garrett was controling everything in the critical part of the wave. It was an inspiring ride by an inspiring surfer" In an interview back onshore McNamara said, "I feel so blessed and honoured to have been invited to explore this canyon and its special town. The waves here are such a mystery." For more on Garrett McNamara check out his Bio page.