Surfer rides largest wave ever - video

A 44-year-old Hawaiian surfer has entered the Guinness Book of Records after riding the biggest wave ever recorded.

Garrett McNamara caught a 78ft wave last November at Nazare, off the coast of Portugal, above an underwater canyon famous for generating the world's biggest waves.



McNamara, who began surfing at the age of 11 and turned professional at 17, beat the previous 2008 record by more than a foot, the BBC reports.

"I knew it was big, but I didn't know how big. Everything came together. Everything felt right," he said.

Referring to his passion for surfing, he added: "The world would be a much better place if everyone was doing what they wanted to do."

McNamara said that he initially hadn't planned to surf on the day he broke the world record, but was persuaded by friends.

Surfing expert Sean Collins, who passed away in December, estimated the wave to be 85-90ft tall after examining the footage.

McNamara won $15,000 (£9,300) for his ride at the Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Awards in California last week.

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