Here are the first peaks at the flood of incredible images to come from the monster swell that is just now backing down to human-levels in Tahiti. After a Saturday morning that saw sets washing through the lagoon, threatening the contest scaffolding, and keeping Billabong from getting camera crews out to the channel, the seas calmed just enough around mid day to get the promised webcast up an running. What unfolded next would be one of the most exciting spectacles in modern sport, a live webcam of surfing’s gladiator pit. Tow teams from around the world, including Laurie Towner, Makua Rothman, Nate Fletcher, Alex Grey, Benjamin Sanchis, Bruce Irons, and more converged on Teahupoo to greet this monster. As you’ll see, the biggest bombs of the day would go completely below sea level and implode on the dry end section. Surprisingly nobody died, considering how many horrific wipeouts went down. Reportedly, Maya Gabeira took a nasty one and came up foaming at the mouth and bleeding from her ears. No thanks.

Check out Surfer Mag’s photos here.

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And check out Bruce Irons riding naked on a jet ski here. seriously.

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Billabong Pro… The Lay Day Of Days from Surfing Life on Vimeo.

This aussie news station decides to toss a cute chick into the channel…