Surfer becomes first to ride giant 'Jaws' waves at night

By: Pete Thomas, GrindTV.com

Night surfing is eerie even in small waves, so imagine the sensation of careening down sheer and heaving faces measuring 30 feet, atop a black ocean, at a Hawaiian reef break so notoriously it's called Jaws.

Australian big-wave surfer Mark Visser, using specially engineered LED lighting built into his buoyancy vest and board, became the first to night surf at Jaws off Maui, during an admittedly scary and ultra-surreal session at about 2 a.m. Thursday.

Visser, 28, was towed onto the waves via jet-powered watercraft, as all surfers are during big winter swells at Jaws, because the swells travel too swiftly to be caught by paddling.

[Video:Surfer films great white sharks circling his board]

The high-tech lighting technologies were created specifically for this project, two years in the planning, and designed to ensure that the wave and board were lit in specific places and that the vision of jetski drivers and helicopter crews was not hindered.

The result was an event that left Visser spellbound when he inspected the footage.

"It wasn't until I saw the pictures [that] I realized how big it was," Visser said. "This was the scariest, but most exciting thing I have ever done. Riding in complete darkness meant I had to go off feeling. I had to zone out from how you normally ride and be part of the wave."

The "Night Rider" feat is the first of a series of extreme, first-time adventures that will be made into a documentary called "9 Lives," to be distributed at the end of the year -- that is, if he completes them all safely.

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38 Comments

1-20 of 38

Posted by bradley alexander mathe jr January 21, 2011 02:29pm PSTReply | Report Abuse

this guys nuts, waiting to see if jaws is going to pay a visit

Reply by evangeline berdos rimando January 22, 2011 03:14am PSTReport Abuse

he is a brave man

Posted by chris johnston January 21, 2011 03:13pm PSTReply | Report Abuse

Haha that is incredible!

Posted by williamross7 January 21, 2011 03:40pm PSTReply | Report Abuse

That was BLISTERING!! A new take on the best of extremes!

Posted by ashfield antiques January 21, 2011 03:50pm PSTReply | Report Abuse

Congrads buddie, I know what it is like to ski off the mountain edge when all you see is horizon and blue ski 3 feet in front of you. Thats about all I can do. My hat is OFF!!! to you. YeHah! Giddup!

Reply by biometallica January 22, 2011 07:44am PSTReport Abuse

Giddup indeed.

Posted by wesley g ridgwell January 21, 2011 03:52pm PSTReply | Report Abuse

I ride at Night all the Time on my wakeboard-lol, but a 30 footer- Ouch.... Damn that Reef Hurts, 1 screw up at night YOUR DEAD... Beautiful area of Hawaii and Yes this guy has bigger "Coghones" than I do...

Reply by jeremy ryan rostker January 21, 2011 09:50pm PSTReport Abuse

its cajones

Reply by luisorellana January 22, 2011 03:20am PSTReport Abuse

hahhahaha it´s COJONES, you dude!. Cajones are where you stores your socks and underware!

Reply by luisorellana January 22, 2011 03:21am PSTReport Abuse

I deserve it! It´s underwear! hahahahahaa

Posted by ashdawg January 21, 2011 03:54pm PSTReply | Report Abuse

nice one mark,
i still have them positivity tracks you put on my computer

Posted by fuzzycop January 21, 2011 04:31pm PSTReply | Report Abuse

He night surfed, in the dark....DURING THE SAME DATE AS A FULL MOON!

It wasn't dark at 2AM on Thursday morning!

Has anyone been to the beach on Maui during a full moon? It's A LOT brighter than you think it is!

Reply by demondamen January 21, 2011 09:28pm PSTReport Abuse

Where is your viseo of you riding one of these waves at night??? Thats what i thought. Give props where props are due a**hole.. I bet your a fat loner with nothing better to do than comment on the great ability of real pro's...

Reply by jeremy ryan rostker January 21, 2011 09:51pm PSTReport Abuse

ok. so it wasn't complete darkness. lets see you surf Jaws Reef at night. Until you do, and you have the vid to back it up, I would suggest being quiet on that matter.

Reply by pamela anderson January 22, 2011 09:06am PSTReport Abuse

I give mark props ! I am an old surfer, haven't surfed since i started my family . I remember laying on my board at night, as far out as i could before i couldn't see the bon fire anymore, full moon, as if it were hitting the water, BUT, were i was it calm waters and complete silence except the water. I thought about what it would be like to surf the waves at night but never dared acting upon it ! especially JAWS, MArk has my respect in every aspect !!!!

Reply by curt rocha January 22, 2011 09:18am PSTReport Abuse

My family and I (Portuguese / Hawaiians) have lived on Maui since........well as long as it has been documented. I've watched these dudes for years and believe me it's no picnic out there in full sunlight. During a full moon the dim light is only helpful at your feet and what's a few feet in front of you. Above your head (20 - 30+ feet) is pitch black darkness on almost all rides with the sound of a train bearing down on you. You can't see the speed of the break like the daylight, you have to trust your other senses like feel and hearing.

Reply by brennan moriarty January 22, 2011 10:36pm PSTReport Abuse

I'm from the moon I can vouch for this earthling, he tells the truth. but you need an extension cord when it's feeding time. Also You need a 4 cabin galley at bay to anchor the tv beer amphibius sea lab 2011 ["hey Murphy, I'm taking the helicopter out, do the dishes!"]
see the UH Universal Hovercraft-youtube [8 per enclosed W.I.G. craft; $65,000-$85,000?] the ultimate thrill -Party vehicle

Posted by kaylene orcutt January 21, 2011 04:40pm PSTReply | Report Abuse

Thats crazy. But looks like fun.

Posted by sean prince January 21, 2011 04:41pm PSTReply | Report Abuse

dude is ridiculous...who played the music?

Reply by louie stites February 9, 2011 09:49am PSTReport Abuse

Straight Outta Junior High. The song is called Backup Plan.

Posted by amanda ueta January 21, 2011 05:10pm PSTReply | Report Abuse

fantastic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! totally amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by jennfer something January 21, 2011 05:16pm PSTReply | Report Abuse

Awesome Ride, This guy is truely a badass. That's one monster frickin' wave. Can't get closer to being at one with the ocean and your ride than to do it at night. The feel of the water, the sounds of the ocean, the sensory zen, and the feeling of knowing you're the only one in that time and space. It's something that can't be explained but has to be experienced for one's self. I get the same feeling on a fresh pow day when flowing down the mountain, looking back and only seeing my line through that time and space. I'm still in it for the spirit of the ride.

Posted by eric mieu January 21, 2011 05:30pm PSTReply | Report Abuse

anyone knw the name of this track?

Reply by louie stites February 9, 2011 09:48am PSTReport Abuse

Backup Plan by Straight Outta Junior High

Posted by bodhi January 21, 2011 05:30pm PSTReply | Report Abuse

Man, it jacks up.
You drop down into the pit. It's 25 feet straight down...
..and your balls, man, your balls are about this big.
And the whole thing's f*ckin' roaring.
Pushing you forward, like you're on a freight train or something.
Yeah, and if you lose it, the fish'll be picking you out of the coral.
Big-wave riding's for macho assholes with a death wish.
No, it's not. It's the ultimate rush.
There's nothing that comes close to it.
Not even sex.
Maybe that's cos you're not doing it right, Roach.
Just paddling out in a big surf is total commitment.
You can't just call time-out if you don't like the way things are going.
So, what's biggest? Waimea?
- Ridden? - Yeah.
McCaha.
Dana Point.
Bells Beach, Australia.
No way Bells is bigger than Waimea, bro.
It will be next year.
Bodhi believes the 50-year storm is coming next year.
50-year storm. What's that?
That's kind of a legend.
No, it's real. It's absolutely real.
Everything moves in cycles,...
..so twice a century the ocean let's us know just how small we really are.
A storm comes out of Antarctica, tearing up the Pacific,...
..and it sends a huge swell north 2000 miles.
And when it hits Bells Beach it'll turn into the biggest surf this planet has ever seen.
And I will be there.
So will I.

If you want the ultimate, you gotta be willing to pay the ultimate price.
It's not tragic to die doing what you love.

Reply by tammie shaw January 22, 2011 09:47am PSTReport Abuse

Brother You GO for it! Get your Wave and ride the ocean be One with IT!

Posted by mooray January 21, 2011 05:32pm PSTReply | Report Abuse

ay fuzzycop,

Soooo, da point is????? Get one life, you haole kook!!!

Reply by williamross7 January 23, 2011 09:01pm PSTReport Abuse

I agree with mooray...why you gotta be trying to make it sound like nothing big homey?

Posted by jimbo99 January 21, 2011 06:10pm PSTReply | Report Abuse

Dumb idea, perhaps they'll pay him enough, but this isn't anything that the mainstream surfer should be doing after work when the surf is going off. Sharks are nocturnal, as if the size of these waves and the coral reefs beneath them aren't dangerous enough.

Reply by demondamen January 21, 2011 09:32pm PSTReport Abuse

Maybe dude was tires of playing it safe... Thats what seperates the men from the boys...

Reply by jimbo99 January 22, 2011 06:21am PSTReport Abuse

I don't think when he or another drowns that anyone will discern the difference between being a boy or man, it'll just be stupid and pointless that night.

Reply by infinateraiderfan January 22, 2011 06:47am PSTReport Abuse

He's surfing Jaws, not Chopu. There is a reef under Chopu, not Jaws, unless you call rocks a reef, and under you 25+feet down. It's still amazing to surf that big of a wave at night, but you make it sound like it's Chopu in Tahiti. Now that would be something worth ranting about like you are. But THAT will never be done because of the speed of the wave jacking on the dangerous reef your talking about.

Reply by jimbo99 January 22, 2011 07:20am PSTReport Abuse

A 25 foot wave in broad day light challenges even the best surfers. How many takes do you think they were going to need. Maybe he got it on the first and I'll bet he was out of the water after the footage. I guarantee there will be people trying to foolishly emulate this, without the proper staffing & equipment, then there are always those that will sell someone anything at the local surf shop. Just a question, if not dangerous, Why hasn't Laird Hamilton done this already ?

Reply by jimbo99 January 22, 2011 07:21am PSTReport Abuse

http://www.google.com/images?hl=en&rlz=1G1GGLQ_ENUS300&q=surfing+at+jaws&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=univ&ei=BvU6TcOXOMHZgQek-eDPCA&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=9&ved=0CHMQsAQwCA&biw=1568&bih=802

Posted by daniel lopez January 21, 2011 06:30pm PSTReply | Report Abuse

This is not exactly true...while stationed at Hickam AFB, in the 80's a friend of mine and I left the NCO club after the club closed at 2.AM. We didn't have anything to do so went to the beach and surfed these exact same waves. We didn't think it was a big deal

Reply by demondamen January 21, 2011 09:34pm PSTReport Abuse

and if it was in the 80's how was it the same waves?

Reply by jeremy ryan rostker January 21, 2011 09:54pm PSTReport Abuse

uh demondamen? just an fyi, hickam is on pearl harbor, and i'm pretty sure Jaws Reef has had those monster waves for a while

Reply by mattyboy January 22, 2011 01:44am PSTReport Abuse

Wrong island, was first surfed by windsurfers in the early 90's, get your fact d-bags

scary ride maaaaaaaaaaaaaaate!!!!

Posted by jumpinjackflash January 21, 2011 09:43pm PSTReply | Report Abuse

This dude is one bad honky.

Posted by flexappealdoc January 21, 2011 09:55pm PSTReply | Report Abuse

Imagination is more important than knowledge...Albert Einstein (1879-1955)

Posted by brian smiley January 21, 2011 11:36pm PSTReply | Report Abuse

You know, I have always just wished I knew how to surf and had grown up in an area where it was possible. I see this and I am just floored even more. This was really awesome I think.

Reply by infinateraiderfan January 22, 2011 06:50am PSTReport Abuse

Life is too short, so what are you waiting for? Surfing is one of the most Freeing sports you will ever enjoy. Your mind goes blank(except for the constant fear of sharks!) and your problems all seem to shrink.

Posted by surferdude11 January 22, 2011 12:44am PSTReply | Report Abuse

From a fellow surfer, one who has conquered the 3ish foot waves of Grandpa's Beach........ I salute you.

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Thursday, January 20, 2011 7:39pm PST

By: Pete Thomas, GrindTV.com

Channels: Surf, Outdoor

Tags: Mark Visser, Jaws, surfing, night surfing

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38 Comments