Maya Gabeira conquers what might be largest wave ridden by a woman

The Los Angeles Times last year dubbed Maya Gabeira the "Super Woman of Big-Wave Surfing," because of her remarkable exploits in a male-dominated universe.

Two days ago at shark-infested Dungeons off South Africa, the striking Brazilian lived up to that billing -- and then some -- by riding what many are saying was the largest wave ever ridden by a woman.

(If there are any women out there who dispute this claim, we'd love to see your photos.)

Gabeira, 22, was in the Dungeons lineup with some of the world's premier big-wave riders, including San Clemente's Greg Long, Grant "Twiggy" Baker, Andrew Marr and her personal watercraft tow-surfing partner, Carlos Burle, a fellow Brazilian and renowned big-wave charger. Wave faces easily surpassed 40 feet.

Said Gabeira: "It was exciting to get that much speed down the face and manage to make such an irregular wave on my backside. Thanks to Carlos I had the biggest waves of my life that day!"

Gabeira now seems a shoo-in to claim, for the fourth consecutive year, the top prize in the Women's Overall Performance category of the yearlong Billabong XXL Global Big-Wave Awards, which will be announced next spring.

That is, if she can survive that long.

-- Pete Thomas

Photo: Maya Gabeira negotiates the lumpy face of a massive breaker at Dungeons in South Africa. Credit: Brenton Geach/BillabongXXL.com.

Note: To follow this blog on Twitter visit @latimesoutposts.com

Comments

[brett]

Anybody see the recent ESPN feature on Maya? It was a really great profile, plus was full of some awesome big wave shots. I’m blown away at how fast she went from “barely standing up” to conquering the world’s gnarliest waves. As an added bonus, the footage is set to some great songs - “I’m Alive” by Radio Freq and “Come My Sunshine” by The Comas.

Definitely worth your 5 mins, you can watch it at : http://displacedbrett.wordpress.com/2009/08/14/maya-gabeira

[stompandflow]

Brazilian Maya Gabeira catches a bomb and even rides it backside!

http://www.stompandflow.com/2009/08/13/maya-gabiera-biggest-wave-surfed-by-woma/