California Surfer May Have Shattered Biggest Wave Record at Mavericks
A 23-year-old surfer from California may have ridden the largest wave ever surfed, potentially surpassing the current 86-foot world record.
On December 23, Alessandro “Alo” Slebir, from Santa Cruze, caught an enormous wave at the famed Mavericks surf break, about 25 miles south of San Francisco.
According to Mavericks Rescue member Frank Quirarte, who shot the photo above, the wave could have measured an astonishing 108 feet—a full 22 feet taller than the 86-foot record that Sebastian Steudtner set off the coast of Nazaré, Portugal, in October 2020.
Here is footage of the Slebir’s ride:
Slebir caught the monster wave around 3:15 p.m. PT while powerful winter storms battered the Northern California coast, whipping up towering swells. He worked with his tow partner, Luca Padua, who maneuvered him into position with a jet ski throughout the day. Photos of the ride quickly made waves online, with big-wave luminaries like Kai Lenny and Mason Barnes hailing it as a potential record-breaker.
Yet, not everyone agrees on the 108-foot measurement. Photographer Ryan Craig, who documented the session, estimated the wave at closer to 70 feet. Precise wave height measurement can be challenging, especially in extreme conditions, so the Guinness World Records verification process often takes months—or even years.
Slebir told SF Gate he’s grateful to have experienced the biggest wave of his life, regardless of the final number. “It really doesn’t matter how big the wave was to me,” he said. “It was the biggest wave of my life and that’s all I really care about at the moment.”
Should Guinness World Records confirm the 108-foot measurement, the feat would mark a new chapter in big-wave surfing history, and it would be especially notable for having taken place at Mavericks—a break known for producing massive waves, but never before the official record. For now, the surf world waits eagerly for the official verdict, while Slebir reflects on a day he’ll likely remember for the rest of his life.
Whether its the biggest wave in history, the ride puts Slebir in top contention to win Surfer Magazine’s 2025 Big Wave Challenge, an annual competition to claim the largest wave of the year.
