January of 2018, Maya Gabeira set the record for the highest wave ridden by a woman. This wave, at Nazaré, Portugal measured 68 feet high - just over 12 times Gabeira's own height of 5'6. Maya Gabeira was awarded a Guinness World Record for this record-breaking ride.
The danger in surfing such high waves isn't just in the height of the wave, but also in the bone-crushing strength when it comes down on a surfer. This was not Gabeira's first time riding the waves of Nazaré, Portugal. She had previously ridden the waves of this notoriously dangerous deep-water canyon and nearly lost her life. After months in rehab, training, and getting her courage back, Maya Gabeira came back, as an empowered woman, to dominate those same waves.
This video is definitely a "Wait For It" kind of video!