Alessandro “Alo” Slebir has possibly broken the Guinness World Record for largest wave ever surfed with a 108-footer.
On December 23, 2024, Mavericks, the world-renowned surf spot near Half Moon Bay, Northern California, delivered waves so massive they left even the most seasoned chargers in awe.
It has been described within the big-wave surfing community as one of the greatest days in the history of the break, with waves towering over 60-80 feet (18-24 meters), fueled by a once-in-a-decade swell.
Santa Cruz surfer Alessandro "Alo" Slebir, who has spent years honing his skills at Mavericks, was among the standout performers.
He and his tow partner, Luca Padua, were the first to hit the water at sunrise, staying until their jet ski nearly ran out of fuel by evening.
During the peak of the swell in the afternoon, Luca towed Alo into a wave so big that some are already calling it a potential world record.
"It felt different. When I turned at the bottom, it felt like I was being sucked back up the face," Slebir said.
"I knew it was a big wave, but the speed made it hard to grasp just how big. When I reached the channel and heard the cheers, I realized it was something extraordinary."
Surfer photographer Ryan Craig, who spent the day capturing the action from a jet ski, described the wave as potentially the largest ever ridden at Mavericks.
"To me, it looked like a 70-foot wave," he said.
