Garrett McNamara's wave was BIG, but was it 90 feet ?

Pete Thomas Outdoors -

Garrett McNamara caught a monstrous wave this week off Nazaré in Portugal, but did the wave face measure anywhere close to 90 feet, as a witness in the surfer's group implied and as news reports suggested ?

Is it the largest wave ever ridden, as stated in the headline of a news release issued after the epic tow-surfing session ?

Both points are debatable based on footage provided by McNamara to GrindTv.com, for its Tuesday afternoon post on the surfer's incredible ride.

It was, without doubt, an amazing performance by the big-wave surfing icon from Hawaii. The wave face, however, might appear to some to fall significantly short of 90 feet. It's worth noting, though, that footage captured from up high or far away, as was mostly the case here (there is some helmet-cam footage), can be misleading.

A more accurate perspective can be obtained from up-close, at water level. McNamara was tow-surfing with partner Andrew Cotton at the helm of the jet-ski when the huge set rolled in. Al Mennie was aboard a separate personal watercraft, and acting as lifeguard from the channel.

His assessment was provided in the news release. "Everything seemed to be perfect, the weather, the waves.

Both Cotty and I rode two big ones in the 60-foot-plus range and then when Garrett got on the rope a wave, maybe 30 feet bigger, came out of the canyon," Mennie said.

"I had the best seat in the house as he dropped down the face of the biggest wave I've ever seen. It was incredible.

Most people would look scared but Garrett looked in control as he went down the most critical part of the wave.

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