Garrett McNamara

Last updated
Garrett McNamara
Web Summit 2017 - SportsTrade CG1 7032 (37533617704).jpg
McNamara at the Web Summit 2017 in the Altice Arena, Lisbon, Portugal.
Personal information
Born (1967-08-10) August 10, 1967 (age 56)
Pittsfield, Massachusetts, U.S.
Residence Nazaré, Portugal
Height5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight175 lb (79 kg)
Surfing career
Years active1978–present
Best year2013
SponsorsRed Nose, Mercedes-Benz Wavejet, Donjoy, Body Glove, [1] Kona Red, Maui Jim, Raw Elements, and Noll Worldwide
Major achievementsWorld record for largest wave ever surfed, first to surf tsunami from calving glaciers
Surfing specifications
StanceRegular
Shaper(s)Dick Brewer, Greg Noll, YU, Rusty, Stretch, Carl Schaper
QuiverBig
Favorite wavesLani's and Sunset
Favorite maneuversThe tube
Website garrettmcnamara.com

Garrett "GMAC" McNamara (born August 10, 1967) is an American professional big wave surfer best known for setting the world record for largest wave ever surfed, as documented in the HBO series 100 Foot Wave . McNamara is also known for successfully negotiating a monstrous barrel at Jaws and being the first person ever to ride a wave formed from calving glaciers.

Contents

Early life and education

McNamara was born on August 10, 1967, in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. McNamara has Irish ancestry. He spent much of his childhood in Berkeley, California. In Berkeley, McNamara, and his younger brother Liam, were both known by friends to be rather fearless and to shrug off the pains of rough childhood play, foreshadowing his later ability to face danger while surfing.

During his early childhood, his mother took the family to Central America, where she was a victim of domestic abuse and occasionally abandoned him and his brother. At one point, a Guatemalan farmer sought to adopt him, but his mother returned and brought the family back to America. [2] He then returned to Berkeley, where his mother left him with his birth father; McNamara lived with him for several years until his mother returned with a new domestic partner, who moved the family to the North Shore of O’ahu, Hawai’i in 1978. [2]

At 11 years old, McNamara followed his younger brother's footsteps and began surfing at Sunset, Waimea and the outer reefs in search of giant swells. He entered and placed in the prestigious Triple Crown of Surfing series at age 17 and began to gain sponsors. For the next 10 years, both brothers joined the competition circuit. For several years, his brother Liam was more well-known in the surfing community.

Tow surfing caught on among the surfing community in the early 2000s, and McNamara was one of the first to join the movement. Boats and personal water craft enabled surfers to chase down and catch giant waves that were thought to be beyond the bounds of surfers paddling with their bare hands. McNamara welcomed and craved the challenge to find the biggest waves in the world, which became his dream and mission in life.

Career

McNamara speaking at the Web Summit 2017, Lisbon, Portugal. Web Summit 2017 - SportsTrade COD 3324 (37534494724).jpg
McNamara speaking at the Web Summit 2017, Lisbon, Portugal.

After training for a year, McNamara and tow-in partner Rodrigo Resende won the $70,000 purse at the Tow Surfing World Cup in Maui at Jaws in 2002. [3] Later that year, he posed for the cover of major surf magazines around the world after being photographed in a dramatic barrel shot off of the coast of Teahupo'o in Tahiti. In 2003 he rode one of his most well known waves. McNamara was once again at Jaws and caught a wave with a 20-foot (6.1 m) barrel where onlookers believed he had been crushed by the lip of the wave. The wave spit and, escaping death, he emerged to the surprise and amazement of everyone watching, including himself.

The boundaries of big-wave surfing were pushed once again in the summer of 2007 by McNamara and partner Keali’i Mamala, seeking tsunami formed by 300-foot (91 m) calving glaciers in South-Central Alaska. A feature film was made documenting their experience. [4]

In January 2016, McNamara suffered a severe wipeout on a 50-foot wave at Mavericks in California that caused him to skip off the water three times before being swallowed by the monster-size wave. Rescuers on jet skis eventually pulled McNamara to safety, and he suffered a dislocated shoulder and a broken upper arm that required surgery. [5] Video of McNamara's wipeout went viral, and local surfers have said it was one of the worst wipeouts caught on video. [6]

World record

Nazare, Portugal (Unsplash 7bt4ngmSu9Y).jpg
Praia do Norte, Nazare, Portugal (33830450815).jpg
Can you see the surfer%3F (33988985575).jpg
The Praia do Norte, Nazaré (North Beach) was listed on the Guinness World Records for McNamara big wave surfed (formed under the influence of the Nazaré Canyon).

In November 2011, chasing storms and tracking swells paid off for McNamara as he entered the Guinness World Records. He caught a 78 foot (24 m) wave in Praia do Norte, Nazaré, Portugal, after being towed into the wave from a jet ski riding a 6’0 Dick Brewer Tow Board. His record beat the prior world record by over a foot, [7] but the premature announcement (by others, not by McNamara) proved a source of controversy in the surf world. [8] Meanwhile, McNamara continued to search for an even larger wave.

In January 2013, McNamara broke his own world record by surfing an estimated 100-foot (30 m) wave. [9] [ better source needed ] He also did this off the coast of Nazaré. [10]

Beyond surfing

McNamara became interested in Stand Up Paddle (SUP) and gave it his own twist by designing and creating SUP boards for a more extreme experience, venturing into big wave venues like Waimea, Puerto Escondido, and Mavericks. He was invited to compete in the World Stand Up Paddle Surfing Championship in June 2009 by the International Surfing Association, where only 32 elite surfers were invited to attend. [11]

Personal life

McNamara is married to Nicole McNamara (née Macias), an environmental sciences teacher. When they first met, both were married to other people. The couple wed at Praia do Norte, Nazaré, Portugal in November 2012. [12] [13] They have three children, Barrel (2015), Theia Love Nazaré Celeste Rose (2018) and Fe do Mar Strawberry Lucy (2021). He has three children from his previous marriage to Konnie Pascual McNamara: Ariana Kaimana McNamara (1995), Titus Waimea McNamara (1997) and Tiari McNamara. [14]

Awards and honors

Filmography

The following is based on Internet Movie Database data: [18]

Television

Films

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Big wave surfing</span> Surfing waves at least 20 ft high

Big wave surfing is a discipline within surfing in which experienced surfers paddle into, or are towed into, waves which are at least 20 feet high, on surf boards known as "guns" or towboards. Sizes of the board needed to successfully surf these waves vary by the size of the wave as well as the technique the surfer uses to reach the wave. A larger, longer board allows a rider to paddle fast enough to catch the wave and has the advantage of being more stable, but it also limits maneuverability and surfing speed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nazaré, Portugal</span> Municipality in Centro, Portugal

Nazaré is a Portuguese town and municipality located in the Oeste region, in the historical province of Estremadura, and in the Leiria District. The municipality has a population of 14,889 in an area of 82.43 km2, while the town itself has around 10,000 inhabitants.

Patrick Shane Dorian, or "Shane", is an American surfer from Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. He spent 11 years touring on the World Championship Tour as a professional surfer. Dorian quit competition surfing in 2003 to focus on big waves. He is currently a big wave surfer and one of the best in the world at big wave riding.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peahi, Hawaii</span> Big Wave Surf beach in Hawaii

Peʻahi is a place on the north shore of the island of Maui in the U.S. state of Hawaii. It has lent its name to a big wave surfing break, also known as Jaws.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Keala Kennelly</span> American surfer and actor

Keala Kennelly is a professional surfer, DJ, and actress from Kauai, Hawaii. After spending a decade ranked in the top 10 on the ASP World Championship Tour (WCT), Kennelly took a break from the tour in 2007 to explore her passions for acting and music, including a recurring role as a surfer in the 2007 series John from Cincinnati. She continues to DJ and compete as a big wave surfer.

Grant "Twiggy" Baker is a South African professional surfer. He is a 3-time world surfing champion, ocean conservationist and entrepreneur

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike Parsons (surfer)</span> American professional surfer and surfing coach

Mike Parsons is an American professional surfer and surfing coach.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nazaré Canyon</span> Submarine canyon in the North Atlantic Ocean

The Nazaré Canyon is an undersea canyon just off the coast of Nazaré, Portugal, in the eastern North Atlantic Ocean. It is the largest submarine canyon in Europe, reaching depths of about 5,000 metres (16,000 ft) deep and a length of about 230 kilometres (140 mi).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Makua Rothman</span>

Makuakai (Makua) Rothman is an American big wave rider, professional surfer and musician. On February 28, 2015, he was crowned the 2015 Big Wave World Champion in the World Surf League's (WSL) first sanctioned Big Wave World Tour (BWWT).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pete Cabrinha</span> American athlete and entrepreneur (born 1961)

Pete Cabrinha is an American big-wave surfer, windsurfer, kitesurfer and artist. He is the founder and brand manager of Cabrinha Kites.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maya Gabeira</span> Brazilian big wave surfer

Maya Reis Gabeira is a Brazilian big wave surfer. She surfed a 22.4 m (73 ft) high wave in Nazaré, Portugal in February 2020, recorded by Guinness World Records as the biggest wave ever surfed by a woman. She also held the previous record for biggest wave ever surfed by a woman, of 20.8 m (68 ft) established in January 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greg Long (surfer)</span> American surfer (born 1983)

Greg Long is an American surfer from San Clemente, California. He has won the Quiksilver Big Wave Invitational, in memory of Eddie Aikau at Waimea Bay, the Red Bull Titans of Mavericks event held at Mavericks in Northern California, and the Red Bull Big Wave Africa event held at Dungeons in Hout Bay, South Africa. Additionally, he is the most decorated surfer in the Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Awards. He is widely regarded as one of the best big wave surfers in the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Teahupo'o</span> Associated commune of Taiarapu-Ouest in French Polynesia, France

Teahupoʻo is a village on the southwestern coast of the island of Tahiti, French Polynesia, in the southern Pacific Ocean.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kai Lenny</span> American waterman

Kai Lenny is an American professional big wave surfer, stand-up paddle (SUP) surfer and racer, surfer, tow-in surfer, windsurfer, kitesurfer, wing foiler and celebrity watersports enthusiast. Lenny lives on Maui.

Will Skudin is a native of Long Beach, NY and a professional surfer. Skudin is a third-generation surfer and along with his brother, Cliff, is the co-founder of Skudin Surf and Surf for All, a nonprofit organization.

Justine Dupont French professional surfer

Justine Dupont is a French professional surfer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Praia do Norte (Nazaré)</span> Beach in Nazaré, Portugal

Praia do Norte is a beach located in Nazaré, portuguese West region, which due to its giant white breaking waves is famed for its surfing conditions. Nazaré's waves were listed on the Guinness Book of Records for the biggest waves ever surfed.

Rodrigo ‘Koxa’ Augusto do Espírito Santo is a Brazilian professional big wave surfer and extreme waterman who broke the world record for largest wave ever surfed at Nazaré, Portugal, in November 8, 2017.

100 Foot Wave is an American documentary television series directed by Chris Smith, revolving around big-wave surfer Garrett McNamara as he traveled to Nazaré, Portugal with the goal of conquering a 100-foot wave. It premiered on HBO on July 18, 2021.

References

  1. ↑ "Body Glove Welcomes Garrett to the Family". Grind TV. Archived from the original on 11 May 2012. Retrieved 23 May 2012.
  2. 1 2 Theroux, Paul (July–August 2018). "The Epic Quest to Ride the World's Biggest Wave". Smithsonian . Retrieved August 21, 2018.
  3. ↑ "McNamara & Resende Win Tow-In World Cup". HoloHolo Hawai'i. Retrieved 23 May 2012.
  4. ↑ "The Glacier Project". YouTube. Retrieved 23 May 2012.
  5. ↑ "Pro Surfer Garrett McNamara Recounts How He Survived Epic Wipeout". abcnews.go.com. ABC News. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  6. ↑ Gafni, Matthias (9 January 2016). "Mavericks: Garrett McNamara surf wipeout worst ever on video?". contracostatimes.com. Contra Costa Times. Archived from the original on 13 January 2016. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  7. ↑ "78-FOOT WAVE SURFED BY GARRETT MCNAMARA CONFIRMED AS LARGEST EVER RIDDEN". Guinness World Records. 9 May 2012. Retrieved 23 May 2012.
  8. ↑ "GMac's Controversial 90-Foot Wave". The Inertia. 10 April 2012. Retrieved 23 May 2012.
  9. ↑ "Surf's up to 100ft: Daredevil breaks world record for largest wave ever ridden". The Mirror. 30 January 2013. Retrieved 30 Jan 2013.
  10. ↑ "Garrett McNamara Surfs Monster Waves in Portugal". theinertia.com. 29 January 2013.
  11. ↑ "SUP World Tour". OC Beach Blog. Archived from the original on 11 July 2012. Retrieved 23 May 2012.
  12. ↑ "Garrett McNamara casa-se esta tarde". caras.sapo.pt. Retrieved 30 Jan 2013.
  13. ↑ "Surfer Garrett McNamara Conquers His 100-Foot Wave". The Daily Beast. Retrieved 30 Jan 2013.
  14. 1 2 "100 Foot Wave".
  15. ↑ GARCIA, OSKAR (July 31, 2013). "Record-holding surfer honored by Portugal's navy". San Diego Union Tribune, ASSOCIATED PRESS. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
  16. ↑ "MEDALHA NAVAL DE VASCO DA GAMA". Clube do Sargento da Armada. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
  17. ↑ "Big-wave surfer enters record books by riding 78-foot "monster"". Reuters . 11 May 2012. Retrieved 23 May 2012.
  18. ↑ Garrett McNamara at IMDb
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.