"That was the best wave I've ever ridden in my life."
Surfers say things like this all the time, and it's often a hollow declaration. This best-ever wave is downgraded, exaggerated, superceded or matched by something not quite better, but different. We're prone to hyperbole - it goes hand in hand with being stoked.
But when Billy Kemper makes this claim, the surf world listens -- and for good reason. He's already the King of Jaws after winning out there four times, and he's made a name for himself as one of the hardest-working and hardest-charging surfers to call Hawaii home.
By now, most have seen this wave, which reverberated through Instagram feeds and on screens across the globe. But Billy recently dropped a new clip aptly titled "Home Court" that takes us behind the scene for the hit-and-run mission that led up to this fateful session.
That day actually began with Kemper checking Sunset Beach on the North Shore of Oahu. When a lay-day was called for the Sunset Open-- a contest he would eventually win -- Kemper jumped on a plane to Maui, and headed straight for Pe'ahi.
2020 Ride of the Year Entry: Billy Kemper at Jaws, Maui, Hawaii on January 23, 2020. Angle 5. Video by Marc Chambers.
Jaws has become the gold-standard when it comes to big wave surfing and it's a spot Kemper has a special relationship with.
"Jaws is my obsession. It's a relationship that will never die. It's very emotional, there's a lot of pride, there's a lot of joy, and there's just something there that I cannot get enough of," he says in the clip.
"The rythm and flow that I was in just felt like it was getting better and better. It felt like there was a lead up to something that hadn't happened yet."
It truly has been an epic winter for Kemper, and this wave was just the icing on a cake that also included wins at Jaws, Sunset and the Pipe Trials. For a full rundown on this historic wave, including a moment-to-moment play-by-play on the ride itself, watch Kemper at his "Home Court."
Jaws Is Kemper's "Home Court"
Ben Collins
"That was the best wave I've ever ridden in my life."
Surfers say things like this all the time, and it's often a hollow declaration. This best-ever wave is downgraded, exaggerated, superceded or matched by something not quite better, but different. We're prone to hyperbole - it goes hand in hand with being stoked.
But when Billy Kemper makes this claim, the surf world listens -- and for good reason. He's already the King of Jaws after winning out there four times, and he's made a name for himself as one of the hardest-working and hardest-charging surfers to call Hawaii home.
By now, most have seen this wave, which reverberated through Instagram feeds and on screens across the globe. But Billy recently dropped a new clip aptly titled "Home Court" that takes us behind the scene for the hit-and-run mission that led up to this fateful session.
That day actually began with Kemper checking Sunset Beach on the North Shore of Oahu. When a lay-day was called for the Sunset Open-- a contest he would eventually win -- Kemper jumped on a plane to Maui, and headed straight for Pe'ahi.
Jaws has become the gold-standard when it comes to big wave surfing and it's a spot Kemper has a special relationship with.
"Jaws is my obsession. It's a relationship that will never die. It's very emotional, there's a lot of pride, there's a lot of joy, and there's just something there that I cannot get enough of," he says in the clip.
"The rythm and flow that I was in just felt like it was getting better and better. It felt like there was a lead up to something that hadn't happened yet."
It truly has been an epic winter for Kemper, and this wave was just the icing on a cake that also included wins at Jaws, Sunset and the Pipe Trials. For a full rundown on this historic wave, including a moment-to-moment play-by-play on the ride itself, watch Kemper at his "Home Court."
Billy Kemper
The 2018 WSL Big Wave Champion and 4x Jaws Big Wave Champion recently suffered an injury while chasing a massive Atlantic swell.
Billy Kemper talks us through an injury he sustained to his right hip while chasing a massive Atlantic swell in Morocco.
The 2018 WSL Big Wave Champion and 4x Jaws Big Wave Champion suffered an injury yesterday while chasing a massive Atlantic swell.
We've been cooking up something with Billy Kemper, Luke Davis and Koa Smith somewhere in the Northern Hemisphere this week. More to come…
Wiggolly Dantas wins at Pipe, behind the scenes on Billy Kemper's Jaws mission, Oney Anwar has his eyes on the CT, and more.
Hawaii/Tahiti Nui
2020 Women's Biggest Wave Entry: Michaela Fregonese at Jaws, Maui, Hawaii on January 26, 2020. 5 shot sequence by Aaron Lynton.
2020 Women's Paddle Wave Entry: Raquel Heckert at Jaws on January 23, 2020. 2 shot sequence by Aaron Lynton.
2020 Women's Paddle Wave Entry: Annie Reickert at Jaws on December 12, 2019. 2 shot sequence by Cait Miers.
The Air Tahiti Rangiroa Pro and Papara Pro Open return to the QS and Pro Junior lineup
A dream destination is back for the men's QS with the Air Tahiti Rangiroa Pro beginning March 2 - 6.