Kiwi Sam Hawke scored a perfect 10 for this ride through a 4m-plus wave at a remote Australian beach. Photo / Surfing Australia
The sheer size of the waves is enough to frighten off many, but Kiwi surfer Sam Hawke is at peace when he's inside the giant "barrels".
Hawke, 17, struck waves more than 6m high as he finished third equal against eight of Australia's best young surfers at the Intense Wave
Invitational in South Australia.
One of the youngest competitors at the event, the Christchurch teenager managed a perfect 10-point ride in the first heat at a remote beach that he says locals like to "keep under wraps".
Selected for the event by Surfing New Zealand, Hawke said no one had predicted how big the waves would be.
One observer said they were among the biggest waves surfed competitively in Australia or New Zealand.
But Hawke said he had never been intimidated by big waves.
"It's different for everyone," he said. "Even people I know, that are 'up there' in the sport, say they are nervous.
"But I find that I'm quite relaxed when it's happening, and maybe after you finish you have heaps of adrenaline."
Then he added: "Sometimes, if you know it's a real big one, your heart starts pumping a little bit."
Hawke, who started surfing at 13, was thrilled with his placing in the event, saying he was "stoked just to go".
Surfing New Zealand spokesman Chris Malone said the teen's achievement was "massive, especially for New Zealand".
The perfect ride was rarely achieved.
Hawke had been chosen to go to the event because of his feats in the South Island and because "he's got the guts" to ride the big waves, Mr Malone said.
Hawke is in his last year at Christchurch Boys High School and hopes his achievements may attract a sponsor and give him a future in professional surfing.
Gold Coast surfer Blake Ainsworth won the invitational and $11,000 in prizemoney.
