My wife made me take 1247 photographs of Maui's monster wave surfers.

Last Sunday there were 40 to 50 foot waves crashing into Maui's north side. Because of geology, the biggest waves just happen at one beach. On the map it's called Pe'ahi. Surfers respectfully call it Jaws. 

The world's best monster wave surfers converged for a competition on the one day of big waves.

I didn't go.

So how did I end up taking 1247 photographs of monster wave surfers like this?

World champion Robby Naish windsurfing monster waves at Pe'ahi Jaws, north shore Maui, Hawaii.

Since she doesn't like swimming in big surf, Eddi gets daily storm/wave reports on her iPhone. So she gets a report that the waves will happen again on Monday—rare for two days in a row. 

When I hemmed and hawed, my loving wife verbally kicked me in the butt and out of the house, with my camera.


These are just a few of the 1247 photographs I took that day thanks to my wife.

Robby Naish surfing alongside Niccolo Porcella kitesurfing a monster wave at Pe'ahi Jaws, north shore Maui, Hawaii.

Robby Naish takes off flying with his sail as Niccolo Porcella, also kiteboarding, and another surfer watch from the face of a monster wave at Pe'ahi Jaws, north shore Maui, Hawaii.

A camera crew in the helicopter films Kai Lenny stand up paddle board (SUP) surfing a monster wave at Pe'ahi Jaws, north shore Maui, Hawaii.

Kai Lenny stand up paddle board (SUP) surfing monster waves at Pe'ahi Jaws, north shore Maui, Hawaii.

Robby Naish windsurfing monster waves at Pe'ahi Jaws, north shore Maui, Hawaii.

A lone windsurfer gets swallowed by a monster wave at Pe'ahi Jaws, north shore Maui, Hawaii. He was totally eaten by the wave and spit out close to shore. I'm putting together a video of this whole sequence. It's amazing.

So of these images, which one do you like the best?

All images © Janis Miglavs 2015
janis@jmiglavs.com