Jamie O Brien on a Massive Shorebreak at Waimea River

MASSIVE WAIMEA SHOREBREAK JAMIE O BRIEN

Jamie O’Brien and crew went to Waimea River, Hawaii to surf a flooding river wave all day and night. Waimea is ‘The X-Factor of Fun’ because anything can happen there: from pulling into the shore break to getting weird with the winch and water skis.

At a head-high and pumping Waimea River – the body of water that empties into the world famous bay that occasionally “calls the day” – Jamie O’Brien took to the water and put on an absolute clinic. To be honest, it looks much more approachable than Jaws, Waimea Bay, or pumping Pipeline.

Screenshotter MASSIVEWAIMEASHOREBREAKJAMIEOBRIEN 1’42”

On a recent down day along the North Shore, that’s exactly what Jamie O’Brien, Kalani Chapman, Jack Robinson and team of local groms got to enjoy after having the sand ploughed out by tractors. We’ve still not quite got heads round the queuing system, but visibly the later you leave it the gnarlier the ride!

As you’re likely well aware, there’s been plenty of swell on offer across the Hawaiian archipelago the last few weeks. From Jaws to Honolua Bay, Pipeline to Waimea, professional surfers of all stripes have been flocking to the islands like moths to a flame – if they weren’t there already patiently waiting for their respective contest to be greenlit.

Screenshotter MASSIVEWAIMEASHOREBREAKJAMIEOBRIEN 1’45”

If you’ve been tuning in to any professional surf events over the last week or so, you know it’s been pumping across the Hawaiian archipelago (we’ve been screaming about it at the top of our lungs). But “pumping” apparently includes the island chain’s river waves as well.

Why is it that river surfing often just seems a bit wack (cue comments from half-a-million angry righteous German wave riders in defence of their beloved Eisbach) but when it comes to seeing groms froth all over Waimea Bay’s standing rivermouth wave, it all seems totally right! Actually, you don’t need to answer that question.

Screenshotter MASSIVEWAIMEASHOREBREAKJAMIEOBRIEN 1’48”

Despite heavy rains, Hawaiians prove, for the millionth time, that they live in the happiest state in the country. During winter, the river that runs through Waimea Valley floods and sends a heavy stream of water out into the ocean. The Waimea River is one of the longest rivers in Hawaii, stretching for 2.1 miles.

The Waimea River is a major river on the island of Kauai in the U.S. state of Hawaii. At 12.1 miles (19.5 km) in length, it is one of the longest rivers in the Hawaiian Islands, draining one sixth of the total area of the island. It rises in a wet plateau of the island’s central highlands, in the Alaka’i Swamp, the largest high-elevation swamp in the world. It flows south, passing through the spectacular 3,000-foot-deep (910 m) Waimea Canyon, known as the “Grand Canyon of the Pacific.”
“Waimea river was straight up firing today!!!” said Jamie in his post.

Screenshotter MASSIVEWAIMEASHOREBREAKJAMIEOBRIEN 2’38”

It hurts to see Jamie O’Brien and company fall again and again on the gigantic banks of Waimea
Not to be outdone by the ocean, last week the Waimea River absolutely pumped, too, and Jamie O’Brien was there to put on an absolute clinic. We teased the session last week, but here’s Jamie’s side of it replete with a few surfs up and down the Seven Mile Miracle for good measure.

Summary
Jamie O Brien on a Massive Shorebreak at Waimea River
Title
Jamie O Brien on a Massive Shorebreak at Waimea River
Description

Jamie O'Brien and crew went to Waimea River, Hawaii to surf a flooding river wave all day and night. Waimea is 'The X-Factor of Fun' because anything can happen there: from pulling into the shore break to getting weird with the winch and water skis.


31 responses to “Jamie O Brien on a Massive Shorebreak at Waimea River”

  1. Hey Jamie!
    You have such an amazing technique of those backside drop in barrels. What is the key to make it so perfect?

    Keep up the insane VLOGs!

    Cheers from Portugal

  2. I would like to invite you to come and have some of the best and longest barrels of youre life when the next swell comes by at donkey bay “skelltonbay”  il will personaly take you to make sure you have the best time  thats if you will getting siked

  3. That looks so gnarly!…and i thought getting pounded in head-high CA surf was violent. I feel like i was in a car wreck. You must feel like you were in 5 car wrecks…all at the same time!!!.

  4. hey jamie, i really would like for there to be a girls and womens section in the catch surf website or for your merch. you are my surfing idol and i look up to you and im sure so do many other girls do too. so please consider having a girls section on catch surf.
    -sincerly carina

  5. It must be nice to wake up go surfing in paradise, don’t have to worry about getting to work , or working a regular job.

  6. what about your neck ,cervicals ,your spine, ,lumbars…. are you cyborgs or terminators…….how you never injuries dropping those monsters closeouts….

  7. that waimea shorebreak sesh was insanity man…. how do you survive that bro. Thanks for the epic vlog

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