Why This Big Wave Surfer Is Only Interested In Tackling The Biggest Monsters

Andrew Cotton is determined to find the biggest, steepest, gnarliest wave in the world to surf. Then hes going to look for an even bigger wave.Im searching for the biggest wave, and that search is never ending, the British plumber turned professional surfer told CNN Thursday.Cotton said he searches for the void in the middle of a monster wave, which brings a few seconds of a meditative-like trance atop his board with the water churning around him.My favourite thing about surfing is how simple it can be. Silky turns on glassy waves, nothing' https://t.co/VLqL7FFmzQ ANDREW COTTON (@andrew_cotton) December 29, 2016 He grew up by the sea in North Devon, southwest England, but said he didnt get hooked on giant waves until he spotted one off the west coast of Ireland in 2013.Cotton is now in the elite world of the big-wave champions and hecompeted in December in the World Surf League Nazar Challenge at Praia do Norte off Portugal, home to some of the biggest waves of the world. He surfed a 60-footer there in 2004.At Nazar in January 2013, Hawaiis Garrett McNamara surfed a 100-foot wave (shown in the video below)the record for the largest wave ever surfed.Thats what Cotton has to beat. He calls GMac his biggest inspiration. The hardship was three or four years ago, having the vision and not being able to do it, Cotton told the North Devon Journal.Now Im living the dream and the support and love from my family for it is amazing.Some may think his stunts are crazy, but he insists hes never reckless.I would say that I respect the ocean. Its a very dangerous place, he told CNN. I respect it massively and I wouldnt say that I dont get scared.That doesnt mean hes going to stop.Surfings not like any other sport, its continuous, he told the Journal. Im always going to be on that mission. As long as the swirl and the tide and the conditions align, you never know what can happen. type=type=RelatedArticlesblockTitle=Related Coverage + articlesList=58192153e4b00f11fc5c90fb,576b2521e4b0c0252e78606b,574f5104e4b0eb20fa0cb1ca -- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.
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