Ken Collins Responds to Laird Hamilton on Carlos Burle and Maya Gabeira

Laird Hamilton appeared on CNN, saying that Carlos Burle's wave could only be considered the "wipeout of the year" because at the end of his ride, Carlos fell.

Ken Collins

(GIG HARBOR) - On October 29, 2013, a massive swell hit Nazaré, Portugal. Big wave surfers Maya Gabiera and Carlos Burle decided to test their merit on the wave.

Maya, despite intense training and preparation, broke her ankle on the wave and, after a struggle, drowned in the turbulent waters.

Her rescue partner Carlos Burle managed to get her out of the water and give her CPR on the beach. She was taken to the hospital and will live to surf another wave.

Later, Carlos returned to the ocean, and caught the wave that some are saying is the biggest wave ever surfed.

One day later, Laird Hamilton appeared on CNN, saying that Carlos Burle's wave could only be considered the "wipeout of the year" because at the end of his ride, Carlos fell.

Laird also made it clear that, in his opinion, Maya Gabiera lacked the necessary skills to ride big waves.

This is what big wave surfer Ken Collins has to say about it.

Big wave Surfer Eric Akiskalian of Camarillo, California, travels the world in search of the perfect wave; the biggest waves, in the world. Last October in Oregon, during the Nelscott Reef Tow-In Classic that is held each year in Oregon, Eric and his tow-in partner Keith Galbraith, were towsurfing giant waves at South Reef, and they caught one of the biggest waves ever ridden along Oregon’s coast. This ride, videotaped by Salem-News.com's Tim King, ultimately, was entered in the Ride of the Year Category for The 10th Annual Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Awards.

In the news:

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines...

http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2013/10/30...

Directed by Rocky Romano
Produced by Miranda Winters
Video by Miranda Winters & Alexey Orlov
Edited by Miranda Winters