Peahi, better known by its nickname Jaws, is the ultimate in big wave surfing. Situated off the north west coast of the Hawaiian island of Maui it is perfectly placed to draw in the biggest swells on Earth out of the North Pacific.
Pioneered by legendary waterman Laird Hamilton and a handful of friends it revolutionised big wave surfing’s use of jet skis to tow into waves that cannot be paddled into.
Its location makes it one of the few places in the world that could legitimately produce the elusive 100ft wave, and thus it is seen as the ultimate challenge for any self-respecting big wave charger.
It comes with dangers though, and the long ‘hold downs’ led to the creation of the now common built in airbags that can be inflated in particularly bad wipeouts to help a surfer back to the surface.