World Surf League competitors face 50ft waves in Hawaii
Saturday 28 October 2017 08:30, UK
The world's best surfers have faced 50ft waves in Hawaii as they battled to make the Pe'ahi Challenge final.
"We will continue to monitor the conditions to determine which days we will run the contest," Mike Parsons, Big Wave Tour Commissioner, had said before the event began, but surfers were able to take to the waves.
Local Maui surfer Ian Walsh made it through to Sunday's showpiece event in the World Surf League competition after battling the elements to navigate his way through a 45-foot wave.
Australian Jamie Mitchell's round featured more testing conditions, as he was completely wiped out during the warm-up and needed to be rescued by a jet ski, before waves proved too much for that too.
Mitchell and the rescue team member were both fine, but the wipeouts continued as another Australian, Ryan Hipwood, felt the force of the strong currents but still managed to earn a place in the final.
Hawaii's Billy Kemper is the defending champion and managed to ride out the heavy tides to ensure he has the opportunity to defend his title on Sunday.
