Taz Knight’s recent GoPro clip on how not to surf Todos Santos has picked up the 18-year-old surfer many new fans. “I’ve been amazed by the reaction to the clip,” the British professional told GrindTV via a crackly line on the edge of the Seven Sisters region in the Baja California, Mexico, desert. “I just put it up because I thought it was mildly amusing. It’s probably the most anyone has ever seen of me surfing and I didn’t even catch a wave!” he laughed.
Knight is based in North Devon, England, but is using his gap year prior to starting a university degree in physics to chase the biggest swells he can find. After a winter trawling through Ireland, Scotland, England, and Wales, he flew into the United States around Christmas ready for a six-month stint in Mexico.
“I bought a 1977 F250 Ford pickup off Craigslist in San Francisco and aim to drive through Mexico for six months,” he says. After being forced to rebuild the engine, he spent some time at Mavericks before heading south, where he surfed Todos Santos. It was here that he was caught by a set and forced to dive under six consecutive waves, surfacing only briefly each time before the next wave bore down. The resulting GoPro footage puts you very much in the same harrowing position as Knight, just with a bit more oxygen available.
He posted the video on Facebook with the comment, “I was unfortunate enough to get probably the biggest set of the day on the head. Only 25 foot or so, but with the power of the Pacific behind her, she sure can throw a punch.”
“I never thought I was going to drown,” Knight says. “I knew I was ready to handle those waves. It’s been nice to see it was mostly well received. All the older lads that pushed me into all the big waves when I was a kid have all been in contact and given me great support from back home.”
Knight, who has represented Great Britain at the Under 16 and Under 18 levels, is now heading into the Mexican desert for three months to find more waves and continue his impressive big-wave education. “Hopefully the next clips will feature me riding a few massive waves, not getting smashed by them,” he says.
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