Big-wave surfer Garrett McNamara has broken the record for the biggest wave ever ridden, according to a press release issued by a public relations arm of Nazaré, a city near the ASP World Tour site of Peniche, Portugal. With evidence based on the above video and a photo yet to be released to the media, word from the McNamara camp is that his wave measures 90 feet.

If accurate, the wave estimate would dwarf previous "biggest wave ridden" candidates such as Mike Parson's 2008 frontrunner at Cortes Bank -- estimated in the 70-foot range -- or Ken Bradshaw's 1998 wave at Outer Log Cabins -- estimated at 80 feet (but lacking solid documentation). 

An informal but widely sought goal of the global big-wave community has been to conquer a 100-foot wave. If McNamara's wave earns a consensus of 90-feet, not only will he reach the record books, but will have put the elusive 10-story wave within spitting distance. 

The 2002 Tow Surfing World Cup champion had been involved in a multi-year commitment with an entity called the Portuguese Hydrographic Institute to explore the waves magnified by a massive canyon off of the Nazaré coast. Like canyons at Puerto Escondido, Mexico, or Blacks in San Diego, the underwater canyon intensifies swells into a focused location. McNamara was surfing with the United Kingdom's Andrew Cotton -- who reportedly towed McNamara -- and Ireland's Al Mennie, who viewed the feat from the channel.

"Both Cotty and I rode two big ones in the 60-foot-plus range and then when Garrett got on the rope a wave, maybe 30 feet bigger came out of the canyon, it was meant to be," Mennie said. "I had the best seat in the house as I was doing water safety on the [jet] ski as he dropped down the face of the biggest wave I've ever seen."

Other than the video above, little documentation has been released. Via Twitter, Kelly Slater wrote, "I just saw a shot of Garrett McNamara from Portugal on a stupidly big wave. He should post that thing ASAP. Looks like huge Jaws."

McNamara, who is known for chasing rare and giant waves, like the waves created by calving ice at Child's Glacier in Alaska, combined ocean-going skills honed on the North Shore of Oahu with his reputation for exploration. "I feel so blessed and honored to have been invited to explore this canyon and its special town," McNamara said. "The waves here are such a mystery."

Source: ESPN