| It's like one of those flowers that only opens a few | | | | themselves to be scared while still confronting them. |
| times in its lifetime. You can wait a long time for it and | | | | Surfers who normally want to attempt to ride this |
| unless you're in the right place at the right time, you're | | | | wave normally have to have themselves and their surf |
| going to miss it and may never get the chance again. | | | | boards towed out onto the wave by a jet ski to |
| You can kick yourself, swear, punch walls but the | | | | ensure they build up enough speed but this teenager |
| opportunity is gone and the likelihood of it coming back | | | | was too young to be insured for this and had to rely |
| is slim. | | | | on his own power to paddle out onto the wave. This |
| I'm talking about the aptly named wall of water called | | | | not only shows his surfing skills but the amount of |
| The Widowmaker. This is a wave that hits the coast | | | | power and skill that goes behind it. |
| of Cornwall on a handful of occasions throughout the | | | | He admits he was nervous at first and didn't want to |
| year and is the ultimate of all surfer's rides. You'll see | | | | go for it but after seeing other surfers take dives and |
| them all congregating on the beach with their surf | | | | still come back up, he decided - why the hell not. It |
| boards waiting for The Widowmaker, then you'll see | | | | seems that attitude well and truly paid off bringing him |
| their chins drop and out pour the excuses for not | | | | a title and respect that otherwise might not have been |
| getting in the water with this beast. | | | | his for a long time to come. |
| However, one surfer has defied the odds and battled | | | | Although he freely admits his mother wasn't too happy |
| with the beast of H2O, coming out on top on his first | | | | with the prospect! We all worry about our children |
| attempt. This brave young surfer took up his trusty | | | | every time they go out but most of our kids aren't |
| surf board and strode out into the sea to play with the | | | | putting themselves in the path of a mini tsunami! His |
| mother of all waves and returned victorious - earning | | | | father did go to watch though, and they are rightly |
| him the respect of surfers of all ages up and down | | | | very proud of their son, who now has the bit between |
| the country. | | | | his teeth and wants to tackle other big waves around |
| Apparently, this surfer has waited his whole life (all 17 | | | | the world. That's the trouble with an adrenaline sport, |
| years of it) to breach the 20 foot wave and, as he | | | | you are always searching for something bigger, better |
| has succeeded, this now officially makes him Britain's | | | | and more dangerous. |
| youngest surfer to conquer The Widowmaker. Millions | | | | Surfing, along with scuba diving, sky diving and bungy |
| of tons of water were behind this wave with the | | | | jumping are considered dangerous past times but the |
| teenager making short work of riding it and making it | | | | statistics still make it obvious that you are more likely |
| look easy. His words to describe the ride were | | | | to be killed from an accident in the home or simply |
| 'amazing - but scary'. Many teenagers could take a | | | | crossing the street than you are to be killed |
| leaf out of his book by facing their fears and allowing | | | | participating in one of these hobbies. |