how?

[ams]

i see in photos and clips of big wave riders people in the sea watching for instance other surfers and photographers. how is it that they dont get completly smashed by these waves when they look like they are in a really dangerous place?

[RJD]

uh they do sometimes?

The waves break semi predictable but the sea always has a suprise or two...

[ams]

ok chers for that its been on my mind a while

[tomcat360]

the places that you are thinking of are usually places like teahpoo, which is always the same wave, well to a degree. because of the reef the waves come in and break in the same way and place. the boats all sit where the shoulder pops up, and they just go up and down all day long.

[u8oo]

Zoom lenses make things look closer on film.

As for when they are actually in the water, film crew generally know what they are doing, and what the waves are doing .. they are well trained normally.

[hawaiiSUCKSexceptsurf]

a friend of a freind i had was a professional surf photographer and died last year in a big north shore swell. usually the photographers are experienced surfers themselves. and they get messed up by waves just the same.

[Broosta]

In a boat the photogs are usually safe but...

[DayWalker*]

hmmm, imagine dropping down the face of that beauty.... (one day when I'm big, maybe )

[tomcat360]

there is some flick that shows a couple of guys on a boat with a stalled engine that gets caught inside for like 5 waves, and is about to get crushed by the next one and gets his engine cut on at the last second, and just gets launched over the last one.

I cant find it though

anybody else seen it? I thought it was on surfline but I couldn't find it there

that kinda reminds me of the guy at teahpoo and his partner on the jetski got caught when the wave broke early and the jetski falls down and almost kills the guy surfing
I know where that one is!

http://surfline.com/video/vids/2005/may/jsps/raimana_dl_wm.cfm

[DayWalker*]

Yeah I saw that clip of the jetski as well.
Wonder if they get life insurance for hazardous objects?
I can picture the conversation
Wife : "my husband died. I'd like to claim his insurance."
Insurance dude: " Sure no problem, just a couple of questions. How did he pass away?"
Wife: "Jetski landed on his head"
Insurance dude: "WTF????"

[sinistapenguin]

How do the camera guys do it?

I'd like to illustrate my response: