He developed a specific technique for releasing the rope late—what locals call the "Page Drag." By keeping the ski tensioned longer than anyone else, he would hit the bottom turn already at 40 mph, bypassing the chaotic "foam ball" that eats up lesser surfers.
Eben Page is the exception. And that is because he treats the ocean like a mathematician, not a matador. Those who have surfed Mavericks with Page describe him as unnervingly calm. While waves detonate with the force of a freight train, Page doesn't hoot. He doesn't flail. He breathes. eben page
And that is the real lesson.
He approaches a 60-foot drop like a chess grandmaster approaches checkmate. He reads the "peak" two waves before it arrives. He knows exactly where the "soup" will push him. He knows when to straighten out and live to paddle another day. During the golden era of tow-surfing at Jaws (Peahi), the spotlight shone on the big names. But the lifeguards and jet ski drivers knew the truth: Eben Page was the safest pair of hands in the lineup. He developed a specific technique for releasing the
Do you have a favorite "unsung hero" of big-wave surfing? Drop a comment below. Or don't. Eben Page probably wouldn't. 🌊 Those who have surfed Mavericks with Page describe