Big Wave Energy

Laura Enever

Surfing has long been a male-dominated sport, but the tide is now turning. Laura Enever is one such surfer carving her own line. 

written By Lisette Drew

Image credit: Matt Dunbar

Growing up in the hype of the Blue Crush era, there was a shift suggesting that, yeah, maybe girls can surf. But back then, males still dominated the line-ups around the world and it was intimidating just to paddle out, let alone catch a wave.

Surfing now feels entirely different. I see women of all ages, from all walks of life, shredding together all along our coastline. But to get us to this point, there were women who had to pave the way. Laura Enever is one of those women.

Laura fell in love with surfing at just nine years old on Sydney’s Northern Beaches. She surfed quickly up the ranks and spent seven years competing on the World Surf League tour. But rather than staying on hectic competitive schedules, Laura chose to step away and follow a different path, one that led her into the world of big-wave surfing.

She began travelling the globe chasing some of the ocean’s most intimidating wave monsters. Then, on 22 January 2023, Laura carved her name into history, setting the Guinness World Record for the largest wave ever paddled into by a woman, a staggering 43.6-foot (13.29-metre) wave at Outer Reef on Ohahu’s North Shore in Hawaii.

“The ocean was absolutely huge that day. I felt this sudden pull to paddle away from the crowd, and then this incredible wave stood up right in front of me. I was in the perfect position to catch it, and riding it felt completely surreal!”

It wasn’t just a record. To Laura, it was a gift. This moment cemented Laura not simply as a female surfer, but as a woman who can truly charge.

“The most memorable moments in my career have been when I’ve let go and just connected with the ocean and just surfed.”

That kind of commitment doesn’t come without setbacks. In December 2024, Laura suffered a severe injury while competing at Hawaii’s iconic Eddie Aikau Invitational. A freak accident in the shore break saw her surfboard fin drive deep into her thigh, narrowly missing a major artery and requiring emergency surgery. But resilience has always been part of her DNA. 

Image credit: Daniel Russo

“My entire big-wave journey has been about learning how to embrace failure and keep pushing forward. I like to believe that every time we get knocked down, it’s so we can get back up stronger in some way, whether that’s mentally or physically.

“This last injury has been the toughest I’ve faced, but it’s also taught me the most about what truly matters to me. I haven’t surfed any big waves since the injury, but I can’t wait to get back out there!”

Laura has also helped shift the surf culture out of the water, too, working as a World Surf League commentator.

“My journey has exceeded anything I ever thought possible, and I’m proud I trusted myself enough to go for it.”

Hearing a woman who understands the pressures of elite competition speak from grounded experience is a reminder that women belong not just in the lineup, but in all corners of the surf industry.

“The next generation coming through is taking the sport to new heights in so many ways. Seeing more girls and women in the lineup genuinely warms my heart.”

“I have friends who never used to feel comfortable surfing, who are now getting out in the water and loving riding waves after years of feeling like they didn’t belong out there. Seeing how happy surfing makes them honestly stokes me out. That’s really what it’s all about!”

@lauraenever