In the early 1990s, a small group of Hawaii-based surfers began experimenting with getting to remote, powerful reefs by boat and using a rope to help a surfer match wave speed. These experiments helped prove that motor assist could open waves that were difficult or impossible to catch by paddling alone. This set the stage for tow-in surfing to become a distinct big-wave practice.
By 1994, tow-in surfing had reached Mavericks in Northern California, where waves can be fast and heavy. Using a personal watercraft (PWC) to tow a surfer into position made it possible to attempt steeper, quicker takeoffs. The method quickly became controversial, but it also expanded what surfers could try at big-wave breaks.
In the mid-1990s, tow-in surfing became closely tied to Peʻahi (“Jaws”) on Maui, where wave speed and size often exceed normal paddling limits. Teams used a PWC and tow rope to give surfers a running start, then the surfer released the line and rode the wave. Jaws sessions helped prove tow-in as a workable approach to riding larger, faster-moving surf.
As tow-in spread, surfers and shapers refined equipment to match the new speed and forces involved. Smaller boards with foot straps (to help the rider stay connected at high speed) became a key part of the system, alongside partner coordination between driver and surfer. These norms—special boards, safety planning, and driver-surf team roles—made tow-in more repeatable.
In the late 1990s, tow-in surfing appeared more often in surf magazines and videos, helping it move from a local experiment into a global big-wave storyline. Media coverage also sharpened debates about whether motor assist fit surfing traditions and how it should be regulated at crowded breaks. The attention helped turn certain waves into international big-wave targets.
In 1999, the first surfing contest at Mavericks (later known as Titans of Mavericks) marked a major step in organizing big-wave surfing into high-profile events. Even though tow-in and paddle-in approaches differed, Mavericks became a key place where equipment, safety methods, and big-wave reputations were tested. Organized competition also increased public visibility for big-wave surfing worldwide.
On August 17, 2000, Laird Hamilton was towed into a massive Teahupoʻo wave in Tahiti, a ride widely remembered as a turning point in what surfers thought was rideable there. The wave’s steep, thick lip over shallow reef made it especially dangerous, and the documented ride drew broad attention beyond the surf world. This moment linked tow-in directly to elite, high-consequence waves.
In the early 2000s, big-wave awards programs like the Billabong XXL helped formalize how extreme rides were documented and recognized. Photographs and video became central to verifying wave size and performance, which encouraged more deliberate filming of tow-in sessions. This also pushed debates about measurement and judging into the center of big-wave culture.
In 2004, the documentary film Riding Giants premiered and helped explain modern big-wave surfing— including tow-in— to a broad public. By putting major surfers and locations into a single narrative, the film reinforced tow-in as a defining innovation of the era. Wider cultural visibility also raised questions about risk, rescue, and the costs of pushing limits.
In 2005, Oregon’s Nelscott Reef ran the inaugural Nelscott Reef Tow Classic, described by organizers as the first West Coast tow-surf contest. Holding a tow-in event at a cold-water reef break showed how the method was spreading beyond Hawaii and California into new regions. It also reflected a shift toward event formats built around motor-assisted big-wave riding.
By the mid-2000s, helicopter towing began to appear as another way to position surfers on very fast-moving swells. Compared with PWCs, helicopters could scout waves from above and avoid some surface hazards, while introducing new logistical and safety challenges. This shift showed how tow-in continued evolving through technology, not just athletic skill.
In May 2005, Keala Kennelly became the first woman widely credited with tow-surfing Teahupoʻo. Her milestone mattered because it showed that tow-in access and safety systems could help open certain extreme breaks to more surfers, not only the small core of male big-wave specialists. It also became an important reference point in the later discussion of women’s opportunities in heavy surf.
In the late 2000s, big-wave surfing culture increasingly featured a mix of tow-in and paddle-in achievements, sometimes at the same breaks. Tow-in remained essential for certain wave speeds and takeoff zones, while paddle-in carried strong prestige tied to traditional surfing. The result was a more complex “toolbox” approach: surfers chose methods based on conditions, goals, and local norms.
In 2010, the Nelscott Reef Big Wave Classic included a women’s big-wave exhibition heat, which organizers later described as a first for the event. Keala Kennelly won, making it a notable early example of women being formally included in a big-wave event setting connected to the tow-in era’s safety and performance standards. It also helped show that big-wave participation was expanding in both geography and representation.
Tow-In Surfing Revolution and Early Big-Wave Tow-In Events (1994-2010)