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The Cloudbreak Sessions

A storm that originated in the South Pacific has created such a massive south swell that the greatest surfer ever Kelly Slater decided to skip one of the biggest surf contests in the world to surf the amazing waves that hit Fiji's world-famous Cloudbreak.
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Author, Dogwild & Board: Stories, Interviews and Musings from a Surf Journalist. Professor, LCCC. Host, The Dog & Surfer Roadshow.

Author, Dogwild & Board: Stories, Interviews and Musings from a Surf Journalist. Professor, LCCC. Host, The Dog & Surfer Roadshow.
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A storm that originated in the South Pacific has created such a massive south swell that the greatest surfer ever Kelly Slater decided to skip one of the biggest surf contests in the world, the Billabong Pro Jeffreys Bay, to surf some of the most amazing waves to ever hit Fiji's world-famous Cloudbreak.

Surf photographer Scott Winer, author of the new book Tavarua, was there to capture some of the gargantuan waves that Slater was riding.

Kelly Slater at Cloudbreak
Kelly Slater Getting Ready to Surf Cloudbreak(01 of04)
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©Scott Winer
Kelly Slater Cloudbreak(02 of04)
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©Scott Winer
Kelly Slater Cloudbreak(03 of04)
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©Scott Winer
Kelly Slater Cloudbreak(04 of04)
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©Scott Winer

Kelly Slater's Cloudbreak sessions weren't the only ones garnering well-deserved attention. Australian surfer Ryan Hipwood got shacked in this Cloudbreak barrel. Given Hipwood's backside approach and just the incredible size of the wave, this ride has instantly become the early favorite for the XXL Ride of the Year award.

Last but not least comes this video footage of big wave surfer and Maverick's charger Kohl Christensen enduring one of the more brutal wipeouts of the Cloudbreak sessions.

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