BRAVE surfers tackled some of the biggest waves ever ridden in the UK in Newquay on Friday morning.

Rob Fowlie and Andrew Tuck rode giant 30 foot waves at the Cribbar reef break.

The surfers put in extensive training over several months to prepare themselves for the huge winter swell.

Rob said: “We’d been waiting all summer for this swell.

“All summer; me and the crew had been training for one thing, a proper 25-foot plus swell to wrap itself around the Cornish coastline. You don’t get many chances at days like that here, so when the forecast lined up, we knew this could be the one.

“We met in the pitch black on Friday morning. First light wasn’t even up yet, and we were already dealing with problems. One of the jet skis had a snapped battery terminal from the night before when we’d been changing the battery in a rush. It was one of those moments where you think, is this how the day falls apart before it even starts?

“But we kept calm, fixed it, and somehow still launched right on time.

“As we came round the headland, I’ll never forget that sight.

“Solid 30 foot wave faces marching in. The biggest waves I’ve ever seen breaking here in the UK. It was one of those moments where everyone just goes a bit quiet on the radios because you’re taking in what you’re looking at.

“We had safety skis sitting on the inside in case anything went wrong, and spotters on the headland with radios, all of us linked up. It wasn’t just a surf, it was a full operation.

“Hundreds of hours of training and planning all coming together in that moment.

“Once I was out there, the scale of it really hit me. The amount of water unloading onto that reef was hard to comprehend. I managed to get several waves during the session, including a couple of absolute bombs. Without a doubt, the biggest waves ever attempted here in the UK.

“Will Milne was towing me in on the lead ski, with Andrew Tuck and Tom Vaunan running water safety.

“On the headland, Jack Gleave, Marie Lepage and Karl Loudon were on the radios guiding us through it all.

“It felt less like surfing and more like being part of a rescue operation — everyone with a role, everyone switched on, everyone looking after each other.

“That’s what I’ll remember most. Not just the size of the waves, but how much trust there was between all of us out there.

“We rode monsters that morning. And the best part of it all is every single one of us came home safe.”

Claire Durkin from Newquay Activity Centre was among the crowd who watched the action unfold from Towan Headland.

Claire said: “The winter swell lined up perfectly on Newquay’s doorstep. The headland began to fill early as word spread that the reef was switching on, drawing crowds who gathered in awe to witness one of the UK’s most dramatic, big wave 'Widow Maker' break come alive.

“Out beyond the break, UK big wave surfers Rob Fowlie and Andrew Tuck showed the patience and precision that define true big-wave surfing, waiting calmly as each set pushed through, reading the ocean, selecting only the waves that mattered.

“When the moment came, they were towed into vast, powerful walls of water—each ride a masterclass in timing, experience, and trust in their surf safety team. The waves crashing and spraying high added to the intensity, as crowds watched intently while the surfers powered down the huge waves with speed and precision.

“From the cliffs above, spectators watched in silence and disbelief as surfers and powerful swell met at full force, a reminder of why winter in Cornwall is anything but quiet.

“It was awesome to see the UK’s best big wave riders at Cribbar taking on these huge waves, and the crowd all revelled in the surfer’s bravery and skill."

Videos by Newquay Activity Centre