Updated on September 04, 2026
Holder of the world record for the highest wave ever surfed, Monaco resident Sebastian Steudtner belongs to that very select circle of athletes for whom performance is not an end in itself, but a territory to explore.
In Monaco, far from the storms and adrenaline that punctuate his professional life, the German surfer continues to pursue ever-higher waves, particularly the 50-metre wave, which he believes to be the maximum height the ocean can produce. Around this quest, he is bringing together the forces and expertise needed to create the Wavexplorer Foundation, an ecosystem of scientists, engineers, partners and philanthropists. The aim? To gain a better understanding of waves and pass on what years of experience in extreme conditions can teach us. With forty cargo ships disappearing at sea every year, and many more vessels meeting the same fate, Wavexplorer intends to help answer questions that remain unresolved by collecting data that has never previously been measured, thereby improving safety at sea.
Sebastian Steudtner is also deeply committed to passing knowledge on to others, which he considers essential to developing self-confidence, trust in others and the determination to believe in one’s dreams. This conviction is embodied in WeMakeWaves Wir Machen Welle e.V.), the association he founded to pass on these values to children and young people, enrich their experience and help them find their place in society.
An encounter with an athlete turned explorer, at the crossroads of sport, science and human values.
After surfing a 26.21-metre wave at Nazaré (Portugal) in 2020, followed by an even higher one measuring 28.57 metres in 2024, what new sporting challenge have you set yourself ?
Sebastian Steudtner : My goal is to surf a 50-metre wave. In my view, this is probably the maximum height a wave can reach in the ocean. I have witnessed such a phenomenon only once, about fifteen years ago. I would like to find those conditions again and take on this ultimate challenge at least once. That is what I think about when I train every day.
That would be a phenomenal record…
Sebastian Steudtner : The title does not really interest me. I simply seek to push back the boundaries of what is possible. That is what has always driven me. I like setting my own limits and trying to surpass them.
Where might one hope to find 50-metre waves ?
Sebastian Steudtner : The scientific data collected this year around El Niño suggest that this natural phenomenon could reach exceptional intensity. Certain areas of the Pacific, off the coast of North America, could therefore generate gigantic waves. It is at once a quest, a research project and an expedition. For now, my team and I are focusing our efforts on the North Atlantic and the North Pacific.
What could the study of such an extreme wave contribute from a scientific perspective ?
Sebastian Steudtner :
Surfing such a wave would make it possible to collect scientific data that has never been measured before. The aim is to create a genuine observatory in order to understand how waves form, in which areas they appear, what their dynamics are and how much energy they carry.
This is one of Wavexplorer’s main areas of focus. Around forty cargo ships disappear every year, while the total number of vessels sinking on the high seas is even higher. I hope that a project like ours can help answer certain questions, reduce risks and chart safer maritime routes.
© : Lukas Mengler
Does the Wavexplorer project mark a turning point in your career ?
Sebastian Steudtner : This project represents more the natural evolution of my career, both as an athlete and as a person. In Nazaré, surfing the biggest waves in the world, I experimented extensively, learned and progressed. I became interested in safety, technological advances, world records, mapping performance zones and the scientific approach to wave dynamics.
All this research has made up a major part of my work in recent years. Today, I want to put this knowledge to use through a foundation that will be called the “Wavexplorer Foundation”. It is an ecosystem dedicated to exploration, inspiration and technological innovation, based on a new approach to the study of waves.
How does this ecosystem work ?
Sebastian Steudtner : We work with a scientific council led by Sieglinde Gruber, a former United Nations commissioner. I have brought together a team that I consider to be one of the most competent in the world in the field of wave research.
At the same time, I have created a network bringing together sponsors, foundations, philanthropists and innovative companies. Wavexplorer is a constantly evolving platform at the crossroads of several fields: content production, particularly online documentaries; scientific research; technology; innovation; and the creation and collection of data. It is a whole ecosystem.
What preparation enabled you to surf the highest wave ever surfed ?
Sebastian Steudtner : It is difficult to single out one particular training programme. This result is the culmination of everything that came before it. There is, of course, physical preparation and daily work with my team, but I would especially like to highlight the role of Eric Ribière, my big-wave surfing partner for more than ten years. He is the one who takes me into the heart of the waves on a jet ski.
We work extensively on the equipment in order to adapt it to my needs and constantly improve it. I have tested around eighty surfboard shapes, but I only use three or four each year.
The jet skis are also fully customised. Their engines are more powerful than those of standard models, and they are capable of navigating through turbulent waters.
© : Joaocordass
What kind of logistics are required ?
Sebastian Steudtner : It is a real enterprise. Safety is its central pillar. Around it are organised project management, production, infrastructure, storage, as well as the maintenance of the jet skis, support vehicles and all the mechanical equipment.
How do you prepare mentally ?
Sebastian Steudtner : Mental strength comes naturally once the work has been done and everything is in place. I can then visualise precisely where I want to go.
Then comes the moment when I find myself in the water, fully committed. There is a paradox between the power of the ocean, which reminds us of our almost insignificant condition as human beings, and the desire to challenge the wave. There is something almost schizophrenic about playing with this paradox and pushing it to its peak. But that is also what makes the experience so exhilarating.
The primary concern is safety, isn’t it ?
Sebastian Steudtner : It is an essential issue that is constantly on my mind. I am on the front line myself, but my team, which numbers around thirty people, is also involved. More broadly, our entire sport must make progress in this area.
Since 2010, I have established a safety system in Nazaré with Dr Axel Haber, a former member of the German Navy. We developed a protocol for recovering and stabilising an injured person in less than five minutes. The system operates like a fully equipped ambulance, with two doctors, four emergency physicians and four additional doctors providing backup.
Safety remains a fundamental issue, especially since big-wave surfing still lacks suitable supervision and appropriate infrastructure.
In Germany, I also run WeMakeWaves, which teaches children how to surf. The programme begins with learning to swim and raising awareness of the risks associated with the sea, but above all it is about giving them tools that go far beyond the water: self-confidence, trust in others and the conviction that they can achieve what they set out to do.
© : Lukas Mengler
Do you think surfing is sufficiently well known and recognised ?
Sebastian Steudtner : It is a fundamentally positive sport, and I would like it to attract more interest. Major brands regularly use it to shape their image. One of the most visible recent examples was Louis Vuitton’s Men’s Spring/Summer 2027 collection, presented in Paris last June. Surfing was at the heart of the show, with an enormous eight-metre-high artificial wave.
Surfing also resonates deeply with nature lovers, adventurers and, quite simply, those who aspire to a more balanced lifestyle. This can clearly be seen in the way our content is received and perceived. Overall, it reaches billions of people around the world, and videos of world records play an important role: they are truly timeless content that continues to be discovered and watched years after it was filmed. We are also currently developing a major streaming series centred on Wavexplorer, for which the Australian actor Chris Hemsworth is notably an executive producer. He is a perfect fit for this audience, and his involvement says a great deal about the evolution of surf culture.
Moreover, surfing enjoys genuine popularity and continues to become more structured through schools and instructors. Nevertheless, there is still much to be done. The sport has its own history and deserves to be appreciated for its intrinsic values, especially since it conveys essential messages about protecting seas and oceans.
Do you enjoy sailing ?
Sebastian Steudtner : Yes. I would like to sail more and become a better skipper. My dream would be to set off by boat for very distant destinations in order to discover new surf spots. Boris Herrmann and I have also considered organising an expedition together aboard Malizia Explorer*.
What does your physical training in Monaco look like ?
Sebastian Steudtner : I get up very early. After taking my dog, Moana, for a walk, I train for three hours. I then have breakfast, organise my appointments and resume training for another two or three hours.
I mainly work on cardio — cycling, running, the elliptical trainer, rowing machine or swimming — as well as strength training and balance. At the end of the day, I enjoy relaxing on the beach with my partner.
© : Lukas Mengler
Why did you choose to live in Monaco ?
Sebastian Steudtner : Monaco is the ideal place for me because I can feel in harmony with my ambitions and my lifestyle there. The Principality is almost the exact opposite of my professional world, which is made up of storms, pressure, adrenaline, responsibilities and risks.
The Riviera is also one of the most remarkable regions in the world because of its history, dynamism and the visionary, sporting and creative personalities who live there and have achieved important things.
The history of ocean exploration led by Prince Albert I obviously occupies an important place in my vision of Monaco. It is particularly inspiring for someone who, like me, is constantly seeking to push back the boundaries of what is possible.
I have also had the opportunity to speak directly with Prince Albert II about Wavexplorer. Given his personal commitment to protecting the oceans, it is naturally a subject that resonates with him from a Monegasque perspective, and these discussions proved truly valuable in developing the project.
Isn’t the Mediterranean coastline the opposite of what you are looking for ?
Sebastian Steudtner : I travel in search of waves. So when I return home, I appreciate the calm. It is the right balance for me.
What are your three favourite places in the Principality ?
Sebastian Steudtner : The sea, particularly when viewed from the roof of the Musée océanographique; the Yacht-Club de Monaco, which is both my training venue and my logistics centre; and… my flat.
© : Lukas Mengler
* Boris Herrmann is a German skipper, a member of the Yacht-Club de Monaco and an ambassador for Team Malizia, founded in 2016 by Pierre Casiraghi, Vice-President of the Yacht-Club de Monaco. Malizia Explorer is the scientific research sailing vessel of Team Malizia, which was created in 2016 at the Yacht-Club de Monaco through a joint initiative by Pierre Casiraghi and Boris Herrmann.
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