Jeep Australia - Biggest Wave Ever Surfed by a Kite - Ben Wilson

Aussie Ben Wilson rides an estimated 35 foot monster wave at Cloudbreak, Fiji.

Wednesday 15th June, 2011; Jeep® Ambassador and international kitesurfing star Ben Wilson rides an estimated 35 foot monster wave, in a video released by Jeep Australia, marking the launch of a new wide-ranging partnership between Ben Wilson Surf (BWS) and Jeep Australia.

The video shows Ben being dwarfed by a giant swell at Cloudbreak, Fiji, one of the world’s big- wave hotspots. At almost six times his height and incredibly wide, the wave threatens to swallow Ben but he holds on to record one of the most amazing rides ever filmed.

Ben Wilson said; “I’ve spent the past five years searching for the right wind and swell conditions all around the globe on my quest to ride the biggest wave EVER kite-surfed. I set myself the challenge to achieve this in 2011, but never thought that it would happen so quickly. When I finally dropped into that wave it never let me reach the bottom. It felt like I was motionless”.  A goal like this takes years of preparation and planning, but needs to be actioned in a matter of hours.

“I had put so much effort into that very moment and knew I had to hold on to the very end. For me, it’s all about finding the limit of ‘should I, or shouldn’t I’ and that’s when you "Don’t hold back”, said Wilson.  Kiteboarding has been around for 15 years, however Kitesurfing, pioneered by BWS in 2005, has only been around for six years. With an estimated 400,000 kitesurfers world-wide, growing by 10% per year, there is probably around 10,000 kitesurfers currently across Australia.

Jeep has entered into a two-year sponsorship partnership with BWS, which will see a broad range of collaborative opportunities unfold over the coming months.  2011 marks the celebration of 70 strong years of Jeep heritage, (stemming back to the early 1940s when Jeep was the first 4WD to be driven on Australian terrain). To mark this celebration, Jeep has embarked on a wide-spread ‘Don’t Hold Back’ challenge to revitalise every aspect of its business.

Caroline McComb, Sponsorship and Public Relations Manager at Chrysler Australia said; “Ben Wilson represents what ‘Don’t Hold Back’ is all about. His fearlessness and passion really rings true with the Jeep brand”.

“To be part of such a great moment is very exciting for Jeep and we look forward to collaborating with Ben on a range of ambitious projects over the coming months. We support Ben’s quest to travel wherever required last minute to fulfil his goals. He has no intention of slowing down and neither do we”.

Don't Hold Back!