'Everest of waves': Aussie woman makes incredible surfing history
Australian surfer Laura Macaulay has reportedly conquered the ‘Everest of the south coast’ in WA, becoming the first female surfer to ride infamous wave ‘The Right’.
Well-known to locals on the southern tip of WA, ‘The Right’ attracts world class surfers and daredevils to tackle the uncommonly massive waves found off the coast of Walpole.
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The ABC has reported Macaulay, sister of fellow professional surfer Bronte Macauley, became the first female to successfully surf the incredible wave.
“It is pretty nerve-wracking because of the consequences,” Macaulay told the ABC’s 7:30 program.
“It feels different; it's not like going for a normal surf.”
“In terms of pushing the boundaries, I’m still so rookie so it doesn’t feel like I am.
“There’s so many guys who are so skilled out there ... I feel lucky to have the opportunity.”
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The dangers of surfing ‘The Right’ are all too familiar for Albany based academic Dr Rob Holt, who specialises in marine environments.
He told 7:30 Macaulay risked death by attempting to ride the wave, which required her to be towed out on a jet-ski for some 40 minutes before being correctly positioned.
In preparation for the attempt, Macaulay had to undertake carbon dioxide tolerance training for several months, as well as wear a self-inflating vest in case the wave dumped her under the water and disoriented her.
“It's actually awe-inspiring and I'm totally amazed at the courage and at the skill level and at the nerve it takes to put yourself in a position where you can be maimed or even killed,” Dr Holt said.
Aussie surfing hopeful slams Instagram
Aussie surfing prodigy Blaze Roberts has opened up about the ‘terrifying’ ordeal of having her Instagram account hacked and photos distributed without her knowledge.
The 18-year-old social media influencer, who also hopes to make a career out of surfing, has slammed Instagram for the ease in which she was hacked.
Roberts told A Current Affair a group of hackers sent her a phishing email asking her to verify her account, with Instagram’s branding making it took legitimate.
They then gained control of her email and social media accounts and started posting sexually explicit material, none of which featured her.
The Sydney-based surfer says she found images in her inbox that the hackers had sent to Instagram when asked to prove their identity.
“For some reason Instagram didn’t think it was concerning that three people had sent them different photos,” Roberts told ACA.
“I kept messaging Instagram with screenshots and photos to try and send them the proof and they kept saying they didn’t have enough proof and they didn’t know what I was talking about.”
