Today's Edition
Abu Dhabi (Aletihad)
Chilean wingsuit flyer Sebastian Alvarez has made history after leaping from a Bell 212 helicopter travelling at over 12,000 feet metres over Hudayriyat Island in Abu Dhabi, before dropping into a wave in the most spectacular style.
With a modified surfboard attached to his feet, Alvarez “skysurfed” down from the helicopter, swooping in by parachute before cutting his chute to land on a 7.5-feet wave in the world’s newest and largest wave facility, Surf Abu Dhabi.
A world-renowned BASE jumper and outdoor skydiver, Alvarez has successfully completed thousands of similar jumps. But on this occasion, he made history. Over two years in the making, this project is a high-level combination of three unique disciplines – skysurfing, swooping, and surfing.
The preparation and the training required was not just focused in one sport, but all three, achieved in partnership with Experience Abu Dhabi, the destination brand of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi).
“This idea has been in my mind forever,” Alvarez said. “I remember as a kid watching pelicans soar over the waves, thinking how gently they fly and approach the ocean, using the dynamic wind to keep the speed and stay with the wave, almost touching the water with wings. That’s when it clicked in my mind. The dream of using a high-performance canopy at a high speed… it’s the same as a pelican, or a seagull, using waves to fly.”
Developed by Modon Properties, Surf Abu Dhabi uses the Kelly Slater Wave Company’s proprietary wave technology to create the world’s longest ride and biggest barrel, providing the perfect venue for Alvarez to achieve his record-breaking dream of “Skydiving into a Wave”.
One of the newest year-round surfing venues in the world, Surf Abu Dhabi promises to enhance the emirate’s appeal to adventure enthusiasts and sports fans from around the globe. Whether an avid surfer or simply seeking a new experience, Surf Abu Dhabi is designed to offer excitement and enjoyment in a world-class setting.
“It’s incredibly special to perform this project here in Abu Dhabi,” Alvarez said. “I consider this technology, the wave, as one of the most amazing things that humans have created. It is a perfect wave.”
Alvarez’ swoop from helicopter into surfing a wave is a world first, and his success goes down in history across not just one discipline, but three. “Achieving this today, it means the world to me,” Alvarez said. “It has felt like entering into the unknown, doing something that nobody has ever attempted to do before. It really is a dream come true.”
The Surf Abu Dhabi facility will host its first professional surfing competition, the Abu Dhabi Longboard Classic, from September 27-29, which will be the third stop on the World Surf League (WSL) Longboard Tour. Surf Abu Dhabi will also host a WSL Championship Tour event in 2025.
