Waimea River Wave Gets Mechanical Boost
Waimea Bay’s legendary river wave received an explosive assist this time—thanks to a giant tractor. Normally carved out by hand, the famous river was dredged by city machinery, creating a high-speed wave that pulled in surfers and spectators alike. Jamie O’Brien captured it all in a viral video, exclaiming, “The river is breaching the ocean!”
Watch the Full Video Below:
Surf Meets Excavator
The massive excavator plowed through the sandbar, forcing the Waimea River into the ocean. In seconds, the current erupted, creating multiple breakable waves and setting the stage for a rare daylight river session.
First Daylight Session in a While
Jamie O’Brien shared, “So psyched to finally get one during the daytime. It just turned this day into a complete success. Everyone is psyching out of their minds.”
Not as Deadly as Last Time, But Still Wild
Compared to previous chaotic sessions—like the time JOB nearly drowned—this one was more mellow, yet no less spectacular. The crowd rode mini peaks as water funneled with impressive speed through the new river mouth.
Beach Transformed by the Surge
By the end of the event, the river had reshaped Waimea’s beach. “It just completely blew the beach out,” JOB remarked in the video title. Still, the stoke was undeniable.
Nature and Machine Collide
It’s not every day you see a tractor dig a surf spot—but at Waimea, even the unexpected becomes a wave worth riding.