A former Love Island star has stunned the surfing world by riding a colossal wave in Portugal, potentially setting a new world record for the largest wave ever surfed by a woman.
The Incredible Ride at Nazaré
Laura Crane, the 30-year-old from Devon who appeared on season four of the hit ITV2 dating show, was competing in the Nazaré Big Wave Challenge when she caught the monumental wave on 13 December 2025. The breathtaking ride, captured on video, is now under official review by both the Big Wave Challenge group and Guinness World Records.
Crane described the experience as "like flying," with the wave estimated to be travelling at around 30 miles per hour. Speaking to The Times, she said: "It’s just insane, it’s a total out of body experience which I don’t have words for. You are moving so quickly and you don’t have much control of what is going to happen."
A Record in the Balance
The current record is held by Brazilian surfer Maya Gabeira, who conquered a 22.4-metre wave at the same Portuguese hotspot in February 2020. Laura Crane is confident her wave was bigger, stating: "I'm lucky her angle is similar to mine, so it’s easy to compare."
However, the confirmation process is meticulous and could take months or even years for officials to verify the exact dimensions of the wave she rode. The surfer revealed she nearly missed the potentially historic moment altogether, having initially felt fear before committing to the drop.
From Reality TV to Big Wave Pioneer
Laura Crane's journey to this point is remarkable. After finishing fifth on Love Island UK in 2018, where she dated Jack Fowler, she has dedicated herself to big-wave surfing. In 2024, she became the first British woman to attempt the fearsome waves at Nazaré.
The pursuit is not without its dangers. The small Portuguese town is a notorious magnet for thrill-seeking surfers, and Crane herself broke her ankle earlier this year while training on its formidable waves.
Sharing the incredible video on Instagram, she wrote: "13-12-2025 - I won’t forget you... what a day of surfing... surreal surreal surreal all of it." Her post thanked her team for their support during the session, which occurred after the formal World Surf League contest was cancelled.
