Alo Slebir’s Maverick Move: UC Santa Cruz alum rides potential record-breaking 100-foot wave

Alessandro “Alo” Slebir (College Nine ’23, legal studies) has always known how to navigate uncharted waters—whether pursuing legal studies at UC Santa Cruz or charging towering ocean swells. But on December 23, 2024, at Mavericks near Half Moon Bay, Slebir may have made history by surfing a wave estimated at 108 feet, potentially breaking the world record for the biggest wave ever ridden.

Slebir’s ride was captured on video and is under review by the World Surf League and Guinness World Records. The world record currently stands at 86 feet. 

Mavericks, the legendary Northern California surf break, is known for its mountain-sized waves, frigid waters, and brutally powerful wipeouts that have cemented its reputation as one of the most dangerous and awe-inspiring big-wave spots in the world. While the wave’s official height is still being verified, one thing is certain: Slebir’s achievement cements him as a standout in the surfing world—and one of UC Santa Cruz’s most adventurous alumni.

“Regardless of the number, it really doesn’t matter how big the wave was to me,” Slebir told SFGate. “It was really the biggest wave of my life and that’s all I really care about at the moment.”