- Mark Visser
-
Mark Visser Personal information Nationality Australian Born March 9, 1983 Website www. markvisser.net Sport Country Australia Sport Big Wave Surfing and extreme adventure Event(s) Big Wave, Night Rider Mark Robert Visser (born March 9, 1983) is an Australian big wave surfer and adventure athlete. Mark started surfing at 10 years old, and competed in several junior surfing tournaments in his youth. His professional career has included placing in several major surfing events and consideration in the XXL awards for biggest wave ridden. He gained particular notoriety for a nighttime big wave ride at Jaws, earning him the nickname "Night Rider." Mark has also been the subject of several segments on Fuel TV, and will be featured in several upcoming filmed series.
Contents
Early career
Visser learned to swim and he was 9 and started surfing when he was 10.[citation needed] In his junior years he represented Australia in the Australian School boys team that competed in the Australasian Tournament in New Zealand, finishing 4th in the Taranaki final. he also represented Queensland in his junior year in the Australian Titles in the Open Division.[citation needed]
Professional career
Visser's past achievements include: 5th in the 2006/2007 APT tow-in tour event in Chile, 7th in the Nelscott Reef Big Wave Paddle In event USA. and runner up in the 2008/2009 and 2009/2010 Oakley ASL Big Wave Awards. He has also had several waves entered into the XXL awards for biggest wave ridden.[1]
Mark Visser lists his favourite surfing locations as Tahiti and Fiji.[citation needed]
Training
Mark Visser has training programs in the water and on land consisting of exercises specific to the demands of big wave surfing. These include training his body to cope with potentially dangerous situations, including extended periods of submersion without oxygen. These training programs have sparked interest from the U.S. Navy SEALs.[2][3] Before submerging, Mark does not take a breath. After expelling all the air in his lungs, he can swim underwater for 2 minutes and 20 seconds. Visser can also hold his breath underwater for over six minutes.[3]
Night rider
Mark Visser surfing Jaws, Maui at night
In January 2011, Visser gained notoriety for a night ride on waves measuring 30–40 feet off the shores of Jaws beach with specially engineered LED lights built into Visser's vest and imbedded into the surfboard.[4][5] No one had previously attempted to ride big waves at Jaws before in total darkness, and the feat earned Visser the nickname "Night Rider."[1][5]
The feat is intended to be the first of a series of prominent endeavors for Visser,[1] ultimately intended to provide footage for a documentary called "9 Lives" that is planned for international distribution in late 2011.[1][6][7]
Film, TV and media
Diaries with Mark Visser and Vis Tips, 3 -5 minute segments, are run on Fuel TV 3-8 times a day. The diaries follow Visser around the world in search of some of the best big wave locations[8] and the tips segments focus on some surfing/training and health advice from him and other professional surfers.
9 Lives is documentary series set to be released in late 2011. Visser's Maui 'Night Rider' surf is the first of several world-first events that will be profiled in the series.[1]
Falling Down Mountains is a travel and big wave show and an extended version of Diaries with Mark Visser, currently in production and set to be released in 2011.[citation needed]
Tasmania July 2011
In July 2011, Visser, along with his brother Kevin and a group of local surfers James Hick, Marty Paradisis and Mike Brennan, took on what leading forecaster Ben Macartney reported as one of the biggest swells seen on Australian charts. The group braved severe hailstorms and 157 km/h winds and icy waters to conquer waves rearing up to 10m. This particular surfing trip prompted the surfers to paddle in, rather than tow, taking the degree of difficulty to dangerous heights.[9]
References
- ^ a b c d e "Night Surfing 40 foot Jaws". SwellWatch.com. 2011-01-20. http://www.swellwatch.com/story/23745/Night+Surfing+40+foot+Jaws/. Retrieved 2011-06-01.
- ^ "Big Wave Surfer Mark Visser Makes History | Fuel Tv". Fox Sports. 2011-01-21. http://www.foxsports.com.au/fueltv/news/foot-waves-ridden-in-complete-darkness-are-the-first-in-a-series-of-world-first-achievements/story-fn6u58dj-1225992267538. Retrieved 2011-06-01.
- ^ a b "Mark Visser Sports Tonight - Extreme Training on Vimeo". Vimeo.com. http://www.vimeo.com/16011812. Retrieved 2011-06-01.
- ^ "Big-wave surfer Mark Visser takes on Maui's 'Jaws' at night - latimes.com". Latimesblogs.latimes.com. 2011-01-24. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/outposts/2011/01/mark-visser-surfs-mauis-jaws-at-night.html. Retrieved 2011-06-01.
- ^ a b "Night surfing in 30-40 foot » Aquabumps Surf Photography Bondi Beach Surf Report". Aquabumps.com. 2011-01-21. http://www.aquabumps.com/2011/01/21/night-surfing-in-30-40-foot/. Retrieved 2011-06-01.
- ^ "Big Wave Surfer Mark Visser Makes History As He Tows In At Jaws At 2am". Surf.transworld.net. 2011-01-20. http://surf.transworld.net/1000123363/features/night-rider-mark-vissers-2am-tow-in-at-jaws/. Retrieved 2011-06-01.
- ^ "Night Rider: Australian Mark Visser surfs Jaws off Maui at night". Smh.com.au. http://www.smh.com.au/sport/the-night-rider-20110125-1a46a.html. Retrieved 2011-06-01.
- ^ "FuelTV - Diaries with Mark Visser - Bali on Vimeo". Vimeo.com. http://www.vimeo.com/13721304. Retrieved 2011-06-01.
- ^ "Storm surfer Mark Visser conquers giant wave in Tasmania Read more: http://www.news.com.au/travel/australia/storm-surfer-conquers-tassie-giant/story-e6frfq89-1226092812793#ixzz1VKYuHFme". News.com.au. 2011-07-12. http://www.news.com.au/travel/australia/storm-surfer-conquers-tassie-giant/story-e6frfq89-1226092812793. Retrieved 2011-08-18.
External links
Categories:- Big wave surfing
- 1983 births
- Living people
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
