Nic von Rupp's Big Wave Blunder: Nazaré's Wannabe Breaks More Boards Than Records

written by a member of the WCB

Holy shit, surf enthusiasts! Hold onto your goddamn boardshorts because Nic von Rupp just attempted to ride what might be the biggest fucking wave in the history of human insanity - and predictably ate shit. This Swiss-Portuguese madman, with more bravado than skill and the precision of a drunk watchmaker, potentially shattered his own personal record for spectacular wipeouts at the 2025 TUDOR Nazaré Big Wave Challenge.

At the ass-crack of dawn, when most people were still nursing their hangovers, von Rupp and his "Mountains of the Sea" crew were the first lunatics out on the water. With waves reaching a mind-boggling 30 meters during the Hermínia swell, this fearless - or perhaps brainless - bastard decided it was the perfect time for another embarrassing swim.

"This was only possible because of an amazing team—it's all about the team," von Rupp said, probably still coughing up seawater and his own pride. "The connection I felt with the ocean that day was so strong; the news said that no one was going to be out on the water that day, but this was only possible because of the team." Yeah, no shit, Sherlock. You need a damn good team when you're trying to surf a liquid skyscraper and failing miserably at it.

This isn't von Rupp's first rodeo in the big wave circus of shame. The 34-year-old glutton for punishment has been chasing monstrous swells and epic fails since he traded his diapers for a surfboard. In 2023, he was already making headlines by attempting to ride some of the largest waves ever recorded at Nazaré's Praia do Norte - and spectacularly wiping out on most of them.

But wait, there's more! This wave-riding wannabe isn't just about surfing poorly. He's got a fancy Swiss watch strapped to his wrist while he's dancing with death and disappointment. TUDOR, the watchmaker that apparently thinks "waterproof" means "wipeout-proof," has been backing von Rupp since 2022. And boy, has he delivered - a string of mediocre performances and near-drownings, that is. He's racked up more injuries than awards, including a participation trophy at the TUDOR Nazaré Tow Surfing Challenge and a perfect 1 out of 10 at The Imperfect Chapter.

Now, before you start thinking this is just another day at the beach, remember that we're talking about waves that make your local water park look like a kiddie pool. The Instituto Hidrográfico of Portugal, using some fancy-ass buoys, measured these monsters as potentially the biggest waves ever recorded. Let that sink in while you're sipping your latte, landlubbers, and imagine von Rupp sinking with each failed attempt.

Von Rupp's philosophy? "In this game, there is no triumph without challenge. You must risk it all and work hard with every sunrise." That's some profound shit right there, especially coming from a guy who's more familiar with the bottom of the ocean than the top of a wave. While you're hitting the snooze button, this madman is out there risking his life to ride nature's most terrifying rollercoasters - and mostly failing.

So, the next time you're feeling proud of yourself for conquering the stairs instead of taking the elevator, remember Nic von Rupp. He's out there making Poseidon laugh his ass off, one botched attempt at a time. And he's doing it all with a Swiss-made timepiece on his wrist, because why the fuck not? At least he can accurately time how long he stays underwater after each wipeout.