BIG-WAVE PADDLE BATTLE In the wake of a controversial ESPN interview, big wave surfers tell Laird Hamilton to put up or shut up

Laird Hamilton has never been one to cloak himself in subtlety or nuance. He’s big and brash, with an ego as mammoth as the waves that have carried him to fame. Whether by design or accident, those whose familiarity with big-wave surfing revolves around mainstream media coverage generally believe him to be the sport’s Zeus. In short, there’s Laird, and there’s everyone else. See More