Most sports have an extreme side. Only the best of the best can handle it. Surfing is no exception. Surfing’s extreme players are big wave riders. They risk their lives to tackle the biggest waves imaginable. This Video of the Day features a breathtaking ride.

In 2001, surfers made their way to Cortez Bank. Surfing that spot isn’t for amateurs. Cortez Bank isn’t a beach. It’s a reef in the Pacific Ocean. With the right conditions, Cortez Bank makes giant, perfectly formed waves.

Mike Parsons is one of the best big wave surfers around. This video is his last ride of the day at Cortez Bank. You’ll see him careen down a 66-foot wave, a mountain of water. It was judged to be the biggest wave of the year. Parsons was awarded $66,000 by his corporate sponsor.