Abu Dhabi: Experience Abu Dhabi and Red Bull athlete Sebastian Álvarez have made history by completing the world’s first skydive-to-surf jump, landing on the highest man-made wave at Surf Abu Dhabi. This record-breaking feat has not only set a new global standard but also highlighted a unique new venue in the region.
The Chilean extreme sports athlete skydived from a Bell 212 helicopter at an altitude of 3,657 meters while strapped to a modified surfboard. The renowned BASE jumper performed a sky surfing maneuver, gliding over Hudayriyat Island before deploying his parachute and landing on a 2.3-meter (7.5-foot) wave at Surf Abu Dhabi, the world’s largest and newest wave facility.
Organized as part of Abu Dhabi’s ongoing efforts to boost adventure tourism and showcase its stunning natural landscapes, the event drew international attention for its combination of extreme sports and breathtaking scenery. Participants demonstrated incredible skill, parachuting onto the water before swapping their gear for surfboards and riding the waves.
Sebastian Álvarez said that, “It’s incredibly special to perform this project here in Abu Dhabi. I consider this technology, the wave, one of the most amazing things humans have created, achieving this today means the world to me. It felt like stepping into the unknown, attempting something no one has ever done before. It truly is a dream come true.”
As Abu Dhabi gears up to host the 2025 Championship Tour and the third stop of the 2024 World Surf League Longboard Tour, surf enthusiasts will experience prestigious surfing events for the first time in the region. With top long boarders competing, fans will have the opportunity to dive into the thrill of world-class competitive surfing.
Authorities have expressed pride in the event’s success, highlighting it as part of the broader initiative to position Abu Dhabi as a hub for innovative, high-energy experiences.