Sebastian Steudtner achieves big wave record with Schaeffler technology
Anyone who wants to ride waves 50 meters high needs not only a whole lot of courage and skill, but also a surfboard design that is second to none. Big wave surfer Sebastian Steudtner has found the perfect technology partner for his "Mission Wave Alpha". This was proven by the German surfer setting his personal big wave record in Nazaré, Portugal in 2024, conquering a wave potentially 28.57 meters high. This was made possible in part by the Schaeffler surface technology and coating of his surfboard.
Breathtaking: Sebastian Steudtner riding one of the Nazaré big waves on his surfboard with Schaeffler surface technology.
The lighthouse off the Atlantic coast of Nazaré appears tiny in comparison to the giant waves rolling on the sea behind it. No mere mortal would dare venture out onto the water on a day like this when the big waves are looming as high as a ten-story skyscraper. But Sebastian Steudtner is no mere mortal. He is a big wave surfer and the current world record holder.
Here in Nazaré, the small coastal town in Portugal, he recently beat his own record by nearly two meters. The Nazaré big wave that he conquered in April 2024 is reported to have been 28.57 meters high. It is possibly the tallest wave ever to have been surfed. Although the record has yet to be officially recognized, Steudtner is already dreaming of the 50-meter wave, a legend that he wants to be the first to ride on a surfboard. But is it even possible?
Schaeffler is technology partner for Steudtner's record attempts
It is this question that led to the collaboration between Sebastian Steudtner and Schaeffler. Steudtner is no stranger to the world of big wave surfing. His records, which he set in Nazaré, Portugal, also ensured he made a name for himself outside the world of surfing.
Schaeffler, on the other hand, has decades of experience as a leading supplier in surface technology and coatings. This is where the company, as a premium partner, contributes its comprehensive knowledge of functional surfaces and coatings for automotive and industrial components and systems. In addition, the Schaeffler Group has a wide research network that can also be used for the maritime sector. As a technological pioneer, Schaeffler is able to tailor individual coating solutions for special requirements – such as for surfboards. Together, Steudtner and Schaeffler are true pioneers of the movement, who see sustainability as a commitment and share the pursuit of technological excellence.
Schaeffler has been supporting Sebastian Steudtner as a technology partner in making even bigger waves and setting new records with its expertise in surface coating since 2022. In the process, the record-breaking surfer is penetrating areas where conventional surfboard designs simply no longer suffice.
Surface coating as a key technology
When Sebastian Steudtner rode a Nazaré big wave for the first time, the big wave surfer accelerated to around 80 km/h. For his "Mission Wave Alpha," in which he is aiming for a wave height of 40 to 50 meters, he will need to be even faster. But these speeds are only possible with the use of state-of-the-art coating processes and materials.
Schaeffler is testing selected coating options in close collaboration with Sebastian Steudtner's technology team. Schaeffler is also testing surface energies, such as the water-repellent lotus effect, for their suitability for use. Overall, the company offers an entire engineering kit in the partnership to simulate the board's operating conditions. The kit ranges from data collection via measurement technology, to modulation by computer simulation based on fluid studies, to an extensive network of experts, in order to advance the interdisciplinary work with the athlete. In this way, Schaeffler and Sebastian Steudtner will work together closely to advance the technologization of big wave surfing with innovative solutions.
The Schaeffler project team and Sebastian Steudtner's technical team exchange ideas both digitally and in person. This has involved Sebastian visiting laboratories at the company's headquarters in Herzogenaurach, as well as the Schaeffler plant in the Portuguese city of Caldas da Rainha.
From the Schaeffler lab to the ocean
What board tests look like in concrete terms when they are moved from the Schaeffler laboratories to the water was demonstrated in Nazaré at the end of March 2023. The Portuguese coastal resort is world-famous for its high waves and attracts numerous big wave surfers every year.
Still in the harbor, the boards coated by Schaeffler were prepared for the world record holder's test rides. After fitting the fins and footstraps, a jet ski pulled Steudtner into the wave zone in front of the Nazaré lighthouse, where he tested the new surfboard designs extensively. Back on land, the extreme athlete reported noticeable differences compared with his previous boards. According to Steudtner, the surface coating had an effect and felt much smoother in the water.
However, as the Nazaré big waves were relatively low during the test, further high-speed trials were carried out in domestic climes. On the Wolfgangsee, towed rides took place, which simulate those speeds that are reached during a record wave. These runs are particularly important because the lowest surface friction is needed precisely during the speed phase. The reason being that during this phase, a lot of pressure is exerted on the board via the front foot, so that about 70 percent of the surface is in contact with the water.
New type of board for the Nazaré big wave
And even this does not mark the end of the development. The surface coating was tested in Nazaré using Steudtner's previous board shapes. For the actual record-breaking attempt, he received a new type of board that will be optimized through flow simulations, known as CFD analyses. In addition to the perfect coating, this further increases the speed potential on the water.
Then, in April 2024, the moment of truth. The wind and weather are ideal, and you can hear the roaring waves crashing off the coast of Nazaré from miles away. For Sebastian Steudtner, it is the day of all days. He catches one of the monster waves perfectly and surfs it to the end. Measurements using the latest drone technology reveal a wave height of 28.57 meters after the wild ride. A world record? The measurement has not yet been officially confirmed, but the new surfboard design with Schaeffler surface coating has delivered what it promised. Sebastian Steudtner is already thinking about the next record and continues to dream of the "Wave Alpha", the 50-meter wave.
June 2024