Tow-in surfing Tow-in surfing is a surfing technique pioneered by Laird Hamilton , Buzzy Kerbox , Dave Kalama and others in the late 1990s where a surfer is towed into a breaking wave by a partner driving a personal watercraft or a helicopter with an attached tow-line . This method has a demonstrated advantage in situations where the wave is too large and moving too quickly for the surfer to catch it by paddling with his hands ( such as Peahi off the north side of Maui ) , or where position on the wave is extremely critical ( Teahupoo off southeast Tahiti ) . The use of a helicopter for tow-in surfing started to appear in the mid 2000's , and has several advantages over the use of a personal watercraft . The pilot , positioned high above the surfer , is able to spot large waves from further away and position the surfer accordingly . Additionally , a helicopter can go faster , and is not affected by the ocean surface like a watercraft . Controversy Critics of tow-in surfing decry the noise and exhaust fumes made by PWC engines , as well as the likelihood that new participants can get into predicaments that they have not been trained or conditioned to survive . On the other hand , a skilled team of driver and surfer , who often swap roles in the water during a session , develop a rapport and an understanding of ocean conditions that allows them to proactively watch out for each other . Famous tow-in spots Todos Santos , Mexico Mavericks , Northern California . Jaws , Maui . Aill Na Searrach , Cliffs of Moher , Ireland Noted big wave surfers Ken Bradshaw Laird Hamilton Garrett McNamara John McCarthy Ross Clarke-Jones Cheyne Hora n References Matt Warshaw : Maverick's : the story of big-wave surfing , Chronicle Books , ISBN 0-8118-2652-X  This water sports -related article is a stub . You can help Wikipedia by expanding it . Categories : Surfing | Extreme sports | Water sports stubs 