Matt started surfing when he was 6 years old, in Cape Town, South Africa. He grew to become one of the best big-wave surfers in the world. He watches the globe for large storms, and when all the elements come together, books a ticket and chases the energy across the world. He documents the big waves these storms create and produces high-quality content that is distributed through various global media platforms. Matt's other passion is sharing his experiences to inspire and empower people to ride their "big waves".

Reflecting on a near-death experience in Nazaré, Portugal. Listen to my story as I recount a harrowing encounter with massive waves while surfing. It was a humbling reminder of nature's power and our vulnerability.
 
 Join me on AnyQuestion for more captivating stories and valuable insights. Let's learn from each other's experiences!
 
 #NearDeathExperience #Surfing #PowerOfNature

I'm passionate about helping others. I've worked in design, web development, and marketing. All of those experiences have been an important part of my career journey.

I'm learning to love running. I'm a new Track & Field fan, a die-hard hockey fan, and I truly believe there's nothing a trip to the beach can't fix.

Have you had or seen any near death experiences?

Surviving Massive Waves: A Terrifying Near-Death Experience

My probably my nearest death experience, although I wasn't near death at all, but it was it felt really scary, was at Nazaré in Portugal. I was surfing, paddling surfing, and I got caught by about a 30 to 40 foot wave landed on my head. I went under the water, swam under the water, the wave just like was super violent with me. I pulled my vest so the cartridges inflated me with air and came up after a very heavy hold down. A guy came in on the jet ski to pick me up. I jumped on the back of the jet ski and there was another 30 foot foamy, a massive foamy coming. It was on my ankles and I was holding on and this thing was right behind me. And then I felt my board starting to catch in the water because my board was still attached to me. It stuck in the water and ripped me off and I didn't get a breath. So I got pulled into this huge foamy. It got so manhandled, snapped my leash, came up. The water was very aerated. Another guy came in to pick me up and I jumped on the back of his ski. But because the water is so aerated, he didn't get any acceleration. I was holding on the wave hit us and I was just holding on, holding on and he was trying to accelerate and I was getting ripped off with no breath again and got super ragdolled in all directions. Came up feeling like really exhausted after that. And the fourth wave, just this big foamy thing just landed straight on my head and I didn't have time to dive and I just tucked into a ball and this thing just blasted me up towards the beach. And I got to the beach, I was coughing up blood. The horizon was doing this, like felt like my brain inside my skull had just been rattled and I was totally defeated and that was a really, really terrifying experience.

My closest near-death experience was when I was surfing at Nazare in Portugal. I got caught by a 30-40 foot wave and was pulled underwater. I was eventually rescued by a jet ski, but it was still a terrifying experience as I felt my board catching on the water and I almost got pulled off again with no breath. After a few more waves, one of them hit me straight on the head and I was coughing up blood when I reached the beach.

Witness the heart-pounding tale of my near-death experience while surfing a massive wave. 🌊 Don't miss this adrenaline-fueled story on AnyQuestion. Follow me for more thrilling adventures. #survivor

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One of the scariest experiences I've had, although not actually a near-death experience, was at Nazaré in Portugal. I was paddle surfing when a massive 30 to 40 foot wave crashed on top of me. I went underwater and struggled against the violent force of the wave. Thankfully, my vest inflated with air and I resurfaced after a long and intense hold down. A guy on a jet ski came to rescue me, but as I hopped on, another huge foamy wave approached from behind. My board was still attached to me, and as it caught in the water, it yanked me off without giving me a chance to take a breath. I was pulled into the immense foamy chaos, my leash snapping in the process. Eventually, another person on a jet ski came to my aid, but due to the aerated water, he couldn't accelerate properly. I held on for dear life as we were both tossed around by the waves, once again getting no time to catch my breath. After being thrown around like a ragdoll from all directions, I finally emerged feeling utterly exhausted. The fourth wave crashed directly on top of me without warning, leaving me no time to dive or escape its force. I curled up into a ball as it propelled me towards the beach. By the time I reached shore, I was coughing up blood and felt like my brain had been rattled inside my skull. It was an incredibly terrifying experience that left me completely defeated.

Witnessing the power of nature at Jaws was an unforgettable big wave experience. Paddling into a massive 50-footer, facing challenges, and finding the courage to go back out changed my life.
 
 Watch my video to relive the awe-inspiring moments and understand the deep sense of purpose that guided me that day.
 
 Stay tuned for more exhilarating stories on AnyQuestion. Follow me to stay inspired and connected! #BigWaveSurfing #UnforgettableExperience #NaturePower

What has been the most epic big wave experience of your life?

Surfer Conquers Massive 70-Foot Waves at Jaws

I watch a light man photocom I watch a light move across the screen I watch a light come over me Here we are now going to the Westside So this was Jaws, one of the best days of my life. I went out in the morning and paddled into the biggest ride of my life, close to a 50 footer. It was such an incredible experience but I ended up snapping my leash on the wave, my board got lost up the rocks. I came in after a really heavy beat down and I remember looking back out and thinking, I don't think I'm going to go back out there, it was just getting bigger and bigger. The set waves were probably close to 25 meters high, like 70 foot plus, it was huge. All the best big wave surfers from around the world were out there, nobody was getting close to paddling into the big set waves, they were huge. And yeah, I ended up kind of getting revved up and I really believed I was there for a purpose that particular day. I borrowed a board, I paddled back out and I had another four rides that changed my life. Those two, that one wave in the video, that was one of the best waves I've ever had in my life. It was just a super special day, the waves were huge and wild but I just felt this deep sense of peace. I felt so confident and I felt like that was exactly where I was supposed to be. I didn't really feel scared that day, which is very unique for me. I normally get very scared and everything just felt right. I remember I got back to shore, my dad had been back in Cape Town, so terrified for me. And when he just found out I was in one piece, he just burst into tears and started crying because he was so relieved I was still alive. It was such a day.

It was one of the best days of my life. I went out in the morning and paddled into a huge wave, snapped my leash, and lost my board. But I managed to borrow another board and paddle back out. I had some amazing rides, and it changed my life. My dad was relieved when I got back safe, and it was such a special day.

Experience the thrill and triumph of conquering massive waves 🌊 Watch as I take on Jaws and ride a 50-footer! Don't miss this epic big wave adventure on AnyQuestion. #surfing #adrenaline

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One of the most epic big wave experiences of my life was at Jaws. It was a remarkable day where I paddled into the biggest ride of my life, a close to 50-footer. However, during the wave, my leash snapped and my board got lost on the rocks. After a heavy beatdown, I contemplated not going back out as the waves kept getting bigger. The set waves were towering at around 25 meters or over 70 feet. Despite this, I felt a strong sense of purpose and borrowed a board to paddle back out. What followed were four rides that truly changed my life. One of those rides, captured in a video, was one of the best waves I've ever had. It was an extraordinary day filled with huge and wild waves, yet I felt an overwhelming sense of peace and confidence. Surprisingly, fear didn't consume me like it usually does in such situations. Everything just felt right. When I returned to shore, my dad, who had been worried sick about me back in Cape Town, burst into tears of relief knowing I was still alive. It was an incredibly emotional day for everyone involved.

Surviving a big wipeout is all about staying calm and employing specific techniques. Find out how to navigate the power of the ocean and emerge stronger.
 
 Listen to my advice for practical tips on staying safe and composed during intense wipeouts. It's a game-changer!
 
 Follow me on AnyQuestion for more valuable insights and continue learning from experts in various fields. Let's conquer new challenges together! #OceanSafety #StayCalm #LearnFromExperience

Surviving a Big Wave Wipeout: The Key to Staying Calm and Strong

The number one rule for surviving a big wave wipeout is to remain calm. Our urge when we're under the water is to fight to get back to the surface, but if we can never overcome the power of the ocean, it's always going to be more powerful than us. So we need to in a sense surrender. So what I do, especially in the beginning of the wipeout when I'm close to the falling lip and the initial impact, it's like really, really powerful and strong. I pull my limbs in like this. So I make myself strong so that my shoulders don't get ripped out of their sockets or I don't get bent in any funny direction. So I make myself super strong like this. I also clamp down my jaw so that if I get winded, like watered, my air doesn't go out of my mouth. So clamp my jaw, pull my, make myself super strong. And then often after the initial impact that's very intense, the wave will pull you deep under the water. And that's when I kind of open up like a sail. So that when I open up like a sail, uh, increased drag and I don't go as deep. Um, and while I'm under the water, I try to think positive thoughts and I count, uh, because often we, our thoughts are racing and it feels like we under the water for minutes. But when I count, it takes me back to, Hey, I'm not under the water for as long as I thought. If you count in that, that wipeout at Mavericks I had, I was under the water for 17 seconds, which when you think about it, that's super doable. But when I think about how violent and aggressive the beating is, that makes it terrifying. When I break it down to the counting, it helps a lot.

To survive a big wave, remain calm and pull your limbs in to protect yourself. Increase drag by opening up like a sail and count to keep your thoughts positive.

Surviving a massive wipeout takes skill and composure. 🌊 Discover my top tips for staying calm and safe. Dive into the video on AnyQuestion! #SurfingSafety

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To survive a big wave wipeout, the most important rule is to remain calm. Fighting against the power of the ocean is futile, so it's crucial to surrender in a sense. During the initial impact of the wipeout, I pull my limbs in close to make myself strong and prevent any injuries. I also clamp down my jaw to retain air in case I get watered or winded. After the intense impact, the wave will often pull you deeper underwater. At this point, I open up like a sail to increase drag and prevent myself from going too deep. While underwater, I try to think positive thoughts and count. Counting helps me realize that I'm not underwater for as long as it may feel during the chaos of the wipeout. For example, in one wipeout at Mavericks, I was underwater for 17 seconds, which is manageable when broken down into seconds. Counting helps alleviate some of the fear and panic caused by the violent beating of the waves.

Dive into my scariest moment on a surfboard as I recount a heart-pounding experience at Pipeline in Hawaii. It was a struggle against the unpredictable waves and a dangerous reef.
 
 Hear my story and the adrenaline-fueled escape from an underwater cave. Unforgettable and a reminder of the power of nature!
 
 Hungry for more thrilling tales? Follow me on AnyQuestion for captivating content and explore the world of surfing with me. Hang ten! #SurfLife #ThrillingExperience #PowerofNature

What stands out as the scariest moment you've had on a surfboard?

Surfer's Terrifying Escape from Underwater Cave at Pipeline

My scariest moment was out at Pipeline in Hawaii. So Pipeline is the most dangerous wave in the world. People either die or get knocked unconscious there every single year and the thing that makes Pipeline really scary is how unpredictable it is. There's also like hundreds of people surfing and all that but the wave itself is very unpredictable and it breaks over very shallow lava reef. And I was surfing there a few years ago. I had this really steep drop. I grabbed the rail. I slipped out. I fell off and the wave took me up and over the falls and dumped me. And dumped me so hard I went straight into the reef really really hard and I was kind of tumbling over the reef and then I went over an edge into an underwater cave. And I remember getting pushed against the back wall of the cave. The water was like surging against me and pressing me against the back wall of this cave. And I was just in my mind. It's one of the most, it's probably the most panic I've ever had in in a surf scenario. I was like I need to get out of this hole as soon as possible because I could sense above me there was an overhang and the water was surging pinning me to the back wall. It was so scary and there's bubbles everywhere so I couldn't see anything. And I remember kind of feeling my leash because I knew my board was still outside the hole. So I followed my leash back out and I pulled myself out of there and managed to get out of the cave but that was so scary.

I had a terrifying experience at Pipeline in Hawaii. I was surfing and a wave took me over the falls and dumped me into an underwater cave. I was pinned to the back wall by the surging water and couldn't see anything due to all the bubbles. I managed to escape by following my board's leash back out of the cave.

Hold onto your surfboards! 🌊 Join me as I share my scariest moment at Pipeline, the world's most dangerous wave. Watch now to hear how I escaped an underwater cave. 😱 #surfing #adrenalinerush

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The scariest moment I've had on a surfboard was at Pipeline in Hawaii. Pipeline is renowned as the most dangerous wave in the world, with fatalities and people getting knocked unconscious happening every year. What makes Pipeline particularly terrifying is its unpredictability. With hundreds of people surfing and the wave breaking over a shallow lava reef, it's a treacherous environment. During one session a few years ago, I experienced a harrowing incident. I took on a steep drop, grabbed the rail, but unfortunately slipped off the board. The wave propelled me up and over the falls, crashing me down onto the reef with tremendous force. I tumbled over the reef and unexpectedly entered an underwater cave. As I got pushed against the back wall of the cave, with surging water pressing me against it, sheer panic consumed me. It was undoubtedly the most terrified I've ever been while surfing. My immediate instinct was to escape this confined space as quickly as possible since I sensed an overhang above me and the water relentlessly pinned me to the back wall. In that chaotic moment, with bubbles obscuring my vision, I searched for my leash as my board remained outside the hole. Following my leash back out, I managed to pull myself out of the cave and escape its eerie grip. That experience left me shaken to my core.


Ready to dive into professional surfing? Here's my top tip: be intentional in your training and goals. Make each surf session count by focusing on one aspect at a time. Consistency is key!
 
 Listen to my answer for more valuable insights on taking your surf career to the next level.
 
 Follow me on AnyQuestion for regular updates and expert advice. Let's ride those waves together! 🌊🏄‍♂️ #ProSurfing #TrainingGoals #Consistency

What tips would you give to someone just starting out in professional surfing?

Mastering the Waves: Intentionality is Key in Professional Surfing

So particularly in professional surfing I think a lot of people have a tendency to just go out and do the same thing over and over again. So something I would give to someone starting out as a professional surfer is to be intentional with your training, with your goals, in particular when you actually go out for a surf. Surfing is so much fun and it's so easy to get caught up in everything around you and the people and chatting but if you really want to take and move forward I think in your surf career you need to be intentional about moving towards a goal and working on certain aspects of your surfing every time you go out for a surf. And I would recommend if you go out for a surf try not to work on a whole lot of different things, work on one thing and work on that thing over and over and over again until you kind of nail it and then you can move forward into the next thing. So yeah being super intentional with training, make sure that training aligns with the goals. So for me obviously big wave surfing I'm doing a lot of swimming, a lot of underwater training, a lot of balance stuff to help me to stay balanced on my board. And yeah be intentional with every part of your career and enjoy it at the same time.

Be intentional with your training and goals as a professional surfer. Train with focus on one goal or skill at a time until you perfect it, and then move forward. Make sure that the training aligns with your goals. Enjoy yourself while still being focused.

Level up your professional surfing game with these tips 🌊🏄‍♂️ Be intentional in your training and set clear goals to progress. Watch the full video on AnyQuestion. #SurfingTips #ProSurfer

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For someone just starting out in professional surfing, my tip would be to be intentional with your training and goals. It's common for surfers to fall into the habit of doing the same thing repeatedly. To move forward in your surf career, it's important to have a clear intention and focus on specific aspects of your surfing each time you go out. Rather than trying to work on multiple things at once, concentrate on one aspect and practice it repeatedly until you feel confident before moving on to the next. Ensure that your training aligns with your goals. For example, if your goal is big wave surfing, incorporate swimming, underwater training, and balance exercises into your routine. Remember to enjoy every part of your career while remaining intentional and focused.

Reflecting on one of the toughest moments in my surfing career: Nazare. Listen to my story of facing massive waves, multiple wipeouts, and a fight for survival.
 
 Key takeaway: Perseverance and resilience are essential in extreme conditions. Learn from challenging experiences to grow stronger.
 
 Follow me on AnyQuestion for more exciting surf stories and valuable insights. Let's ride the waves together! #SurfersLife #Resilience #NeverGiveUp

What was the most challenging surfing experience of your career?

Surviving Nazare: A Surfer's Harrowing Battle with Massive Waves

My most challenging surf experience I think was at Nazare. I've only surfed there once. We were paddling in and I got caught by like a 40 foot wave, broke on my head, pushed me so deep underwater. I pulled my vest, so I inflated with air. I came to the surface. Someone picked me up on a jet ski. But the next wave was already on us. And as I was riding, my board was still attached to me. My board got stuck in the water and it ripped me off the ski with jet ski into the next wave without a breath. Got another terrible wipe out on the second one, snapped my leash. I came up. I got rescued by just before the third one by another guy on a jet ski. The water was so aerated that his jet ski didn't have any grip and acceleration. So the wave, the third big wave hit us and I got ripped off the back. I had another terrible beating without getting a breath. And then I came up and the third wave was already right on my head. And I just lay there and just got annihilated. And when I got to the beach, the horizon was moving. I was coughing up blood and that was one of the heaviest experiences I've ever had.

I had a challenging surf experience at Nazare where I was caught by a 40-foot wave and got wiped out several times. I came up coughing up blood and it was one of the heaviest experiences I've ever had.

Surviving the monstrous waves of Nazare. 🌊 Hear about my most challenging surf experience to date. Don't miss it! Watch on AnyQuestion. #surfing

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The most challenging surf experience of my career was at Nazare. I only surfed there once, and it was intense. I paddled in and got caught by a massive 40-foot wave that broke on my head, pushing me deep underwater. Thankfully, I pulled my vest and inflated with air to resurface. A person on a jet ski picked me up, but the next wave was already upon us. My board got stuck in the water, ripping me off the jet ski without a breath. I had a terrible wipeout on the second wave and snapped my leash. Fortunately, another person on a jet ski rescued me right before the third wave. However, the water was so turbulent that his jet ski struggled with grip and acceleration. The third big wave hit us, ripping me off again. I endured another brutal beating without getting a breath. When I finally made it to the beach, everything seemed disoriented as if the horizon was moving. I coughed up blood, making it one of the most intense experiences of my life.

Stories & Experiences

Matt Bromley

Have you had or seen any near death experiences?

What has been the most epic big wave experience of your life?

How do you survive a big wipeout?

What stands out as the scariest moment you've had on a surfboard?

What tips would you give to someone just starting out in professional surfing?

What was the most challenging surfing experience of your career?