Albee Layer: he landed the world's first backside 540 in surfing

Albee Layer has landed what is believed to be the world's first-ever backside 540 caught on camera.

He is one of the most well-rounded surfers on the planet. When Albee Layer is not chasing the giant moving mountains of Jaws, he's perfecting his new school skills in the ramps of his home waves.

"At the beginning of last year, I thought, 'I can do this; it is just a matter of time.' That mental step was done. And all of a sudden, it was Jaws - all year," explains Layer.

"At the end of the year, I started trying the 540 and getting really close. But I was furious because I had tried it many times and had broken many boards. I put so much into it but wasn't making it."

Nearly 12 months later, Layer gave it another go. He wanted to be the first.

But he also needed to rapidly pull it, land it, and celebrate it to move on. The 540 attempts are dangerous and often result in knee and heel injuries.

On November 18, 2016, at 4:20 p.m., the Hawaiian completed the backside double spin. Albee had family and friends cheering him on from the cliff.

"Everyone has a pursuit in surfing. I made a conscious decision to put all my focus and passion into progression," concludes Albee Layer.

"That's what gives me the most joy out of surfing. But we're not close to the limit of what we can do on a surfboard."

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