Gary Saavedra has entered the Guinness Book of World Records. The surfer from Panama surfed for three hours and 55 minutes in 41.3-mile wave created by a power boat.
Saavedra, the 13-time national Panamanian surfing champion, had been training hard for the "Red Bull Canal Cross" challenge.
The weather conditions were pretty tough. The surfer had to battle 20-knot winds and large vessels that were making the water conditions unstable for riding the artificial wave. Saavedra almost fell and lost his wave ten times.
He reached his goal by arriving at the the Amador Causeway, in the southern entrance of the Panama Canal, where more than 30 supporters cheered him.
Surfing a static wave is not easy and can be pretty exhausting. The previous world record was held by Steve King, from the UK, who surfed this type of wave for one hour and six minute.
Gary Saavedra is the best surfer in the history of Panama. He was born in Chitre, in the region of Herrera. His home spot is Bocas, in Cambutal.
