Alo Slebir Survives Late Drop Into Mavericks Bowl

This October evening swell came up quickly at Mavericks. The result of getting under-the-radar long period west swell was that just a handful of crew were on the scene as the tide dropped. Alessandro “Alo” Slebir, the 23-year-old from Santa Cruz who has twice been named the standout surfer at Mavericks , was among them.

“What stood out was his dedication,” Mavericks Awards judge Tyler Fox said of Slebir's approach in the 2023/24 winter. “He was out there before the sun came up pretty much every swell. Even if the conditions were rainy, cold or south wind. As I get older, I get a little more picking with the days. But he was frothing every swell and making the most of it. On any given day, he was getting one or two amazing rides. I think that consistency is what impressed me.”

Let’s review one of those amazing rides that got Slebir an entry into the 2024 SURFER Big Wave Challenge. Powerlines Productions’ Curt Myers, shooting in the classic fall light so beloved in California, captured Alebir getting into the perfect chip in on this late-evening bomb. It got steep right away, but Slebir negotiated it despite the unexpected turbulence coming from his left.

A 6-foot wave that spits as you’re taking off feels pretty good, so I can only imagine what Slebir felt when this wave unloaded its guts as he approached the bottom. Some whitewater even gets underneath his board, but he plows straight through it. Job well done. Here’s to hoping Slebir gets more like this with fall on the horizon.

Related: This 23-Year-Old Is A 2X Performer of the Year at Mavericks