Lava Surfer In Hawaii Risks Life For Ultimate Thrill Ride (PICTURES)

One wrong move here and it really is wipeout...

This amazing shot shows pro surfer CJ Kanuha risking his life as he edges to within 20 feet of a lava flow.

Paddling through the boiling waters at Kilauea volcano in Hawaii, he was snapped by his photographer pal Kirk Lee Aeder from a helicopter after the pair decided it would make too good a picture not to risk it.

CJ, 24, said: "The water is well over 200 degrees in some spots and melted the wax on the surfboard. It was an amazing feeling to get so close to the power of the lava."

Keep reading here.

OR

Check out these amazing photos of the event (from the New York Post):

Comments

[mamacat]

We have a tradition of letting people do things that are not safe. A tradition is a tradition, and very hard to change. However, there are countries where some activities that we allow are outlawed, because of the cost to the public treasury when things go wrong.

[JoeKing]

Hate to be picky with semantics, but, the slideshow that's linked repeatedly says, "the 200 degree boiling water", "The boiling water of 200 degrees". . .

Water doesn't boil until 212 degrees.

[tomcatv1]

This idiot's activity only becomes problematic if he gets into trouble and needs to be rescued. You are free to be as stupid as you want to be until you start costing the public than you need to pay.

[peachfuzz]

I sometimes buy mens clothes when the womans department is boring.

Try to stop me.

[Kevbo68]

I see no surfing of lava. However, I'm hoping it's an exhibition event at the Olympics.

[Readbetweentheelevens]

Hundreds of thrill seekers die every year by volcano -- it's nature's way of culling the gene pool. Rock out with your c*%K out -- that's about all these guys got.

[SuburbanMalcontent]

Maybe I'm wrong, but I enjoy looking at pictures and videos of other people's stupid adventures. To all of you who think something should be done to control people like this, screw you. I'm a hardcore liberal, but that's the point where I get out of line from the rest of you folks. If your actions aren't harming anybody else, than I say, rock out with your c*ck out my friend! Corporations can harm thousands of people with their actions on a daily basis without repercussion, but I can't surf some lava or smoke a joint in my living room while watching Family Guy. What a f*cked up country we live in.

[Warmglobe]

I agree..but I would add one thing.....I wouldn't spend a nickel rescuing these nuts. There were a number of stories up in my area over the winter with these "extreme" climbers or campers or whatever having to be rescued with my tax dollars which are better off spent elsewhere or God forbid given back to me,

[mamacat]

Good point. However, if anyone were to fall into 200degree near-boiling water, I think there wouldn't be much point in mounting a rescue effort. More like a body recovery effort.

Reminds me of an article I read 10 or 20 years ago. A man and his dog were touring Yellowstone, when the dog fell or jumped off a bridge into a fumarole. The man jumped in after the dog to save it. Sad to say, they both died.

[SwingingFromCenter]

I love how now people are trying to say what others can and can't do with their own mortality. If he wanted to risk it, that was his prerogative. Didn't affect you one way or another except that you got a good picture to look at.

Hell, I used to do a thing called "Chase the pack" where I would throw my skydiving pack out of the plane, count to 3, and then jump after it. Calculated risk. And it was fun. If I woulda splatted, wouldn't have changed any of your days.

In other words, get over yourselves. Plus, the situation isn't as dangerous as the article makes it out to be. Yeah, he would have had some issues had he fallen, but he could have conceivably survived.

[RadicalRuss]

It's a good thing he was only risking his life pursuing happiness through a daredevil stunt involving an ocean and lava. Had he been sitting on his couch pursuing happiness though a night of TV involving a bong and some cannabis, we'd have to send a SWAT team over to break down his door, haul him off in handcuffs, and seize most of his property.

[PepeLepew]

OK, I'm sorry, I climb mountains for fun, but this is just plain DUMB.

[Vyvjala]

Book him Dano!...................

[95flhtcu]

Yes, Yes, regulation! Shock collars! prison maybe... Any more stupid ideas? Just because you don't have the balls to do it, doesn't mean everyone else should cut theirs off.

[Darsan54]

He only gets a Darwin Award if he dies. The gene pool is the loser this time.

[craneman]

Yeah. and if he dies in the process, his surviving family can say he "died what he loved doing " So what !!!

[Fez]

Darwin Award, for sure. You'd think this guy is an investment banker or something.

[Axolotl]

He must be a McCain fan.

NO FREE PASS FOR MCCAIN.

[jasjohn128]

On his way to a Darwin award ... i encourage people like this to help improve humanity's gene pool by removing themselves from it before they reproduce.