Nathan Florence is no stranger to massive, mutant, slabbing waves.

In fact, that’s kinda his whole shtick; hence why the North Shore of Oahu native has been going around the world, from Australia to Tahiti, on self-proclaimed “Slab Tour,” in search of the heaviest, nastiest, most challenging waves he can find…and surf.

But the latest stop on the Slab Tour, Puerto Escondido, Mexico, has been a tough one.

The video above opens with this:

“Puerto Escondido May 17th, 2023

“Massive swell fills in overnight, larger then [sic] expected

“We gear up undergunned but fired up!

“Needless to say…things got a little crazy lol”

A little crazy? Lol?

That’s putting it lightly. As we previously teased, Nate took a couple nightmarish wipeouts during the May 17th session at Puerto – including one of the heaviest airdrop obliterations we’ve ever seen. Check it out around the 9:51 mark in the vid above.

And the airdrop beating was just the beginning; Nate took a few on the head after, too.

Out of breath, yet alive, Nate broke it down immediately after the wipeout:

“I just had one of my worst beatdowns ever maybe. It was violent; I was held down forever. [I was] twisted all around, slammed on the sand. Just down, down, down. I started to climb my leash. I was so out of breath down there.

“I was able to get back up just in time to take one huge breath. I can’t believe I made it back up. I get up, then there’s this huge lip landing on me. I was so out of breath. The next three were just devastating. I was just trying to wash myself in. I didn’t wanna be underwater for one more freaking second. I paddled back out…I don’t know why. I just wanna get a good one.”

And yes, Nate did end up getting a (couple) good one(s):

Puerto Escondido Stats/Info

Wave Type: Beachbreak barrel

Bottom: Sand

Skill Level: Experts only (when it’s on)

Crowd: Heavy

Ideal Swell Direction: SW, S SW

Best Equipment: Shortboard, gun, bodyboard, no board (bodysurf)

Nickname: Mexican Pipeline

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