Alaska

Internet in awe as surfers ride “insane” rare wave in Alaska

Published

1 year ago

October 11, 2024

Internet in awe as surfers ride “insane” rare wave in Alaska

A video of surfers catching a wave that can only be spotted in Alaska in the United States has captivated viewers on TikTok.

The moment was captured in a video was posted by Ben Gravy (@bengravyy) and has garnered over 807,000 views since it was shared on August 10.

A note at the bottom of the clip warns viewers “do not attempt,” explaining that “the actions in this video are performed by professionals or supervised by professionals.”

The footage sees a couple of surfers attempting to ride a “tsunami”-style large wave, overlooked by a snowy Alaskan mountain backdrop. A note overlaid on the video reads: “Surfers encounter tsunami in Alaska and surf it.”

Despite the description, the wave featured in the clip is, of course, not a tsunami but rather a bore tide, as quickly pointed out by several other users in the comments section.

The video later focuses on one of the surfers who is shown in a full head-to-toe bodysuit, trying to remain balanced on the surfboard as the powerful waves come crashing in. The surfer is later shown elated over his successful attempt, laying back down on the board as the waves die down.

A Rare Wave ‘Phenomenon’

Also known as tidal bores, bore tides are waves that can reach as tall as 25 feet, “sounding like locomotive trains, foaming and frothing along at speeds between 6 and 24 mph,” notes the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

The NOAA says: “The only locations in the United States where tidal bores occur regularly are Turnagain and Knik Arms.”

The Turnagain Arm and Knik Arm are two waterways that branch out from the Cook Inlet, which stretches from the Gulf of Alaska to Anchorage in south-central Alaska.

Both of these waterways are “uniquely suited” for the formation of tidal bores for the following two main reasons, as outlined by the NOAA:

They’re both adjacent to a body of water with a large range in tide.
Their configurations are “narrow, shallow and gently sloping, forcing the rapidly rising tide waters to form a tidal flood with a raised abrupt front.”

Described as an “international phenomenon,” bore tides can be seen in more than 60 locations across the globe.

In North America, in addition to Alaska, bore tides have been spotted in the Bay of Fundy in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia as well as the Colorado River in Mexico. “The Colorado River bore has practically disappeared due to other reclamation projects which include a series of dams in the Colorado River to regulate the flow,” the NOAA notes.

The highest bore, which is known as the pororoca and can be around 25 feet tall, is found in the Amazon basin and spans across several miles of river. “The effects of this bore have been noted as far as 500 miles up river,” the NOAA says.

The Tsientang River bore in China is considered one of the strongest bores, “barreling up the river at between 18 and 24 mph near the city of Hangchow,” while the British River Severn bore has been known to carry surfers upstream for miles, according to the NOAA.

‘Once in a Lifetime’ Moment

TikTok users were impressed by the surfers riding the rare wave in the viral clip.

Po Sway Bentley said it was “insane” and Nancy agreed, simply writing: “Crazy.”

“An amazing once in a lifetime…respect my friends,” said josephdessaint.

The VIZIN noted: “He almost looks like he’s standing. So cool.”

User valeriegoulding18 said it was “nice long ride,” while user2605421615650 wrote: “Amazing.”

Newsweek has contacted the original poster for comment via TikTok and email.

Do you have a travel-related video or story to share? Let us know via life@newsweek.com and your story could be featured on Newsweek.

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Alaska

Alaska accepts ballots that arrive after Election Day. This case could end that.

Published

3 hours ago

March 24, 2026

Press Room

Alaska accepts ballots that arrive after Election Day. This case could end that.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court appears poised to rule in favor of the Republican National Committee that all ballots must be received on Election Day to be counted.

In a case argued Monday, the RNC challenges a Mississipi law that allows ballots postmarked on or before Election Day to arrive up to five days later.

Alaska accepts postmarked ballots that arrive up to 10 days after Election Day – 15 days if mailed from overseas. And, for Alaska, the implications of the Supreme Court ruling could extend beyond mailed ballots.

The RNC case could be consequential for the midterm elections, when control of Congress is at stake. While people of both parties vote by mail, more permissive rules for it are perceived to help Democrats, especially since President Trump rails against the practice.

U.S. Solicitor General John Sauer argued that counting ballots that arrive late violates the federal law that sets the Tuesday following the first Monday of November as Election Day for the whole country.

“All ballots have to be received and the ballot box has to close on Election Day,” he said.

In Alaska’s last general election, more than 50,000 ballots arrived by mail. The Division of Elections couldn’t immediately say how many of those arrived in the 10 days after Election Day but it appears to be many thousand.

Sometimes, even Alaska ballots cast in person on Election Day aren’t received the same day. The village of Atqasuk , on the North Slope, tried to phone in its 2024 election results but couldn’t get through to the Division of Elections. The mailed ballots arrived nine days later.

Alaska Attorney General Stephen Cox cited the Atqasuk episode in a friend-of-court brief he filed in the Mississippi case.

“Alaska asks this Court to consider how its rule here will apply in all States—including Alaska, where ‘receiving’ a ballot isn’t always as simple as walking to a precinct or driving a few hours to pick up a ballot box,” he wrote.

Pat Redmond, co-president of the Alaska League of Women Voters, said Alaska has a secure process for mailed ballots. She believes the current deadline is fair and allows remote places necessary time to deliver their ballots.

“Not every place has electronic transmission,” said Redmond, who has also served as an election worker. If all ballots have to be in on Election Day “then those people, their ballots don’t count, and that’s disenfranchising people.”

Attorney Scott Stewart, defending Mississippi’s ballot deadline, told the justices that it’s wrong for the Trump administration to suggest that late-arriving ballots are subject to fraud.

“Obviously, they’ve sounded the anti-fraud theme,” Stewart said. “They haven’t cited a single example of fraud from post-Election Day ballot receipts.”

Late-counted ballots have swung several statewide contests in Alaska.

•The 2020 ballot measure creating Alaska’s ranked choice voting system and open primaries was losing on election night but ultimately won.

•Post-Election Day counts gave Sen. Lisa Murkowski the lead over challenger Kelly Tshibaka in 2022, and Murkowski’s lead grew further after second- and third-choice votes were tallied.

•In 2024, a measure to repeal ranked choice voting was ahead on election night but narrowly lost in later counts.

Late-counted ballots typically include an unknown number of ballots that arrived before Election Day, too. Still, despite no evidence of wrongdoing, supporters of the losing campaign have sometimes alleged fraud.

The Supreme Court is expected to issue a ruling in the Mississippi case this summer. An attorney for the Republican National Committee told the justices a June ruling would allow states to change their ballot rules in time for the November election.

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Alaska

Polar bear undergoes root canal at Alaska Zoo

Published

15 hours ago

March 23, 2026

Press Room

Polar bear undergoes root canal at Alaska Zoo

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (InvestigateTV) — Staff at the Alaska Zoo performed a root canal on one of its polar bears after the bear broke a canine tooth.

Kova, 4, shares an enclosure with another polar bear named Cranbeary. The two have toys, treats and a large pool where Kova likes to take her morning swim.

Curator Sam Lavin noticed something was wrong when Kova’s behavior changed.

“Kova is a very interactive and busy bear and she just seemed kind of off. She was pawing at her mouth a little bit,” Lavin said.

Lavin suspected a tooth issue and asked Kova to open her mouth for a closer look.

“We could see that she had broken one of her canines and there’s any number of ways she could have done that,” Lavin said.

An X-ray confirmed the diagnosis. Zoo staff consulted with a veterinary specialist outside Alaska, sent the X-rays and received advice on how to proceed.

“We went with a local doctor to do the work,” Lavin said.

An endodontist who normally operates on humans was part of the large team that performed the root canal on the fully sedated 450-pound bear.

“Everybody knew ahead of time what their role was and what to do and where to be and it was so well planned out and everybody worked so well together,” Lavin said.

The procedure went smoothly.

“She feels so much better,” Lavin said.

The zoo said Kova quickly recovered and is back with her playmate Cranbeary.