Surfer Lights Himself On Fire And Casually Catches Waves In Tahiti

We’ve seen surfers attach flares to their board and ride waves. That’s cute. But you’ve literally got to set yourself on fire to get people’s attention these days. And that’s just what pro surfer-turned-stuntman Jamie O’Brien did.

So how did O’Brien, AKA JOB, come up with this fantastic idea? Instagram of course. “I got a direct message on Instagram that said it would be cool if you lit yourself on fire, and I kinda thought, why not?” Really seems that Jamie’s followers really love him and care about his welfare.

“So I went to Red Bull and said, ‘Hey, I want to light myself on fire and get barreled at Teahupo’o,’ said O’Brien. “They looked at me like, ‘Are you for real?’ and I told them I was and that I knew the right guy, and that’s when they called Riley Harper and his team.” Good to know if I ever want to set myself on fire while surfing.

O’Brien flew to beautiful Tahiti, where the amazing feat was recorded for his Red Bull TV web series, “Who Is JOB 5.0.” And of course the madman picked Teahupoo, which translated from Tahitian means “broken skulls.” This tropical paradise is known for it’s huge waves and bone-crushing reef.

So what was he wearing during this death-defying stunt?

“I had a thermal set-up underneath everything, then threw a wetsuit on and had another layer over the top. Then I had a hoodie on and a Body Glove wetsuit on top of that, and I was just right there ready for fire!”

I guess if you’re going to light yourself on fire, the best place to do so is in the ocean.

Below is a clip of the fiery feat, but you can check out the entire video here.