Super slow-mo video captures surfing glory

A new super slow-mo video has given a terrifying insight into the brutal punishment surfers can endure riding one the world's heaviest waves - Shipsterns Bluf, in Tasmania.

Shot by Australian cinematographer Chris Bryan, the 1000 frames a second footage captures Aussie big wave charger Mark Matthews trying to tame a beast of a wave at the fabled reef break.

It's mind-boggling to watch as Matthews drops down a giant stepped face, almost falls backward and then adjusts repeatedly as the huge slab of water contorts around him.

Matthews, from Maroubra, shows brilliant skill and a genuinel lack of self preservation as he negotiates the wave before eventually coming unstuck and taking a brutal pounding.

The footge is part of a collection of videos shot by Bryan showing the likes of Kelly Slater, Taj Burrow and John John Florence as they have never been seen before.

Bryan captures every drop of water, every slight body contortion and every board tweak as they adhere to the wave and/or the move they lay down.

Whether it's Slater flying through the air like a bird or Florence spinning an aerial 360, the footage gives a truly stunning insight into the nuances and subtleties of board riding.

It also delivers an awe-inspiring close up of the power of big waves - like Matthews' wipeout.

All we can say is hats off to Bryan for some groundbreaking action.