On January 28, 1998, a monster weather system set the stage for surfing history. The largest waves ever recorded- some up to forty feet high- surged over the beaches of Oahu. Giant-wave surfers from around the world flocked to Hawaii to test the awesome powers of the ocean, and to explore the boundaries of their fear and their craving for adventure. This extreme episode of  NATURE explores the science of surfing and the technology of storm-watching, and captures this once-in-a-lifetime chance to encounter one of nature's most powerful forces. Awesome surf and storm footage (some captured with IMAX cameras) and the surfers' compelling stories create the breathtaking core of Condition Black .