What do you do when you’re one of the world’s best surfers and you’ve pretty much ridden the biggest waves you’re ever going to see? You add some pyrotechnics into the mix, obviously.

Jamie O’Brien decided to do his latest bonkers stunt off the back of a fan’s Instagram suggestion:

They said ‘it would be cool if you lit yourself on fire’ and I thought, might as well. So I went into Red Bull and I said hey, I want to light myself on fire and go into a barrel at Teahupo’o”

In case you’re wondering, he didn’t just light himself on fire and jump on a surfboard. As Mashable reports, it took a year of research and preparation to make it happen:

[Stunt man] Riley Harper conducted two fire tests in California and an additional one in Hawaii to make sure the idea was feasible. In addition, Red Bull says it spent months testing body protective layers for the surfer. The energy drink company also had Body Glove, a surfing and skateboarding apparel shop, make a custom wetsuit that moved all life-saving floatation devices to the front of the suit.

The only problem I had with watching this badass video is it made me realise I’ll never do anything anywhere near as cool. Might start surf lessons though.

[source: Mashable]