Of the many spectacular Pete Boden images that came out of the Super Boat International season-opener eight days ago in Cocoa Beach, Fla., one best-captured the rough-water nature of the race. Running uncontested to victory in the Superboat Extreme class, the AMH Construction/Instigator cockpit duo of Aaron Hope and Anthony Smith endured a spectacular stuff in the four- to eight-foot seas—and continued without missing a beat.

Despite a wicked stuff in Cocoa Beach, Aaron Hope and Anthony Smith didn’t miss a beat in the AMH Construction/Instigator V-bottom (click image to enlarge). Photo courtesy/copyright Pete Boden/Shoot 2 Thrill Pix.

“I’ve never had that happen before,” said Hope, who drove the team’s 40-foot Fountain with Smith handling the throttles. “I’ve talked to a lot of people who have been around for a while, and they told me that was some of the roughest water they’ve seen.

“Anthony and I were surprised,” he continued. “Neither one of us saw it coming—we called it a rogue wave. It happened in a second and hit us all of the sudden. A lot of those things can end badly, but we punched right through it and kept on running. That was quite a ride.”

Of course, Boden—speedonthewater.com’s chief photographer—didn’t miss the shot. Like Hope and Smith, Boden has the right stuff.

“I couldn’t believe he caught it,” said Hope. “It happened in a second and it was over.”

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