The 34 year-old took to the massive waves of Teahupoo in Tahiti in a stunt that was caught on camera.
Maddison spent two years modifying his bike with small skis on the front wheel and a propeller on the back.
"People said 'it's a pipe dream', 'it's never going to happen' and that's how a lot of people looked at this thing and that's the vibe I've got from a lot of people," Maddison told Fairfax Media.
Despite a few failed starts Maddison persisted and finally completed the ride.
"I don't think the photos or video show how physical it was," he told Surfer magazine.
"You can't see that when the wave broke right behind me, I honestly thought that might be the end of my life.
"I've never felt like I was in the wrong place at the wrong time more than I did right there. It was a near-death experience."
The Tahiti venue will host the next contest of the World Surf League later this month.

