The Red Bull Magnitude is unlike any other surf event. Running for the second time this year, Magnitude gives the best female big-wave surfers an opportunity to compete and determine champions over an entire season at three iconic Hawaiian spots. The event window ran from December 1 to March 14, and any wave surfed and filmed at Waimea Bay, the Outer Reefs of Oahu, or Jaws on Maui was eligible to be entered. And with $50,000 in prize money, there was a lot on the line for those competing.
The winners pose for a photo. Left to right: Paige Alms, Skylar Lickle, Annie Reickert, and Katie McConnell. Photo: Tahnei Roy // Red Bull Content Pool.
This year saw Maui native Skylar Lickle come out on top, with the Overall Event Winner award, as well as two-time Big Wave World Champ Paige Alms, who also calls Maui home. Paige snagged the Best Ride and Best Paddle awards with one banger of a wave (slide three in the post below). Annie Reickert, another Maui native, snagged the Best Tow Wave award, as well as the People’s Choice, decided by fans in online voting. It was almost a Maui sweep, but the Rookie of the Year award ended up coming back to California with 32-year-old Katie McConnell. Katie is a surfer and oceanographer who has clocked years of big wave surfing at breaks around the world before finally taking things to the pro level this year.
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Winners were determined based on their best three waves of the season, judged by a panel consisting of Rochelle Ballard, Betty DePolito, and Andrea Moller, three titans of women’s surfing. Competitors were provided with ski teams, water safety, and filmers during large swells at the three predetermined locations, helping to level the playing field in an arena where not being able to coordinate safety and filming often means it’s not worth paddling out. This allows the Magnitude event not only to be an athlete showcase for lady chargers, but also a means of elevating promising individuals and build momentum around women’s big-wave surfing. So far, it seems to be paying off. While last year’s win by Keala Kennelly was a testament to the years of hard work the 43-year-old has put in, breaking ground for women in the world of big-wave surfing, Skylar Lickle’s win this season represents a changing of the guard, as younger chargers like herself, Annie Reickert, and Irie Fitzgerald step up to the plate.
Skylar Lickle at Jaws on January 9. Photo: Christa Funk // Red Bull Content Pool.
“The women’s big wave surf community here in Hawaii has helped me learn and meet so many people,” says Irie. It’s also a blessing to see other female surfers just enjoying the love for big waves. They definitely make it more comfortable to be in the lineup. The women’s big-wave surfing community is like a family and I hope contests like this will encourage girls to push themselves!”
