Big wave surfing is a whole lot more exciting to the masses than plain old surfing. If you don’t surf, it can be hard to appreciate the nuances of riding waves that aren’t the size of a building. That’s why the Big Wave Awards are so fun: everyone can appreciate just how bonkers it is to ride that much water. Surfers and non-surfers alike watch, eyes bulging out of their heads, as hell-people freefall down really, really big waves. Of course, there are two kinds of big wave surfing, and one is a little purer than the other. Paddling into big waves is all well and good until it becomes physically impossible, though, so the awards are split into two divisions: paddle and tow. Above are the nominees for the Big Wave Paddle Awards. The only thing that might top those are the Big Wave Wipeout Awards — which you can see below.
See more from the World Surf League on Worldsurfleague.com.
