Big Wave Thunder

DOWNHILL RUN: Ian Walsh prepares for a long descent down a Jaws wall. Photo Dornellas

Over the next five weeks, the 2020 Red Bull Big Wave Awards (BWA) will present awards for men’s and women’s divisions across four categories: Ride of the Year, cbdMD XXL Biggest Wave, Paddle Award, and Overall Performer of the Year. The BWA will also honour the Wipeout of the Year winner as voted by fans in the BWA’s first fan-voted category. Vote here.

Each week, the WSL will announce one BWA category winner on WorldSurfLeague.com/gobig, starting with Wipeout of the Year.

2020 RED BULL BIG WAVE AWARDS SCHEDULE

• July 20: Official 2020 BWA Nominees announced
• July 27: Wipeout of the Year winner announced on World Surf Weekly 3pm PDT (midnight ZA)
• August 3: Biggest Paddle Award winners announced as above
• August 10: Overall Performer of Year winners announced as above
• August 17: cbdMD XXL Biggest Wave Award winners announced as above
• August 24: Ride of the Year winners announced as above

The annual BWAs validate the GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ and all entries have the potential to break the current world records. This year’s cbdMD XXL Biggest Wave category has two strong world record contenders: Justine Dupont (FRA) and Maya Gabeira (BRA). The winner of the category - and world record determination - will be announced on August 17.

“It’s been an exceptional year for pushing the limits on the women’s front,” said Red Bull Big Wave Award Event Director, Bill Sharp. “Every nominee in the cbdMD XXL Women’s Biggest Wave category is a stunner. Both Maya Gabeira and Justine Dupont have expressed to me their belief that there could well be a new Guinness World Record coming out of Nazaré this year for the largest wave ever ridden by a woman. But who ultimately went bigger between the two of them? Either way, it is shaping up to be a very historic showdown.”

FEET FIRST: Francisco Porcella takes the drop sans board. Photo WSL / Carbajal

WIPEOUT OF THE YEAR AWARD NOMINEES

Winner will be announced on July 27 at 3pm Pacific Time (midnight ZA) on WSL World Surf Weekly. While the performance categories salute the most successful rides of the past year, the Wipeout division presents the most amazing unsuccessful rides. This is the first fan-voted category for the BWA. Voting is live now and closes on July 23 at 6pm PDT (3am ZA). Vote at WorldSurfLeague.com/gobig.

• Felipe Cesarano (Rio de Janeiro) at Nazaré on Jan 14, 2020. Video by Pedro Miranda
• Keala Kennelly (Honolulu) at Jaws on December 12, 2019. Video by Carlo Carbajal
• Torrey Meister at Jaws on December 12, 2019. Video by Carlo Carbajal
• Francisco Porcella at Jaws on December 12, 2019. Video by Carlo Carbajal
• Jerome Sahyoun (Casablanca, Morocco) at Mullaghmore Head, Ireland on January 14, 2020. Video by Luke McNee

BOOM BOX: Eli Olson finally reaches the bottom of a Jaws behemoth. Photo WSL / Aeder

BIGGEST PADDLE AWARD NOMINEES

Winners will be announced August 3 at 3pm Pacific Time (midnight ZA) on WSL World Surf Weekly. The Biggest Paddle Awards go to the male and female surfers who paddle into and successfully ride the biggest wave of the year.

Male Nominees

• Russell Bierke (Ulladulla, Australia) at Jaws on December 12, 2019. Photos by Erik Aeder, Adam Carbajal, Aaron Lynton, and Keoki Saguibo. Video by Marcus Rodrigues
• Nathan Florence (Haleiwa, Hawaii) at Jaws on December 12, 2019. Photos by Erik Aeder, Marco Arellano, Richard Hallman, Aaron Lynton, and Keoki Saguibo. Video by Carlo Carbajal
• Billy Kemper (Haiku, Hawaii) at Jaws on December 12, 2019. Photos by Marco Arellano, Dooma Photos, Richard Hallman, Aaron Lynton, and Keoki Saguibo. Video by WSL Video Team
• Eli Olson (Haleiwa, Hawaii) at Jaws on December 12, 2019. Photos by Erik Aeder, Marco Arellano, Aaron Lynton, and Cait Miers. Video by WSL Video Team
• Ian Walsh (Kuau, Hawaii) at Jaws on December 12, 2019. (Amanda Beenen-Cantor, Martin Caprile, Mendo Dornellas, Aaron Lynton, and Luana Teixeira. Video by WSL Video Team

Female Nominees

• Paige Alms (Haiku, Hawaii) at Jaws on December 12, 2019. Photos by Marco Arellano, Amanda Beenen-Cantor, Sofie Louca, Aaron Lynton, and Cait Miers. Video by WSL Video Team
• Paige Alms (Haiku, Hawaii) at Jaws on November 15, 2019. (Photo by Aaron Lynton. Video by Marcus Rodrigues
• Felicity Palmateer (Burleigh Heads, Qld., Australia) at Jaws on December 12, 2019. Photos by Erik Aeder, Noah Andrews, Adam Carbajal, Aaron Lynton, and Cait Miers. Video by Carlo Carbajal

PERFORMING A FEAT: Ian Walsh has been a star performer over the last 12 months. Photo Teixeira

BEST OVERALL PERFORMANCE AWARD NOMINEES

Winners will be announced August 10 at 3pm Pacific Time (midnight ZA) on WSL World Surf Weekly. The Overall Performer of the Year Awards acknowledge the top-performing male and female surfers over the course of the last 12 months (ending March 20, 2020) based on every ride captured on video or still images.

Female Nominees

• Paige Alms (Hawaii, USA)
• Justine Dupont (Seignosse, France)
• Michaela Fregonese (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
• Maya Gabeira (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
• Felicity Palmateer (Queensland, Australia)

Male Nominees

• Grant Baker (Durban, South Africa)
• Russell Bierke (New South Wales, Australia)
• Lucas Chianca (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
• Nathan Florence (Hawaii, USA)
• Billy Kemper (Hawaii, USA)
• Kai Lenny (Hawaii, USA)
• Tom Lowe (Cornwall, United Kingdom)
• Eli Olson (Hawaii, USA)
• Nic Von Rupp (Sintra, Portugal)
• Ian Walsh (Hawaii, USA)

CRAZY KAI: When it comes to sheer tenacity in giant surf, Kai Lenny tops the bill. Photo Estrelinha

cbdMD XXL BIGGEST WAVE AWARD NOMINEES

Winners will be announced August 17 at 3pm Pacific Time (midnight ZA) on WSL World Surf Weekly. The cbdMD XXL Biggest Wave Awards go to the male and female surfers who, by any means available, catch and ride the biggest wave of the year.

Male Nominees

• Lucas Chianca (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) at Nazaré on February 17, 2020. (Photo by Helio Antonio. Video by Nuno Dias
• Kai Lenny (Maui Hawaii) at Jaws on December 31, 2019. Video by Marcus Rodrigues
• Kai Lenny (Maui Hawaii) on a left at Nazaré on February 11, 2020. Photos by Helio Antonio, Pedro Cruz, Vitor Estrelinha, and Brady Lawrence. Video by Johnny Decesare
• Kai Lenny (Maui Hawaii) on a right at Nazaré on February 11, 2020. Photos by André Botelho. Video by Laurent Pujol
• Sebastian Steudtner (Nuremberg, Germany at Nazaré on February 11, 2020. Photos by Helio Antonio. Pedro Cruz and Laurent Masurel. Video by WSL Video Team

Female Nominees

• Justine Dupont (Seignosse, France) at Nazaré on November 13, 2019 Photos by Maria Fernanda, and Rafael Riancho. Video by Pedro Miranda
• Justine Dupont (Seignosse, France) at Nazaré on February 11, 2020. Photos by Helio Antonio, André Botelho, Vitor Estrelinha, and Laurent Masurel. Video by Antoine Chicoye
• Maya Gabeira (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) at Nazaré on February 11, 2020. Photos by Helio Antonio, Pedro Cruz, and Damien Poullenot. Video by Pedro Miranda

A FRAME PLUS PLUS: Justine Dupont will surely win in one of her nominated categories? Photo Pujol

RIDE OF THE YEAR AWARD NOMINEES

Winners will be announced on August 24 at 3pm Pacific Time (midnight ZA) on WSL World Surf Weekly.The Ride of the Year is the top-line category of the event and is awarded to the male and female surfers who demonstrate the most advanced and committed level of big wave surfing during a successful ride, as judged by available video-footage. While raw size is taken into consideration, it is ultimately the level of performance that is rewarded.

Female Nominees

• Paige Alms (Haiku, Hawaii) at Jaws on Nov 15, 2019. Video by Elliot Leboe
• Justine Dupont (Segnoisse, France) at Nazaré on Feb 11, 2019. Video by Laurent Pujol
• Michaela Fregonese (Rio De Janeiro) at Jaws on Dec 31, 2019. Video by Adam Carbajal

Male Nominees

• Russell Bierke (Ulladulla, NSW, Australia) at Jaws on December 12, 2019. Video by Carlo Carbajal
• Billy Kemper (Haiku, Hawaii, USA) at Jaws on January 23, 2020. Video by Are Frapwell
• Kai Lenny (Paia, Hawaii) at Jaws on January 25, 2020. Video by Johnny Decesare
• Tom Lowe (Cornwall, United Kingdom) at Mullaghmore Head, Ireland on January 14, 2020. Video by Oliver Hegarty
• Eli Olson (Haleiwa, Hawaii, USA) at Jaws on December 12, 2019. Video by Tomo McPherson

The 2020 Red Bull Big Wave Awards are proudly supported by Red Bull and cbdMD. Photographs and video of all the nominated rides can be viewed at www.WorldSurfLeague.com/gobig. For more information, please visit www.WorldSurfLeague.com.