Big wave surfing is a whole different ball game. When things get really hairy–which they inevitably will–there isn’t a whole lot a surfer can rely on when it comes to rescue… except for himself. Sure, there are jet skis and water safety and an insane amount of training, but when you’re pinned beneath a mountain of water, there’s no one up there that can save you. Getting to the surface is a one man job.
Below are the five nominees for the 2015 XXL Biggest Wave Award, in no particular order. The rules are simple: the surfer who catches the biggest wave wins $10,000.
1. Ross Clarke-Jones at Nazare, December 11
Ross Clarke-Jones is a standout at every big wave spot in the world. If anyone has earned his stripes, it’s Ross. On a trip to Portugal’s prized deep water wave, RCJ barely outran some of the the biggest whitewater ever.
2. Mick Corbett at Cow Bombie, August 9
Cow Bombie is not a place for the meek. Often hailed as one of Australia’s biggest waves, it has been a challenge for every big wave surfer in the world. Back in August, Mick Corbett found himself on a huge one in Western Australia.
3. Jarryd Foster at Cow Bombie, August 9
August 9th was a big day at Cow Bombie, to say the least. On the same day that Mick Corbett rode his white whale, Tasmanian hellman Jarryd Foster backsided his way onto a beast, and took the time to enjoy the view.
4. Sebastian Steudtner at Nazare, December 11
Sebastian Steudtner comes from a place where river surfing is more the norm that ocean surfing. But despite that, the German born Steudtner consistently finds himself on some of the biggest waves the world has to offer. And on December 11, those waves happened to be in Portugal. And so did Sebastian.
5. Hugo Vau at Nazare, December 11
Mid-December in Portugal was probably the craziest time of the year for big waves. Of course, there were a few days in Mex when Puerto destroyed everything in its path, but for sheer height, its hard to compare with Nazare. Hugo Vau whipped into one of the biggest waves of his life just before Christmas, and it’s not one he’ll forget for a long time to come.
