Rodrigo Koxa of Brazil has set the world record for riding the biggest wave at Nazare break in Portugal. Koxa surfed the 80-foot behemoth on November 8, 2017, beating out title holder Garrett McNamara and the 78-footer he rode in the same place in 2011. Koxa’s jaw-dropping descent earned him the Quiksilver XXL Biggest Wave Award at wave at Southern California’s World Surf League Big Wave Awards.
The prize isn’t just about the glory, it also comes with a handsome reward of $25,000. Surfers skilled (and crazy) enough to be in the running—or riding, as it were—are allowed to catch the wave by any means. They can paddle out to it, or get towed to a jet ski. But the high reward isn’t without its obvious risks.
Surfer Andrew Cotton from the UK was bestowed best wipeout of the year after breaking his back at Nazare in November. Ouch, dude. Fortunately, Cotton was rescued and hospitalized. He plans to hit the waves “in a couple months.” Cotton told CNN from the hospital, “I'm feeling good, obviously I'm in pain, but I'm feeling positive, and I'm looking forward to rehab and getting back out there really.”
Ian Walsh, 34, won ride of the year for braving into a tub at “Jaws” on Maui 30-year-old Paige Alms of Hawaii rounded out the awards with the biggest wave performance for women. Alms has historically been an advocate for female surfers to compete in a category that’s largely male dominated.
