The WSL (World Surf League) has just unveiled the list of nominees for the 2018 Big Wave Awards. A total of 7 awards and $350,000 are at stake to reward the most courageous surfers of the year, on the incredible spots of de Nazaré (Portugal) or Pe'ahi (Jaws, Hawaii). Two Frenchmen are in the running for the title, surfer Justine Dupont for the most beautiful wave surfed by a woman (on the spot of Pe'ahi, Hawaii) and Benjamin Sanchis for the Quiksilver Airlift XXL Biggest Wave Award (biggest wave of the year) in Nazaré. Find their video below and to discover all the incredible performances, go to the dedicated website with all the videos.
The nominees for 2018:
RIDE OF THE YEAR AWARD NOMINEES
Surfer Endowment $125,000 - Videographer Endowment $13,000
This distinction rewards the best line of the year on a big wave.
Ross Clarke-Jones (Avoca, New South Wales, Australia) in Nazaré, Portugal on 18 January 2018 (Video by Pedro Miranda.)
Ryan Hipwood (Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia) in Jaws, Maui, Hawaii on October 28, 2017 (WSL Video)
Kai Lenny (Paia, Hawaii, USA) at Nelscott Reef, Oregon on November 29, 2017 (Video by Ian Kennelly.)
Sebastian Steudtner (Nuremberg, Germany) in Nazaré, Portugal on 18 January 2018 (Video by Javier Goya.)
Ian Walsh (Haiku, Hawaii, USA) in Jaws, Maui, Hawaii October 28, 2017 (Video by Dan Norkunas.)
BIGGEST PADDLE AWARD NOMINEES
Surfer Endowment $30,000 - Video Endowment $5,000
This distinction rewards the surfer who has managed to row and catch the biggest wave of the year.
Lucas Chianca (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) in Nazaré, Portugal on 4 January 2018 (Photos by Vitor Estrelinha and Rafael G. Riancho. Video by Cesinha Feliciano)
Lucas Chianca (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) in Jaws, Maui, Hawaii on January 14, 2018 (Photos by Tony Heff, Aaron Lynton and Fred Pompermayer. Video by Elliot Leboe.)
Nathan Florence (Haleiwa, Hawaii, USA) in Jaws, Maui, Hawaii on January 14, 2018 (Photos by Dooma Photos, Aaron Lynton and Fred Pompermayer. Video by Aldo Tassara)
Aaron Gold (Haleiwa, Hawaii, USA) in Jaws, Maui, Hawaii on January 13, 2018 (Photos by Dooma Photos, Aaron Lynton and Fred Pompermayer. Video by Bruno Lemos)
Aaron Gold (Haleiwa, Hawaii, USA) in Jaws, Maui, Hawaii on January 14, 2018 (Photos by Erik Aeder, Brent Broza, Robin Ernst, Tony Heff and Aaron Lynton. Video by Tony Heff)
QUIKSILVER AIRLIFT XXL BIGGEST WAVE AWARD NOMINEES
Surfer Endowment $25,000 - Photographer Endowment $5,000
The Quiksilver Airlift XXL Biggest Wave Award will be given to the surfer who has caught the biggest wave of the year.
Ross Clarke-Jones (Avoca, New South Wales, Australia) in Nazaré, Portugal on January 18, 2018 (Photos by Bruno Aleixo and Ricardo Bravo. Video by Humberto Santos.)
Rodrigo Koxa (Guarujá, SP, Brazil) in Nazaré, Portugal on 8 November 2017 (Photos by Raphael Alvim, Pedro Cruz, Rafael G. Riancho, Manuel Ricardo and Leandro Sieves. Video by Carlos Muriongo)
Kai Lenny (Paia, Hawaii, USA) in Jaws, Maui, Hawaii on January 14, 2018 (Photos by Dooma Photos, Tony Heff, Aaron Lynton, Fred Pompermayer and Stu Soley. Video by Marcus Rodrigues)
Benjamin Sanchis (Hossegor, France) in Nazaré, Portugal on 18 January 2018 (Photos by Bruno Aleixo, Helio Antonio, Andre Botelho, Antonio Bravo and Vitor Estrelinha. Video by Michael Darrigade)
Sebastian Steudtner (Nuremberg, Germany) in Nazaré, Portugal on 18 January 2018 (Photos by Helio Antonio, Andre Botelho, Rafael G. Riancho, Surfemotions and Gillen Usandizaga. Video by Nuno Dias)
TUBE OF THE YEAR AWARD NOMINEES
Surfer endowment $10,000 - Photography prize $5,000
This prize is awarded for the most spectacular hit of the year.
Grant Baker (Durban, South Africa) in Jaws, Maui, Hawaii on January 14, 2018 (Photos by Dooma Photos, Aaron Lynton, Fred Pompermayer and Randy Sarrow.)
Mick Corbett (Perth, W.A. Australia) at The Right, Western Australia on 16 May 2016 (Photo by Trent Slatter.)
Tyler Hollmer-Cross (Hobart, Tasmania, Australia) at Shipstern Bluff, Tasmania on July 25, 2017 (Photo by Andrew Chisholm.)
Billy Kemper (Haiku, Hawaii, USA) in Jaws, Maui, Hawaii on October 27, 2017 (Photos by Richard Hallman, Tony Heff and Keoki Saguibo.)
Ian Walsh (Haiku, Hawaii, USA) in Jaws, Maui, Hawaii on October 28, 2017 (Photos by Adam Carbajal, Richard Hallman, Paul Karaolides, Tracy Leboe and Sofie Louca)
WIPEOUT OF THE YEAR AWARD NOMINEES (FALL OF THE YEAR)
Surfer Endowment $5,000 - photography $2,000
The most impressive fall of the year on a big wave is rewarded here.
Andrew Cotton (Braunton, Devon, United Kingdom) in Nazaré, Portugal on 8 November 2017 (Video by Pedro Miranda.)
