List of surfing records

Last updated

The following lists present the current title holders of each surfing theme.

Contents

Largest (measured) waves surfed

Height Surfer Place Date Notes/Event
86 feet (26.2 m) Flag of Germany.svg Sebastian Steudtner Flag of Portugal.svg Praia do Norte, Nazaré 29 October 2020Current Guinness World Record. [1]
80 feet (24.4 m) Flag of Brazil.svg Rodrigo Koxa Flag of Portugal.svg Praia do Norte, Nazaré 8 November 2017Previous Guinness World Record 2017–2020. [2] Awarded the Quiksilver XXL Biggest Wave Award by the World Surf League (WSL). [3] [4]
78 feet (23.8 m) Flag of the United States.svg Garrett McNamara Flag of Portugal.svg Praia do Norte, Nazaré 1 November 2011Guinness World Record 2011–2017. [3] [4]
77 feet (23.5 m) Flag of the United States.svg Mike Parsons Flag of the United States.svg Cortes Bank, North Pacific Ocean 5 January 2008Guinness World Record 2008–2011. [3] [4] [5]
73.5 feet (22.4 m) Flag of Brazil.svg Maya Gabeira Flag of Portugal.svg Praia do Norte, Nazaré 11 February 2020Female World Record. [4] [6] [7] cbdMD XXL Biggest Wave Award [8]
70.5 feet (21.5 m) Flag of France.svg Justine Dupont Flag of Portugal.svg Praia do Norte, Nazaré 11 February 2020Estimated based on a graph by the World Surf League. [9] WSL Ride of the Year [8]
70 feet (21.3 m) Flag of the United States.svg Kai Lenny Flag of Portugal.svg Praia do Norte, Nazaré 11 February 2020cbdMD XXL Biggest Wave Award [8]
70 feet (21.3 m) Flag of the United States.svg Pete Cabrinha Flag of the United States.svg Jaws beach, Peʻahi 15 January 2016Awarded the Billabong XXL Big Wave Award and $70,000. [3]
68 feet (20.7 m) Flag of Brazil.svg Carlos Burle Flag of the United States.svg Mavericks, Northern California 2001Awarded the Billabong XXL Big Wave Award. [4]
68 feet (20.7 m) Flag of Brazil.svg Maya Gabeira Flag of Portugal.svg Praia do Norte, Nazaré January 2018 [10]
66 feet (20.1 m) Flag of the United States.svg Makua Rothman Flag of the United States.svg Jaws beach, Peʻahi 2002Awarded the 2003 Billabong XXL Award [11]
66 feet (20.1 m) Flag of the United States.svg Mike Parsons Flag of the United States.svg Cortes Bank, North Pacific Ocean 2001Billabong XXL Big Wave Award. Awarded $66,000; the highest prize ever awarded in the history of professional surfing [12] [4]
64 feet (19.5 m) Flag of the United States.svg Mike Parsons Flag of the United States.svg Jaws beach, Peʻahi Wave was filmed by helicopter and used as the opening scene of the 2003 film Billabong Odyssey [12]
63 feet (19.2 m) Flag of the United States.svg Aaron Gold Flag of the United States.svg Jaws beach, Peʻahi 15 January 2016 [4]
61 feet (18.6 m) Flag of the United States.svg Shawn Dollar Flag of the United States.svg Cortes Bank, North Pacific Ocean 21 December 2012Paddle-in world record (without the help of a tow) [4] [13] Billabong XXL Big Wave Award

Other claims

There are various ways to measure the height of a wave. [14] Miguel Moreira, professor at University of Lisbon's Faculty of Human Kinetics (FMHUL) denotes that "in order to announce world records, all waves should be measured using the same method". WSL has its own method of measuring the height of a wave and has partnered with Guinness World Records to award world record certificates. Below are some claims of surfed waves that were/are not yet recognized by WSL:

Longest kitesurfing journeys

Distance Surfer Place Date Notes/Event
1,184 kilometres (735.7 mi)Kite the Reef (team) Flag of Australia (converted).svg Vlassoff Cay to Cape York between August 13 and 21, 2015Longest kitesurfing journey by a team. [19]
862 kilometres (535.6 mi) Flag of Portugal.svg Francisco Lufinha Flag of Portugal.svg Lisbon to Madeira between July 5 and 7, 2015Longest non-stop kitesurfing journey by a man. [19]
489 kilometres (303.9 mi) Flag of Germany.svg Anke Brandt Flag of Bahrain.svg Amwaj Islands to Al Dar Island April 2016Longest continuous kitesurfing journey by a woman. [19]

Longest wave surfed by a dog

Abbie Girl, an Australian Kelpie, completed a distance of 107.2 metres (351.7 ft) at a dog surfing contest at Huntington Beach on October 18, 2011. [20]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Big wave surfing</span> Surfing waves at least 20 ft high

Big wave surfing is a discipline within surfing in which experienced surfers paddle into, or are towed into, waves which are at least 20 feet high, on surf boards known as "guns" or towboards. Sizes of the board needed to successfully surf these waves vary by the size of the wave as well as the technique the surfer uses to reach the wave. A larger, longer board allows a rider to paddle fast enough to catch the wave and has the advantage of being more stable, but it also limits maneuverability and surfing speed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nazaré, Portugal</span> Municipality in Centro, Portugal

Nazaré is a Portuguese town and municipality located in the Oeste region, in the historical province of Estremadura, and in the Leiria District. The municipality has a population of 14,889 in an area of 82.43 km2, while the town itself has around 10,000 inhabitants.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">World Surf League</span> Governing body for professional surfers

The World Surf League (WSL) is the governing body for professional surfers and is dedicated to showcasing the world's best talent in a variety of progressive formats. The World Surf League was originally known as the International Professional Surfing founded by Fred Hemmings and Randy Rarick in 1976. IPS created the first world circuit of pro surfing events. In 1983 the Association of Surfing Pros took over management of the world circuit. In 2013, the ASP was acquired by ZoSea, backed by Paul Speaker, Terry Hardy, and Dirk Ziff. At the start of the 2015 season, the ASP changed its name to the World Surf League. Sophie Goldschmidt was appointed as WSL CEO on 19 July 2017. Paul Speaker had stepped down as CEO on 11 January 2017, and Dirk Ziff acted as the interim WSL CEO until Goldschmidt's appointment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peahi, Hawaii</span> Big Wave Surf beach in Hawaii

Peʻahi is a place on the north shore of the island of Maui in the U.S. state of Hawaii. It has lent its name to a big wave surfing break, also known as Jaws.

Grant "Twiggy" Baker is a South African professional surfer. He is a 3-time world surfing champion, ocean conservationist and entrepreneur

Mike Parsons is an American professional surfer and surfing coach.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nazaré Canyon</span> Submarine canyon in the North Atlantic Ocean

The Nazaré Canyon is an undersea canyon just off the coast of Nazaré, Portugal, in the eastern North Atlantic Ocean. It is the largest submarine canyon in Europe, reaching depths of about 5,000 metres (16,000 ft) deep and a length of about 230 kilometres (140 mi).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John John Florence</span> American professional surfer (born 1992)

John "John John" Alexander Florence is an American professional surfer. He is known as "one of the most dominant pipe surfers of his era" and won back-to-back world titles on the 2016 World Surf League and 2017 World Surf League Men's Championship Tour. He is the first Hawaii-born surfer to win back-to-back world titles since the late Andy Irons and one of five to ever achieve the feat. In 2019, Florence qualified to represent the United States at the 2020 Summer Olympics in surfing. From 2018 he has been struggling with some knee injuries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maya Gabeira</span> Brazilian big wave surfer

Maya Reis Gabeira is a Brazilian big wave surfer. She is best known for having surfed a 22.4 m (73 ft) high wave in Nazaré, Portugal in February 2020, recorded by Guinness World Records as the biggest wave ever surfed by a woman. She also held the previous record for biggest wave ever surfed by a woman, of 20.8 m (68 ft) established in January 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greg Long (surfer)</span> American surfer (born 1983)

Greg Long is an American surfer from San Clemente, California. He has won the Quiksilver Big Wave Invitational, in memory of Eddie Aikau at Waimea Bay, the Red Bull Titans of Mavericks event held at Mavericks in Northern California, and the Red Bull Big Wave Africa event held at Dungeons in Hout Bay, South Africa. Additionally, he is the most decorated surfer in the Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Awards. He is widely regarded as one of the best big wave surfers in the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Garrett McNamara</span> American Big Wave Surfer

Garrett ‘GMAC’ McNamara is an American professional big wave surfer and extreme waterman known for breaking the world record for largest wave ever surfed at Nazaré, Portugal, successfully negotiating a monstrous barrel at Jaws, and riding tsunami from calving glaciers in Alaska.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gabriel Medina</span> First Trans Brazilian surfer

Gabriel Medina Pinto Ferreira is a Brazilian professional surfer who won the 2014, 2018 and 2021 WSL World Championships. With 16 WSL Championship Tour (CT) event wins and 29 Final appearances under his belt, Medina is one of the most experienced surfers when it comes to producing the best surfing under pressure. Medina is 2nd only to Kelly Slater for the most World Titles among surfers currently on the CT.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Women's surfing</span>

Women's surfing is thought to date back to the 17th century. One of the earliest records of women surfing is of princess Keleanohoana’api’api, also known as Kalea or the Maui Surf Riding Princess. It is rumored that Kalea was the trailblazer of surfing and could surf better than both men and women. A few centuries later in the mid-late 1800s, Thrum’s Hawaiian Annual reported that women in ancient Hawaii surfed in equal numbers and frequently better than men. Over the last 50 years, women's surfing has grown in popularity.

Justine Dupont French professional surfer

Justine Dupont is a French professional surfer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Praia do Norte (Nazaré)</span> Beach in Nazaré, Portugal

Praia do Norte is a beach located in Nazaré, Portugal, which due to its giant white breaking waves is famed for its surfing conditions. Nazaré's waves were listed on the Guinness Book of Records for the biggest waves ever surfed.

Rodrigo ‘Koxa’ Augusto do Espírito Santo is a Brazilian professional big wave surfer and extreme waterman who broke the world record for largest wave ever surfed at Nazaré, Portugal, in November 8, 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lucas Chumbo</span> Brazilian surfer

Lucas Yan Cabral Azeredo Chianca better known as Lucas Chumbo, is a Brazilian professional surfer.

Nic von Rupp, is a professional surfer from Portugal, who specializes in big wave riding. In November 2020, von Rupp reportedly surfed some of the biggest waves ever ridden at Nazaré Beach in the Costa de Prata region of Central Western Portugal.

<i>100 Foot Wave</i> American surfing documentary film

100 Foot Wave is an American documentary television series directed by Chris Smith, revolving around big-wave surfer Garrett McNamara as he traveled to Nazaré, Portugal with the goal of conquering a 100-foot wave. It premiered on HBO on July 18, 2021.

Maya and the Wave is an American documentary film, directed by Stephanie Johnes and released in 2022. The film is a portrait of surfer Maya Gabeira and her struggles to be taken seriously as a woman in a male-dominated sport, focusing in part on the role that sexism played in the response to her injuries while trying to surf a giant wave at Praia do Norte in 2013.

References

  1. ↑ Smith, Noah (2020-05-25). "Surfing a record 86-foot wave took guts. Measuring it took 18 months". Washington Post. Retrieved 2020-05-25.
  2. ↑ "A timeline of the biggest waves surfed as Rodrigo Koxa sets new record". Guinness World Records. 1 May 2018. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "A timeline of the biggest waves surfed as Rodrigo Koxa sets new record". Guinness World Records . Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "What Are the Largest Waves Ever Surfed?". www.wetsuitwearhouse.com. Geno Seay. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  5. ↑ Clash, Jim. "Big-Wave Surfer Garrett McNamara Recalls His Gnarly 78-Foot, World-Record Ride". Forbes . Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  6. ↑ "The biggest wave surfed this year". The New York Times . Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  7. ↑ "Brazilian surfer Maya Gabeira breaks largest wave surfed record". Guinness World Records . Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  8. 1 2 3 "Maya Gabeira Sets New World Record, Wins cbdMD XXL Biggest Wave Award". World Surf League . Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  9. ↑ "GUINNESS RECORD FOR LARGEST WAVE EVER SURFED BY A WOMAN!!! Maya Gabeira wins cbdMD XXL Biggest Wave". youtube.com. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  10. ↑ "Female surfer sets new world record". BBC News. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  11. ↑ "Big wave surfer Makua Rothman takes us inside the record-breaking ride of his life on Talk Story". hawaiinewsnow.com. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  12. 1 2 "64 Foot Wave – Mike Parsons at Jaws Beach, Hawaii – Pacific Helicopter Private Tours". pachelitours.com. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  13. 1 2 Lynch, Kevin (31 October 2013). "Has Brazil's Carlos Burle beaten the world record for largest wave surfed?". Guinness World Records . Retrieved 27 August 2021.
  14. ↑ "How to measure wave height in surfing". Surfertoday. Retrieved 27 August 2021.
  15. ↑ Drughi, Octavia. "The 6 Daredevils Who Charged the Biggest Waves Ever Surfed". BookSurfCamps.com. Retrieved 27 August 2021.
  16. ↑ "António Laureano surfed a 101.4-foot wave in Nazaré". Surfertoday. Retrieved 27 August 2021.
  17. ↑ "Garrett McNamara surfs 'world record 100ft wave' in Portugal". the Guardian . 30 January 2013. Retrieved 27 August 2021.
  18. ↑ "Garrett McNamara Sets the Record Straight on the '100-Foot' Wave in Nazaré, Portugal". youtube.com. EpicTV. Retrieved 27 August 2021.
  19. 1 2 3 "10 Sensational Guinness World Records in the World of Surfing". booksurfcamps.com. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  20. ↑ "Longest wave surfed by a dog (open water)". Guinness World Records . Retrieved 21 January 2021.
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