Largest (measured) waves surfed
| Number | Height | Surfer | Place | Date | Notes/Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 86 feet (26.2 m) |  Sebastian Steudtner |  Praia do Norte, Nazaré | 29 October 2020 | Current Guinness World Record. [1] |
| 2 | 80 feet (24.4 m) |  Rodrigo Koxa | Praia do Norte, Nazaré | 8 November 2017 | Previous Guinness World Record 2017–2020. [2] Awarded the Quiksilver XXL Biggest Wave Award by the World Surf League (WSL). [3] [4] |
| 3 | 78 feet (23.8 m) |  Garrett McNamara | Praia do Norte, Nazaré | 1 November 2011 | Guinness World Record 2011–2017. [3] [4] |
| 4 | 77 feet (23.5 m) | Mike Parsons | Cortes Bank, North Pacific Ocean | 5 January 2008 | Guinness World Record 2008–2011. [3] [4] [5] |
| 5 | 73.5 feet (22.4 m) | Maya Gabeira | Praia do Norte, Nazaré | 11 February 2020 | Female World Record. [4] [6] [7] cbdMD XXL Biggest Wave Award [8] |
| 6 | 73.0 feet (22.3 m) |  Francisco Porcella | Praia do Norte, Nazaré | 24 October 2016 | [9] |
| 7 | 71.0 feet (21.6 m) | Sebastian Steudtner | Praia do Norte, Nazaré | 11 December 2014 | [9] |
| 7 | 71.0 feet (21.6 m) | Yuri Soledade | Jaws beach, Peʻahi | 25 February 2016 | [9] |
| 9 | 70.5 feet (21.5 m) |  Justine Dupont | Praia do Norte, Nazaré | 11 February 2020 | [9] |
| 10 | 70 feet (21.3 m) | Kai Lenny | Praia do Norte, Nazaré | 11 February 2020 | cbdMD XXL Biggest Wave Award [8] |
| 10 | 70 feet (21.3 m) | Pete Cabrinha | Jaws beach, Peʻahi | 15 January 2016 | Awarded the Billabong XXL Big Wave Award and $70,000. [3] |
| 12 | 68 feet (20.7 m) | Carlos Burle | Mavericks, Northern California | 21 November 2001 | Awarded the Billabong XXL Big Wave Award. [4] |
| 12 | 68 feet (20.7 m) | Maya Gabeira | Praia do Norte, Nazaré | 18 January 2018 | [10] |
| 12 | 68 feet (20.7 m) | Brad Gerlach |  Todos Santos, Mexico | 21 December 2005 | [9] |
| 15 | 66 feet (20.1 m) | Makua Rothman | Jaws beach, Peʻahi | 26 November 2002 | Awarded the 2003 Billabong XXL Award [11] |
| 15 | 66 feet (20.1 m) | Mike Parsons | Cortes Bank, North Pacific Ocean | 19 January 2001 | Billabong XXL Big Wave Award. Awarded $66,000; the highest prize ever awarded in the history of professional surfing [12] [4] |
| 15 | 66 feet (20.1 m) | Sebastian Steudtner | Jaws beach, Peʻahi | 7 December 2009 | [9] |
| 18 | 65 feet (19.8 m) | Greg Long |  Dungeons, South Africa | 30 July 2006 | [9] |
| 19 | 64 feet (19.5 m) | Mike Parsons | Jaws beach, Peʻahi | 7 January 2002 | Wave was filmed by helicopter and used as the opening scene of the 2003 film Billabong Odyssey [12] |
| 20 | 63 feet (19.2 m) | Aaron Gold | Jaws beach, Peʻahi | 15 January 2016 | [4] |
| 21 | 61 feet (18.6 m) | Shawn Dollar | Cortes Bank, North Pacific Ocean | 21 December 2012 | Paddle-in world record (without the help of a tow) [4] [13] Billabong XXL Big Wave Award |
| 21 | 61 feet (18.6 m) | Grant Baker | Tafelberg Reef, South Africa | 9 August 2008 | [9] |
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:
Contents
- Largest (measured) waves surfed
- Other claims
- Longest kitesurfing journeys
- Longest wave surfed by a dog
- References
- Alessandro "Alo" Slebir - On 23 December 2024, Slebir rode an estimated 108 foot (32.9 m) tall wave at Mavericks, California, which would exceed the current world record by over 20 feet. [15] The wave height was estimated by the Mavericks Rescue Team, [16] but has not yet been confirmed by Guinness World Records.
- Andrew Cotton - In January 2014, Cotton, was towed into an estimated 80-foot (24.3 meters) wave at Praia do Norte. His feat has yet to be ratified by Guinness World Records. [17]
- António Laureano - On 29 October 2020, Laureano, 18 at the time, rode a wave estimated by FMHUL to be around 101.4 feet (30.9 meters) at Praia do Norte. This measurement is still awaiting confirmation by WSL. [18]
- Benjamin Sanchis - On 11 December 2014, Sanchis rode a wave labelled as 108 ft (33 m) by the media. The wave was deemed by Billabong as a "partial ride" (meaning he did not ride it to completion). [4]
- Carlos Burle - On the 28th October, 2013, Burle rode a wave that was claimed to be 100 feet on Praia do Norte. [13]
- Garrett McNamara - Apart from his 2011 world record, McNamara has reportedly surfed to what was dubbed by the media as a "100 foot wave" on 28 January 2013 at Praia do Norte. [19] McNamara has said in a 2013 interview he never claimed the wave to be 100 feet, but said the wave definitely felt bigger than the previous record. [20]
