RECAP: The ALMOST Eddie Swell | Red Bull Surfing x Surfline 20ft +

It might only be January but 2023 is already delivering one of the best big wave seasons in recent memory, with enough potential blobs brewing on the charts to send it to the record books before it’s done. From Waimea and Jaws in Hawaii to Todos Santos in Mexico and Cortes Bank out somewhere on the Californian horizon, the year has seen big wave surfers readying their PWCs, packing their vests and unsheathing their biggest blades to take on a string of endless, enormous swells strafing coastlines around the Pacific.
In the 20 Foot Plus recap above, Surfline’s Nick Carroll and Kevin Wallis detail all of the action and weather patterns involved, with interviews featuring many of the key players. From a false start at the Eddie Aikau Invitational that led to an all-time Waimea free surf session starring John and Ivan Florence, to one of the least crowded and least windy Jaws days of the past decade, featuring Nathan Florence, this edit has Hawaii covered. Crossing the Pacific to watch Jamie Mitchell, Ian Walsh and Greg Long tame Mexico’s Todos Santos, we’re reminded it’s not all sweet success as we see Coco Nogales go down hard to end a scary session.
Finally we venture out to sea to surfing’s most mythical deep water wave, Cortes Bank. Cortes veteran Bill Sharp organized the trip for HBO's 100 Foot Wave, with an all-star line-up featuring Lucas Chumbo, Andrew Cotty and Garrett McNamara… though it’s Justine Dupont who steals the show with the biggest wave ridden in 2023 so far. As Nick Carroll says ominously in conclusion however, “it’s still winter, and there’s always the question, 'What’s next?'”
UPDATE: Coco Nogales, the surfer who was injured at Todos Santos, is now in a stable condition. He has been treated for his injuries and is in recovery.
"Hola amigos,” Coco wrote, to our correspondents at Surfline. “It's been three days since I left the hospital, where I got surgery. I'm now resting in Greg Long’s home and feeling better, little by little. The doctors tell me I need to wait a few weeks before starting my rehabilitation. Big thanks to Greg and everyone who's helped me out."
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#bigwavesurfing #hawaii #surfline

[@RedBullSurfing]

Don't miss out on the full Waimea Bay Surfline Replay as well: win.gs/3kvlI1T

[@AudraGibson]

That wave of Justine’s was just gorgeous. Fingers crossed the new swell will hold and the Eddie will go this Sunday.

[@jeromesullivan4015]

I grew up Wailua in the 60’s and 70’s..I am almost 70, but still love seeing these intrepid young people just GO for it…

[@PlaySA]

Rad to see Cortez Bank going off again. Never seen it that smooth before

[@RedBullSurfing]

The conditions were mindblowing 🔥🔥🔥

[@waveman200]

totally flashed !!! Amazing footage !!!

[@joshandrsn5936]

A epic video! Props to whoever edited this. Really well done

[@gingercat777]

I watched this 3 times, amazing footage.

[@RedBullSurfing]

We can't stop watching over here either, historic swell

[@Who.is.Clinton]

Redbull you are awesome for giving us this video.

[@RedBullSurfing]

Stoked to share the excitement 🎥🔥

[@glassocean7269]

How scary is Cortes Bank! Looks like the wave moves so much faster than anywhere else. Just imagine some of the giant unridden swells that have come through their unridden and unseen over the years..

[@snat6299]

Awesome Thank God for this Epic Swell

[@Squid_Lab]

What a sick video to watch! Good job!

[@carboncut]

15:09 with Justine Dupont is amazing! Fished open ocean, skated downhill, never surfed, and this is mythic stuff. Great filming and edit.

[@theshineyone1111]

love this format, more plz!

[@SaltEarthandSun]

Man! That was fun to watch! Nice work gang!

[@Alpha-Andromeda]

That was Justine!!! Yesssssaa 🤙🏽🤙🏽🤙🏽🤙🏽

[@RedBullSurfing]

Charging! 💪

[@andamansean]

Excellent shooting, editing and story line. All the elements come together in this short film. Great job Nick and team.

[@thomascrosby6105]

Excellent content....thank you for posting.

[@wasabiginger6993]

Great summary overview, thanks … amazing to me what the constant huge North Pacific strorms marching across are offering everywhere!

[@sugewhitejacoby8654]

This video was awesome! So rad! Amazing footage! Dream sessions 🤙🤙🤙🤙

[@toulapow]

Trop stylé !

[@Mexicantours]

Fast recovery coco from everyone in puerto!

[@brettblack2589]

So sickkk

[@clayisland]

That was fun to watch, thanks!

[@RedBullSurfing]

The feelings are mutual, what a swell!

[@cruetsanther6275]

I wanna see all 60 waves ridden at Cortes. Cannot wait for next season of 100 ft

[@thejonegcle7759]

NICE recap ... mahalo

[@thejonegcle7759]

What's next ??

[@cito2316]

This swell for the 22nd of Jan in Hawaii looks amazing and a great long period 285 for mavz and socal getting solid waves again! The Fri the 13th swell and Wednesday the 11th were amazing in the north ventura/ south SB area

[@RedBullSurfing]

Such an amazing start to the year

[@christopheramos8201]

Brilliant,,, 👏👏👏👏

[@HoStevie]

*Going over the falls on a wave like that would leave me with a grown stain on my wetsuit 😳*

[@seanwilliams8452]

Justine deserves wave of the winter for that one.

[@RedBullSurfing]

Absolutely insane wave, we'll have to wait and see!

[@michaelharris5370]

I say well done Justine 👍

[@BLR1GBattlemaster]

Keala Kennelly looks so old there.

[@leighgilmour1702]

Whoop whoop 🙌🏼 🎉

[@garyjohnson4575]

....and a kick flip exit!!!!

[@gregraines8082]

Awesome. I’ve been out there and it is awesome. You all are so amazing…

[@jansmith3158]

Eddie has been called back on for Sunday Jan 22, 2023

[@RedBullSurfing]

Green light means go! 🚦

[@c-dublife]

eddie would go!

[@2angelsnet]

The Eddie is a Go Tomorrow............. that is what is NEXT! Come on Back guys.....

[@davidbobo9740]

I'm waitin also for Mavericks to come on by

[@RedBullSurfing]

Patiently waiting as well 👀

[@jl.c.8673]

Incredible! Next level filmography/narration.

[@RedBullSurfing]

The filmers really crushed! 🔥⚡

[@callmeishmael3031]

Cortes Bank is such a strange situation--surfing in the middle of the ocean, out of sight from land and any other form of life. It must be like being on another planet with a unique form of orientation to reality. Seems like it would be somewhat terrifying.

[@RedBullSurfing]

Terrifying indeed 😅

[@jefftrend4586]

cool

[@yeahhh24-77]

🌊🌊🌊🏄🏄🏄

[@sanfranciscobay]

10:50 Large Swell catches many Surfers inside.

[@dongaza6878]

Interesting to observe that tow surfing hasn't progressed much since the 90"s and the Laird Hamilton days

[@adam__smith]

Are you being sarcastic?

[@wasabiginger6993]

@@adam__smith … I was wondering the same thing … and don’t even know where to begin if he is serious

[@MrLeeson660]

I think he's got a point. Apart from Kai obviously

[@1976ondy]

Shaun Briley used to do what KaiLenny does is the 90’s , if people only knew

[@danielfritts854]

What more can you really do other than jet boards and hydrofoil

[@0warami_7oo]

did Greg Long and co miss cortes bank ? "wind south"?

[@surf4erme]

🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@RedBullSurfing]

🙌🔥

[@HMBRSTN]

meanwhile I got a cramp in my right hammy and stubbed my toe, all while just sitting in a chair watching this in sweats at my computer.

[@RedBullSurfing]

😂😂😂

[@marvelharris9540]

"full yard sale" lol

[@sanfranciscobay]

Did they bring a Helicopter on the Ship?

[@happydays0220]

😎

[@Akooks]

Surfing starts at 2:57

[@signjoey]

If Waimea is this high...what about Makaha?

[@krusher74]

They always talk up the big burgers, the half the size barrels are the real deal.

[@jmatisg6905]

song name at 3:35?

[@osomon9697]

Falling Shadows - Sounds of Red Bull

[@rvierra7235]

Big thumbs up!! So cool to see REAL surfers paddling into huge waves under their own power and rippin' it. No cheating, oh sorry, i mean tow boarding, here.......

[@Steve-yo8uh]

Do you think they could ride shorter boards in these conditions? While I appreciate the immense courage to even paddle out, let alone catch a wave, I feel like the waves could have been ridden on shorter boards - Also, dropping into big waves and going straight is a little boring to watch

[@markdittbenner9949]

Tow surfing is not really surfing...it's another sport of its own..mabe like wind wind surfing or something....real surfing you have to paddle into the wave your self...my grandmother could be towed into a 60 footer no problem..

[@jtandph]

Pics or it didn't happen

[@wcc1212]

it is def different.