Winners of the 2023 New Big Wave Challenge Awards

Justine Dupont was recognized with premier accolades at the debut New Big Wave Challenge awards in Nazaré, Portugal.
The renowned French wave rider bagged the titles for Biggest Wave, Ride of the Year, and Top Female Surfer.
Her triumphant wave at the Cortes Bank, an isolated seamount 100 miles from the Californian coast, was captured last January for the HBO Documentary Series "100 Foot Wave."
Experts estimated the wave's face to be around 75 feet, making it a potential contender for the Guinness World Record.
"It's nice to once again experience a beautiful evening dedicated to big wave surfing. I hope the event will last and continue to grow. Many thanks to Bill Sharp for starting it again," shared Dupont.
Hawaii's own Nathan Florence also had a standout performance, securing two Oscar-like awards for Ride of the Year and Top Male Surfer.
The wave Florence mastered at Mullaghmore Head, Ireland, was voted as the season's finest for 2022/2023 by a group of 200 surf connoisseurs through a confidential vote.
There was a tie in the men's Biggest Wave category: Nic Von Rupp's wave at Nazaré was judged on par with the one Shaun Walsh conquered at Jaws, Maui.
The Paddle Accolades were awarded to Chacha Ibarra at Punta de Lobos in Chile and Laura Enever, who surfed a monumental wave on Oahu's North Shore last January, potentially setting another Guinness World Record.
Young talent Ned Hart from Dunsmore, Western Australia, was acknowledged as the Emerging Star for his outstanding performance at Shipstern Bluff, Tasmania when he was merely 16.
Shipsterns also gave Danny Griffiths the title of Wipeout of the Year.
This New Big Wave Challenge event was special as, after a gap of three years, it once again offered a stage for the best in big wave surfing to shine.
The event's visionary, Bill Sharp, expressed his elation.
"Big wave surfing once again has a platform where the surfers, the photographers, and the enthusiasts can unite to celebrate the pinnacle of the sport," the founder Bill Sharp articulated.
"The overwhelming support and success of this inaugural event has left me overjoyed. We're witnessing the dawn of something monumental."
"With the inaugural awards concluded, our sights are set on the upcoming 2023/2024 season, with predictions pointing towards an exceptional El Niño-induced winter."
The New Big Wave Challenge | Winners
Surfer of the Year
Men: Nathan Florence (Hawaii)
Women: Justine Dupont (France)
Ride of the Year
Men: Nathan Florence at Mullaghmore Head, Ireland (video by João Tudella)
Women: Justine Dupont at Cortes Bank (video by Johnny Decesare and Tucker Wooding)
Paddle
Men: Chacha Ibarra at Punta Lobos, Chile (video by Oscar Fredes Rodrigues and Rodrigo Farias)
Women: Laura Enever at Outer Reef Oahu (video by Ian Grose, photo by Daniel Russo)
Biggest Wave
Men: Nic Von Rupp at Nazaré (video by Tim Bonython) and Shaun Walsh at Jaws (video by Carlo Carbajal and photo by Fred Pompermayer)
Women: Justine Dupont at Cortes Bank (video by Johnny Decesare and photo by Frank Quirarte)
Wipeout of the Year
Danny Griffiths at Shipstern Bluff (video by Talon Clemow)
Young Gun
Ned Hart (Australia)
Videographer of the Year
Tim Bonython (Australia)
Contributions to the Sport
Gary Linden (Big Wave Tour founder)
Walter Chicharro (Nazaré Mayor)
Footage: @‪@bigwavechallenge‬
Subscribe to SurferToday on KZbin
🔔 bit.ly/2TSO2be
Online Surf Shop
🏄🏻‍♂️ bit.ly/online-...

[@OliverSebe-d2j]

The last ride should win the next 10 editions ❤❤❤

[@shanemacintyre3200]

Well deserved

[@lennybars8639]

C'est une blague !des losers qui sont incapables de prendre des vague]s sans jetski.et ils se disent surfers. LOL!

[@bobbyennis]

They are all amazing but I'm completely stoked for Nathan, he's worked his ass off, broken back and all to win this! Way to go dude...

[@LordGandor3]

I have heard that Illuminati scientists have created Monsters, Dinosaurs & ET's using gene splicing tech. Recently SCORPIONS released a new shark song called UNLEASH THE BEAST which is also the slogan for Monster Energy drink. Loosely translated Teahupo'o means place of severed heads. Feb 10th is the beginning of the yr of the Satanic Dragon on the Zodiac calendar. Is a 65 ft genetically modified Great White Shark scheduled to make a guest appearance at the 2024 Summer Olympics Surfing competition at Teahupo'o ? I don't know but it would be an epic end to #11's legendary Surfing career. Ke11y was born in a lab on Feb 11th & won his 11th world title in the 11th month of 2011. The I11uminati believe Satan is the King over the abyss in Rev 9:11 which is incorrect, Jesus Christ holds the key to the abyss !!! The heavy metal band ACCEPT released a song called Pandemic in 2011 then 9 years later a man made parasite (Con vid) was used to fear people into in jections that contain nanobots that cause strokes, heart attacks, Bell's Palsy, Shingle & Cancers. These nanobots can be switched on with certain 5G frequencies to make people sick & that's a FACT ! They might say Marburg has merged with Rabies in Zambia African Fruit Bats to form the Zambia Apocalypse plan demic, MARBIES. I coined the term MARBIES :) To top it off they use directed energy to create hurricanes, tornadoes, large hail, wildfires, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, tsunamis & perfect swells ! My friend Coralyn worked for DARPA on the HAARP Project during the 90's. Coralyn refused to remain silent so they car accidented her in 2019. Do you find it a little odd that Mountain DEW released the soda Maui Burst 3 years & 300 days before the Maui fire? A DEW is a military acronym for Directed Energy Weapon which is what was used to incinerate Maui ! Revelation is nearing the end & billions are going to d ie. Is the Feb 11th Super Bowl the next I11uminati terrorist at tack ? The address of A11egiant stadium is 3333 A11en Davis Way Las Vegas NV zip CODE 8-911-8. The war in the Middle East will turn into WW3 & 1/3 of the human race will perish, 2.7 billion people. All wars are orchestrated by the Central banksters. Troops are merely duped pawns in the game of war. My guess is DA11AS, America's Team, the Cowboys will win their 6th Super Bowl to complete the 666 trifecta with the Steelers & Patriots as planned decades ago. Yes, money sports are rigged. I guarantee that Tiger Woods & his remote controlled golf balls will win 3 more Majors to tie Jack's record but the white racist actor will stop Tiger from breaking Jack's record. Elite golfers use remote controlled golf balls. The NBA & NFL use remote controlled balls. Back in 1949 Ben Hogan was in a fake car accident & he came back to limp around the Majors tour to win 6 more Majors, the fans loved it! Tiger also had a fake car accident with fake injuries. Beyonce & Judas Priest guitarist Glenn Tipton said when they are on stage it's like they are possessed because they are!!! Music stars channel Demons to write & play music. If you don't believe Demons are real then you really are obtuse :)

[@johndorrington3461]

This is true he is such a deserving legend

[@brainp471]

Huge congrats to everyone on here. That young gun wave was insane. Nate is just on fire lately

[@pcm7315]

On the wave I consider most radical.

[@fijigreen69]

Young Gun should get ride of the year! 😢

[@APSadvisor]

The last ride was absolutely insane. I had to pause and rewind it about 10 times.

[@WayneLynch69]

I'm thinking; "that HAS to be a relative of THE Nat"

[@neils8443]

Very Impressive drop and pull in under the curtain from Ned Hart!

[@JapanSurvivalGuide]

That was insane!

[@geisterfer]

The Ride of the Year should have gone to the Young Gun Ned Hart.

[@kc72186]

1000%🍻

[@mosin9105]

NO DOUBT!

[@matteoslosne9042]

Yes

[@A-FrameWedge]

No way Nathan Florence's wave was much bigger and heavier and he couldn't of been any deeper.

[@czarnpg]

Agree

[@barkawitz]

Great except for both paddle-in winners. Neither did anything more than go straight until the whitewater caught them. No turns. No attempt to 'make' their waves. All the rest of the award-winning rides were crazy good!

[@dunningkruger3774]

I just scrolled down until I found your comment....which I agree with 100%. The winning wipeout would go well in any snuff film-

[@adambane1719]

Well that's womens surfing for you !

[@markmartin3221]

Ok all way above my skill set, and all congratulations! The last one though like seeing three critical rides in one. That Dawg’s got focus! 🎉

[@atlanticearthaerials6197]

Thanks for posting. Absolutely insane and props to these incredible athletes! Nate's wave at Mullaghmore was psycho

[@marshallkohlhaas80]

he just locked in

[@olivierjulian2836]

The Net Hard wave combine three critical factor , the air drop who is by far the most snowboarding one i ever witnessed , the recovery to bee able to pull in under the curtain and the navigation threw those massive chandelier , all together it give that ride the most dramatic watching and amazing feeling to see him coming out ,. I will give the most suspense ride of the year

[@jamesbell5226]

Bro that last one omg straight savage, man handled that , that air drop too

[@ianeberhardt1238]

That man ( Ned Hart ) was 16 when that wave was filmed ... Amazing

[@daviddombrowski2368]

That Ned hart wave is absolutely ridiculous 😅 that’s some big kahunas

[@Dan-cl3md]

Why is there a mens division and a women's division . 😮

[@A-FrameWedge]

I thought the big wave paddle award was a little weak, that wave was big but not that critical of a drop compared to other big wave spots.

[@curtisprincemusic]

Young gun of the year was one of the sickest rides I’ve seen in a long time!

[@nwsurf3696]

That young gun ride was something special ! Wow !

[@jennifuzz3316]

Big Cangrats to Nathan Florance broken back and all. True Champion drive

[@frankviterise7333]

So much respect to all the Surfers in this video but Ned you have a❤ from me awesome video Aloha to all of you involved thank you

[@lazycalm2]

holy **** that wipeout.......

[@l.k.3277]

Epic footage, Shipstern Bluff one of the scariest waves in the world to surf. I won't be doing it in my lifetime..!

[@ianseaweed]

Nathan should be eliminated for being a cocky bastard riding a beastly wave with a camera in his mouth! Elf an safety innit? Justine should be eliminated for putting all the seriously sponsored surfers to shame! Too good to be stickered? Chacha should be eliminated for being too crazy to paddle in! And getting too smoked on that monster? Laura should be eliminated coz she’s an Aussie right! Nuff said… But fekkin nuts to go on that one? Von Froth the Rupp should be eliminated because he’s too good! It’s unfair? Shaun should be eliminated because the photographer was too chicken to paddle out! And because his wave was too big to count? Danny needs his brain examined after he gets out of traction, Ned needs to examine his wave choices if wants to be an Old Gun! But making it through that chit on his feet an’ all, I’m giving Ned the nod.

[@arcawocenhalowsaken2663]

World big wave elimination awards have officially eliminated all contest entries the prize money is set to be divided up into equal parts and subsequently eliminated.. Elimination round is over and the winners will be announced via uhf radio. Currently mr no one is the peoples fave to take the grand eliminatorial initiation at tea ho hou a poo oo

[@adambane1719]

Ian - Brits always with the neg complaints and agro vibes !!!!!

[@afsIII1966]

The young guns wave was without a doubt the wave of the year winner. Kid got robbed! 10ft airdrop AND barreled AT Shipstern! C'Mon!

[@KandMe1]

Ned for all categories combined that was amazing.

[@redsammy7789]

that last wave ride was impressive, not easy to have pulled that off

[@oldwave6106]

Young gun!! (With respect to all)

[@kimwieslaw8339]

Ned Hart was am amazing ride …😮

[@ShariInsari]

.Very Impressive drop and pull in under the curtain from Ned Hart!

[@dgrayhoffman2198]

Awesome!! Well done. Justine's wave maybe the biggest ever rode by a woman! Thanks.

[@markkindermannart4028]

If it were Kai on that same wave, he would have been deep under that lip. She was basically launched by a ski and went straight until it was over.

[@adambane1719]

100% @@markkindermannart4028

[@daymongray3516]

are you sure that was a woman? looked like a mannequin to me.

[@pashmaster]

Here in Berlin, Germany, the water is always flat, always, nothing ever moves.... Lucky guys!

[@SugarBubaleh]

❤❤❤amazing people … Huge waves like a monster 🌊🌊🌊💀💀💀💀💯🏄🏽

[@scottc3165]

Lord have mercy. I don't think I'll be able to unpucker my butt for days.

[@richatgreenday]

Shipstern Bluff is so menacing, the thickness of the lip and that secondary wave that spits you off the face into that dark Southern Ocean, awesome.

[@clifftos4256]

Ned Hart for sure. Hart by name… heart by nature. Beautiful composure in the worlds most difficult break..for sure

[@jcd-k2s]

Incredible, Net Hart's wave is impressive. A massive swell is scheduled hitting Portugal in the coming days, so it might have been a bit too early. I guess you all got bored with Kai, or is it that the waves look twice as big as they are when he rides them?

[@petergwatts9037]

Greatest compilation ever, excellent entertainment... Breathtaking action... 🌊🏄‍♂️🌊🏄‍♂️🌊🏄‍♂️🌊🏄‍♂️🌊

[@MiguelGadu]

The last ride should be the wave of the century!!!

[@sanfranciscobay]

3:50 The Jump at Shipstern Bluff Tasmania.

[@Praetoriusify]

Unbelievable all around. Man, that last one and the wipeout: Shipstern with that nasty structure in the wave. Just incredible anybody can surf like that.

[@justpaulo]

Justine's wave is Huge!!!

[@adambane1719]

Just went straight tho

[@truthbetold2012]

Nathan deserved it that wave was terrifying maybe not the greatest at Mully but very psycho none the less.

[@brandonswartz419]

Young gun won it sorry that was unbelievable skill

[@adambane1719]

Too small

[@l.k.3277]

@@adambane1719 He was 16yo when he rode that wav cuz..! Big drop to land & he made it..!

[@AudraGibson]

One of the first times I’ve ever seen someone make a Shipsterns wave. Nate and Justine’s waves were incredible also.

[@richardcharlton8259]

F-CKING amazing hats off to all of them

[@adambane1719]

* u

[@stewarthowe5378]

OMG, that Irish Lefthand barrel was mental.

[@adambane1719]

Mullaghmore !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@stewarthowe5378]

Wipeout of the CENTURY. The other highlights were awesome too, especially the "Young Gun" recovery gem; Just sayin'.

[@aussiedownunder4186]

Yep Ned Hart should have got it!!!!! Nathan Florence was just take off and keep the line not like huge steps and barrel at Shipsterns that Ned had to deal with. Absolute Rip Off!!

[@28russ]

God damn!!! Shipstern bluff is brutal asf!!! It's like 3 waves in one. 2 smaller waves breaking on the face of one huge wave. And it'd be freezing asf down there too. Ain't nothin between it and Antarctica.

[@duncanking5272]

Is getting towed behind a JetSki on a wakeboard really ‘surfing’? The sea of the past was like a beautiful and unscrupulous women Strong men, with childlike hearts were faithful to her, were content to live by her grace to die by her will

[@billyruben116]

Ned Hart for big wave of the year! Anything at Shipsterns Bluff is gnarly, but to paddle in, take the double drop then duck the curtain for a barrel and ride away clean... that is beyond next level.

[@captainamerica3531]

Young gun ride was suuuuuuper sick!

[@michaelstrode8924]

Ned's wave should be in the air drops or tricks competition. Nothing but trash wave with excellent air landing technique. Not for a big wave competition. Nate's wave was a rare gem at the Irish spot and handily defeats the others shown in the vid. So many waves not even allowed an entry into a heavily one sided/biased competition made for the masses. So many Aussie slab riders and random others around the world can easily be in this competition.

[@magicaltwig]

OK Video Please also include real time speed, of each

[@gabrielpereyron]

Yes ! Please

[@JohnSmith-xu6me]

I think Ned has a new category. Most technical way...WOW

[@Someguy_8e2]

Yeah Nate!!! Such a deserved win.

[@diegosalazar2283]

Buena Checho ..q no al ola !! Exitos a tu dedicación x las del Big ser ..saludos desde Perú

[@mikebarker9467]

Hey Nat why is it you have to be on ever video. Need more money. Never saw Kelly doing that

[@DwainDwight]

Ned Hart riding that massive step @ Shippie - wild.

[@Jeanetteinnes]

Just the most brilliant examples of wild water I absolutely loved this 😮😮😮

[@sambado]

Just Wow. The way that guy surfed the last wave was impecable.

[@BigZ_4i20]

Surfing is the most amazing sport there is and this is just magical, a fantistic selection of miracle rides, just breathtaking

[@adambane1719]

It ain't a sport tho ... it's a way of being !

[@reddiver7293]

What a video! What waves! What riders! I remember a video of Nathan Florence coming in after a session at Mullaghmore and remarking he had had, "...the wave of my life." Astounding ride, Nathan. Congratulations on your award, bradda! I am old school. Grew up on a neighbor island surfing longboards. It is so gratifying to see all the wave riding achievements that continue to outdo what came before.

[@mkogrady6078]

Nice paddle inby Laura Enevers.

[@srevabkdmd2923]

You should have to make the wave to get an award except for Wipeout. Ned should have won best wave.

[@MrJasperspool]

Superb entries all of them cranking

[@wingchun-simplekungfu7584]

Nature at its serious best. Well done Nathan. That’s serious.

[@drmindriot]

incredible

[@GazerBeam420]

is Danny Griffiths dead? omfg

[@toothnail605]

*EPIC!!!*

[@jamescalman9767]

young ned's no barrel dodger.

[@SchwarzieJSY]

Beautiful ❤

[@5150abbott]

Tow In's need there own category. Last wave was the winner.

[@adambane1719]

Nope ! Nates was WAY bigger and WAY deeper !!!!!

[@nickhurley2472]

That last wave though...

[@journeyman6752]

Congratulations!!

[@trifin5772]

Ireland represents! 😂

[@mikeluque6527]

Man, all those waves were amazing. But the drop on Justine's wave gave me mass chicken skin.

[@gkj8765]

Sick, sick, sick.... got a sub right there, with bell notifications.... just sayin...

[@Irideus]

nedcrbat wings

[@clarkewi]

Awesome

[@jamespisano1164]

Awesome sauce!

[@surfgator8294]

Crazy!!!!!!!

[@pierswoo76]

How about awards for critical manoeuvers on big waves (best turn, biggest barrel etc) - that would be far more interesting than awards for just size of the wave, congrats to all the winners!

[@adambane1719]

Yeah, no !

[@daymongray3516]

Exactly, going straight is so 2022.

[@scottstu1710]

U N Real.

[@mikemo13]

Justine "barrel dodging hang on for dear life straight to the channel" Dupont! Women's ride of the year!

[@HeyHowLee]

Knarly nate florence besides the awards seems to be a truly good dude ,and that atitude makes people gravitate to surfin.so congrats nathen hope to some day share a line up with and the boys maybe head high tho.."you boys like mexico"

[@Irideus]

Nic what can we say buddy~yin yang brother

[@AccordQS]

Epic

[@mesa1853]

Last one was the ultimate holy shit ride of all holy shit rides

[@daymongray3516]

0:46 Towed in, no turns, go straight and pray. pretty boring honestly. This is surfing?

[@dalanbronnenberg]

Big Waves Sweetheart- Justine! A LOT of water over her head there.

[@tr7b410]

Nobody can navigate the foamball like Nathan Florence.

[@paultarbotton4051]

Isn't making the whole wave part of it? You know from start to finish not just a take off.

[@dalanbronnenberg]

The young gun clip- far f*cking out!!!!!!!!!!!

[@eugeneduplessis140]

Twiggy at dungeons for paddle of the year

[@grantaylward7385]

Ned heart defenitely Absolutely insane

[@greglippert5313]

Not for nothing, but I'm pretty sure wakeboarding into waves shouldn't count. Matter of fact, you should be shunned and barred for boat surfing.

[@adambane1719]

Yeah, its not !

[@simontemplar1]

glad I never won wipe out of the year

[@barrymarshall7943]

Ned Hart by a country mile!