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)

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[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...

[APSadvisor]

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

[brainp]

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

[atlanticearthaerials]

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

[LoQueYoDigoVaAMisa]

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

[olivierjulian]

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

[neils]

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

[jamesbell]

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

[jennifuzz]

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

[markmartin]

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! 🎉

[yytyywrt]

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

[frankviterise]

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

[AudraGibson]

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

[reddiver]

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.

[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.

[curtisprincemusic]

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

[billyruben]

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.

[sanfranciscobay]

3:50 The Jump at Shipstern Bluff Tasmania.

[SugarBubaleh]

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

[BigZ_i]

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