Largest (measured) waves surfed
Number Height Surfer Place Date Notes/Event 1 Sebastian Steudtner Praia do Norte, Nazaré 29 October 2020 Current Guinness World Record. 2 Rodrigo Koxa Praia do Norte, Nazaré 8 November 2017 Previous Guinness World Record 2017–2020. Awarded the Quiksilver XXL Biggest Wave Award by the World Surf League (WSL). 3 Garrett McNamara Praia do Norte, Nazaré 1 November 2011 Guinness World Record 2011–2017. 4 Mike Parsons Cortes Bank, North Pacific Ocean 5 January 2008 Guinness World Record 2008–2011. 5 Maya Gabeira Praia do Norte, Nazaré 11 February 2020 Female World Record. cbdMD XXL Biggest Wave Award 6 Francisco Porcella Praia do Norte, Nazaré 24 October 2016 7 Sebastian Steudtner Praia do Norte, Nazaré 11 December 2014 7 Yuri Soledade Jaws beach, Peʻahi 25 February 2016 9 Justine Dupont Praia do Norte, Nazaré 11 February 2020 10 Kai Lenny Praia do Norte, Nazaré 11 February 2020 cbdMD XXL Biggest Wave Award 10 Pete Cabrinha Jaws beach, Peʻahi 15 January 2016 Awarded the Billabong XXL Big Wave Award and $70,000. 12 Carlos Burle Mavericks, Northern California 21 November 2001 Awarded the Billabong XXL Big Wave Award. 12 Maya Gabeira Praia do Norte, Nazaré 18 January 2018 12 Brad Gerlach Todos Santos, Mexico 21 December 2005 15 Makua Rothman Jaws beach, Peʻahi 26 November 2002 Awarded the 2003 Billabong XXL Award 15 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 15 Sebastian Steudtner Jaws beach, Peʻahi 7 December 2009 18 Greg Long Dungeons, South Africa 30 July 2006 19 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 20 Aaron Gold Jaws beach, Peʻahi 15 January 2016 21 Shawn Dollar Cortes Bank, North Pacific Ocean 21 December 2012 Paddle-in world record (without the help of a tow) Billabong XXL Big Wave Award 21 Grant Baker Tafelberg Reef, South Africa 9 August 2008
Other claims There are various ways to measure the height of a wave. 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:
Alessandro "Alo" Slebir - On 23 December 2024, Slebir rode an estimated tall wave at Mavericks, California, which would exceed the current world record by over 20 feet. The wave height was estimated by the Mavericks Rescue Team, 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. 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. Benjamin Sanchis - On 11 December 2014, Sanchis rode a wave labelled as by the media. The wave was deemed by Billabong as a "partial ride" (meaning he did not ride it to completion). Carlos Burle - On the 28th October, 2013, Burle rode a wave that was claimed to be 100 feet on Praia do Norte. 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. 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.
Longest kitesurfing journeys
Distance Surfer Place Date Notes/Event Kite the Reef (team) Vlassoff Cay to Cape York between August 13 and 21, 2015 Longest kitesurfing journey by a team. Francisco Lufinha Lisbon to Madeira between July 5 and 7, 2015 Longest non-stop kitesurfing journey by a man. Anke Brandt Amwaj Islands to Al Dar Island April 2016 Longest continuous kitesurfing journey by a woman.
Longest wave surfed by a dog
Abbie Girl, an Australian Kelpie, completed a distance of at a dog surfing contest at Huntington Beach on October 18, 2011.
References