Watch: The Complete 2024 Big Wave Challenge Awards Show

Originally posted on SURFER | By Jake Howard | Last updated Oct 21, 2024 5:39 PM ET

When the team at SURFER started planning the 2024 Big Wave Challenge awards show about six months ago, to be honest, we weren't sure what kind of response it would get. It felt like assembling the biggest names in big wave surfing together in Nazare, Portugal, in October was, well, a big ask.

But by the time we got to awards night on Saturday, October 19, it was pretty clear we were in for something special. Somehow we convinced Nathan Florence to make the trip over from Ireland, where he'd been busy chasing early-season Atlantic swell. World record holder Maya Gabiera was there to present fellow world record holder Laura Enever with her Surfer of the Year award. Nic Von Rupp and Justine Dupont were there to present awards...while Justine's partner, Fred, baby sat the new addition to their family in the audience.

Chumbo made the journey from Brazil. Jojo Roper and Katie McConnell came to represent San Diego. While 16-year-old Stevie Roberson whipped in from Maui. And the list goes on. In fact, the only winner not in attendance was Bianca Valenti.

As someone that was at the first iteration of the Big Wave Challenge awards 25 years ago, and has run herd on too many of the shows since then to remember them all (the Foo Fighters blowing up the lobby of the Grove Theater in Anaheim probably ranks at the top of the list), Saturday's show was special.

It wasn't the biggest show ever, and it probably wasn't the most raucous, I mean a buckskin-clad Mark Healey didn't even scale a palm tree, but as far as good vibes and community spirit goes, I've never been to anything like it. Surfing, and big-wave surfing in particular, is chock full of egos, but on this night everyone was there to support one another, celebrate all of their respective accomplishments, and rally around the spirit of big-wave surfing. We hope you enjoy the show as much as everyone there did.

This article first appeared on SURFER and was syndicated with permission.

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