Fireworks!
Early this morning, the World Surf League, now based in CEO Erik Logan’s Manhattan Beach bunker and stored next to his various flavors of Laird SuperFood and inspirational wall hangings featuring quotes from Stuart Smalley, released the long-anticipated winner of the cbdMD XXL Biggest Wave Award.
Per the press release:
Today, the World Surf League (WSL) announced that Maya Gabeira (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) won the cbdMD XXL Biggest Wave Award and set the new World Record for the largest wave ever surfed by a woman. As part of the Red Bull Big Wave Awards (BWA), the BWA validated Gabeira’s ride as the new GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title holder for the largest wave surfed (unlimited) – female.
“This wave was during the [WSL Nazaré Tow Surfing] contest and although I say I’m not a competitive person, I was very in the zone and braver than I usually am on this day,” said Gabeira. “I was risking more than I usually like to do. When I let go of the rope, I had a feeling it could be the one but wasn’t sure. The speed was very high but the noise that the wave made when it broke made me realize that this was probably the biggest wave I’d ever ridden.”
Gabeira’s record-setting wave measured 73.5 feet, besting her own previous World Record, 68 feet. She broke the record at the infamous big-wave surf break, Praia do Norte in Nazaré, Portugal, on February 11, 2020, as part of the WSL’s inaugural Nazaré Tow Surfing Challenge event. Although the men’s and women’s divisions are separate for this category, Gabeira’s ride also beat the men’s cbdMD XXL Biggest Wave, which was won by Kai Lenny (Paia, Hawaii) and measured 70 feet.
Today, the World Surf League (WSL) announced that Maya Gabeira (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) won the cbdMD XXL Biggest Wave Award and set the new World Record for the largest wave ever surfed by a woman. As part of the Red Bull Big Wave Awards (BWA), the BWA validated Gabeira’s ride as the new GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title holder for the largest wave surfed (unlimited) – female.
“This wave was during the [WSL Nazaré Tow Surfing] contest and although I say I’m not a competitive person, I was very in the zone and braver than I usually am on this day,” said Gabeira. “I was risking more than I usually like to do. When I let go of the rope, I had a feeling it could be the one but wasn’t sure. The speed was very high but the noise that the wave made when it broke made me realize that this was probably the biggest wave I’d ever ridden.”
Gabeira’s record-setting wave measured 73.5 feet, besting her own previous World Record, 68 feet. She broke the record at the infamous big-wave surf break, Praia do Norte in Nazaré, Portugal, on February 11, 2020, as part of the WSL’s inaugural Nazaré Tow Surfing Challenge event. Although the men’s and women’s divisions are separate for this category, Gabeira’s ride also beat the men’s cbdMD XXL Biggest Wave, which was won by Kai Lenny (Paia, Hawaii) and measured 70 feet.
Condemnation was swift and fierce from France’s Justine Dupont, who had been up for the award. Per her Instagram she declared:
The @wsl announced that the record for the biggest wave surfed would be awarded to a surfer who does not finish her wave. I decided to smile about it even though I am deeply hurt to be subjected to a decision that I believe is totally unfairI’m especially disappointed and ashamed of this league which claims to represent our sport
.
They are based on a report from scientists who use the word “approximate” in front of each of their statements. It is stipulated among other things that:
-The size of the 2 surfer girls is approximately identical: FALSE (at + or – 10cm)
-Our two waves are approximately the same distance from the photographer: FALSE these are 2 different peaks on the biggest beach break in the world.
-They define the bottom of the wave of my competitor about 2m below where the lip of the wave breaks.
-Images of the other surfer were used after the publication deadline.
And much more ..
For the wave of men they arrive without a scientist to give an exact height of 70ft. For the women after postponing the decision for a month and consulting a dream team of scientists they come to the conclusion that my competitor’s wave is “approximately 2 or 3ft bigger.”
At first I wanted to scream, then cry, but eventually I prefer to keep smiling and my head held high.
They won’t take away the pride and pleasure I have in surfing those big waves.
Thank you all for your messages. Thanks to the surf community and locals in Nazare for your support I am surrounded by an incredible team and people, I am fortunate to be supported by partners who believe in me, I am aware of it and fulfilled.
The season is starting and I know that I can surf even bigger waves without waiting for some records from them.
Fireworks.
Other professional surfers, and stars, were quick to weigh in.
Johanne Defay penned, “garde ton sourire, tu as raison (keep your smile, you’re right!).”
Big wave hero Lucas Chumbo added, “here’s nothing to do. No worries we have many years to try again and we know who is the best.”
Motocross racer Camille Chapeliere, “You are number 1!”
Etc.
Kelly Slater’s much valued opinion on race relations in the 21st century has not been added though is certain to be soon.
But how do you think WSL CEO Erik Logan is taking the criticism?
On the chin or is he hiding under a comfortable goose down duvet eating pints of Häagen-Dazs banana peanut butter chip?
Or chocolate sea salt caramel?
Honey salted caramel almond?
Wait.
What flavor of Häagen-Dazs does Logan use to soothe his emotions?
Regular chocolate?
There’s no way he eats regular chocolate is there?
In any case, compare the waves for yourself here.
Dupont:
Maya:
Commented on Disqus? Log out, tap the Disqus button, and your old name and comments come back. The box is ours.
Your comments are still here. Every one of them.
Twelve years of BeachGrit comments came across from Disqus. Connect and we will show you how many are yours. We get your username, nothing else.
Connect Disqus to reveal.
Ha ha ha , what is French for sour grapes? Who would have guessed that women getting towed into big waves for money could go wrong?
The eyes are the window to the soul ! I saw Lee-Anne when she was about 15 and was at Hourtin Plage for a Coupe de France and she had a presence like she was Tom and Marie’s daughter , the chosen one ,the special , but probably because I had followed Tom , praying he would fall off , thinking he was a Zen Master , before realizing eventually , he was a shy kid , totally stoned , since he was PT and Ian Cairns‘ Jesus of Santa Barbara on a mission to take pro surfing to the American Market .
Nah, never crossed my mind as I can’t see you or your color. I prefer cookies over crackers.
Toad is slang for a black person in the American prison system. Doesn’t read well in the context but like I said, not sure it was intentional. You tell me.
I’m a good kook.
Having seen Tom’s Daughter in the flesh , I can honestly say , that if I was 20 , I would not be lusting after Justine .
Good shit huh?
I’m fully converted from a ‘Language Prescriptivist’ to a ‘(Shrugs) – “Hey, language changes” ‘ kinda guy.
Except for the word ‘unique’.
There is no spectrum there, people. Stop trying to make it a thing.
I followed CB’s recommend on the lexicon alley too. Gold.
(shaka emoji)
hey Jen don’t you have some hot babe friends who can come here to help break up this homoerotic log jam of weenies?
How ‘ bout a “Surfline Man posts to BG and has his feelings hurt when Negs deletes his comment”?
hey I am not a surfline man. Wait, am I? If anyone to expand on a surfline man is, please hit it!
If I take off on this comments section and make it to the bottom, without getting pounded by all the frothy bullshit, may I get an award too, please?
What. A. Thread.
I made it, didn’t get smashed and kicked out. Watching people get butthurt never gets old does it?
Eat a dik
B. The comments have NOT been deleted, far worse stuff is ok in here and I thought it was a punk ass move to delete something so stupidly harmless
B. Sorry that you also have fallen victim to the censorship of this comment section
Also B. Drawing a line about what is mean an creative on this blog is a very difficult feat. But if you think you can do it, I believe in you.
One consultation for the female atheletes at least that hoax “Flick” Palmateer did not win fuck all.
Sounds Suss in a kiwi accent, e sounds like i
I’m all talk, now, but earlier, blue steel 24/7
Don’t get me wrong, Mrs Bex is all that, but variety used to be the spice of life
Fuck it … I hate it when I’m late to the party and miss all the fun
Cool, cool, cool. Since you are the specialist on tron’s moral, do you think the racist and homophobic comments below are cool and should be still up, but my comment about how she should brush her teeth more often deserves to be criticized and deleted? Well that makes sense! I am starting to understand how this blog works…
Ps: what is the Gauloises reference about?
Kelly.. That you?
I guess backdooring those peaks is not gonna happen.
Make a great shot though.
edit: Mayas looked deeper, but Justines seemed like a Mavericks top to bottom disaster.
Its funny how I came across as a Lefty to you, when you are protecting a very lefty move of deleting a comment that simply said she should brush her teeth more. In a much more fun way, obviously.