“World’s smartest surfer” Nathan Florence set to withdraw from prestigious Jaws Big-Wave Challenge event with broken back; four-time winner Billy Kemper and Makua Rothman also likely out following “Backdoor Shootout bloodbath!”

Gonna be the year of the underdog as three contest favourites set to pull out of wildly important event…

A depleted field will take to the football field-sized lineup for the Jaws Big Wave Challenge, which could run as early as next week despite a waiting period until March 31, following a series of catastrophic wipeouts over the past week.

Nathan Florence, twenty-eight, face like a benevolent sea turtle, posted harrowing POV footage of his wipeout earlier today telling fans,

“I got picked up and I fell through the barrel. I fell a lot longer than I thought,” said Florence. “After the initial impact, I got sucked up and fell again. As I was falling, I was pulling my vest. I just fell a lot farther than I thought and my body was in a weird position. I just slammed on my back on the bottom of the barrel, which is just hard water. Right when I slammed, I just felt kind of a snap in my lower back, right on my spine.”

We figured he was okay until an inside source told BeachGrit he’d definitely busted his back and he’s gonna be out for at least three months.

The four-time Jaws champ and big-wave world champ Billy Kemper was among a three-pack of injured stars at the Backdoor Shootout, big-wave world champ Makua Rothman ruined his knee and Pipe standout Kala Grace was rushed to the intensive care unit at Queens Hospital in Honolulu after being knocked out on the notorious reef.

 

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A post shared by Makua Rothman (@makuarothman)

Male Invitees
1 – Billy Kemper (HAW) OUT
2 – Ian Walsh (HAW)
3 – Nathan Florence (HAW) OUT
4 – Kai Lenny (HAW)
5 – Makua Rothman (HAW) OUT
6 – Lucas Chianca (BRA)
7 – Russell Bierke (AUS)
8 – Nic von Rupp (PRT)
9 – Eli Olson (HAW)
10 – Torrey Meister (HAW)
11 – Koa Rothman (HAW)
12 – Nic Lamb (USA)
13 – Grant Baker (RSA)
14 – Jamie Mitchell (AUS)
15 – Albee Layer (HAW)
16 – Tyler Larronde (HAW)
17 – Jojo Roper (USA)
18 – Ty Simpson-Kane (HAW)
19 – Matt Bromley (RSA)
20 – Francisco Porcella (ITA)
21 – Trevor Carlson (HAW)
22- Tom Lowe (GBR)
23 – Aaron Gold (HAW)
24 – Greg Long (USA)

Female Invitees
1 – Paige Alms (HAW)
2 – Felicity Palmateer (AUS)
3 – Annie Reickert (HAW)
4 – Keala Kennelly (HAW)
5 – Emily Erickson (HAW)
6 – Michaela Fregonese (BRA)
7 – Bianca Valenti (USA)
8 – Skylar Lickle (HAW)
9 – Justine Dupont (FRA)
10 – Raquel Heckert (BRA)
11 – Laura Enever (AUS)
12 – Izzy Gomez (COL)