Red Bull Big Wave Awards: Who Won?

The 2022 Red Bull Wave Award winners have finally been announced. Francisco Porcella and Justine Dupont won the ‘Ride of the Year’. Billy Kemper and Annie Reickert took home the ‘Biggest Paddle of the Year’ and Mason Barnes joined Justine Dupont as the winners of the ‘Biggest Tow of the Year’.

Ride of the Year

The ‘Ride of the Year’ is awarded to the surfer who illustrated the most difficult, advances and creative level of surfing. The ride has to be completed and be a success to be recognised.

For example, if a surfer is able to put together the most advanced and difficult routine but fails to pull it off he could not be recognised as a nominee.

The successful ride is then judged by the footage on offer. What most people don’t know is that while the raw size of the wave is taken into consideration it is all about the performance not the size of the wave.

Men’s Category

Nominees:

• 1. Francisco Porcelaa (Jaws- November 2, 2021)
• 2. Billy Kemper (Jaws- November 2, 2021)
• 3. Mikey Brennan (Shipstern Bluff- March 26, 2022)
• 4. Lucas “Chumbo” Chianca (Nazaré- February 25, 2022)
• 5. Pedro Scooby (Nazaré- December 13, 2021)

Winner: Francisco Porcella

Women’s Category

Nominees:

• 1. Justine Dupont (Teahupo’o- August 13, 2021)
• 2. Paige Alms (Jaws- January 9, 2022)
• 3. Justine Dupont (Teahupo’o- October 6, 2021)
• 4. Annie Reickert (Outer Reef Kahului- December 5, 2021)
• 5. Michelle des Bouillons (Nazaré- February 10, 2022)

Winner: Justine Dupont

Biggest Paddle of the Year

The ‘Biggest Paddle of the Year’ award goes to any surfer who paddled into a wave and the rode the biggest wave. Just like the other awards the surfer has to successfully ride it and not fall of their board.

Both winners achieved their winning wave from Jaws in Maui, Hawaii. These waves are known as the heaviest and fastest in the whole Pacific Ocean as they range from anywhere between 10-25 metres long.

It is a well-known fact that the Jaws waves can be heard from miles away, as you can hear the waves breaking over the reef under the water.

Men’s Category

Nominees:

• 1. Billy Kemper (Jaws- November 2, 2021)
• 2. Lucas Chumbo Chianca (Nazaré- January 12, 2022)
• 3. Pedro Calado (Nazaré- January 12, 2022)
• 4. Jamie Mitchell (Nazaré- February 9, 2022)
• 5. Ben Andrews (Mavericks- January 11, 2022)

Winner: Billy Kemper

Women’s Category

Nominees:

• 1 – Annie Reickert (Jaws- November 2, 2021)
• 2 – Justine Dupont (Nazaré- November 19, 2021)
• 3 – Katie Mae McConnell (Himalayas- January 22, 2022)
• 4 – Paige Alms (Jaws- November 2, 2021)
• 5 – Raquel Heckert (Himalayas- January 22, 2022)

Winner: Annie Reickert

Biggest Tow of the Year

The ‘Biggest Tow of the Year’ award goes to the surfer that catches and successfully rides the biggest wave using any means necessary.

This year both winners caught their wave from Nazaré, Portugal. The Nazaré waves are iconic and are a must-do for any professional surfer or daredevil. They are known for having the biggest waves in the world.

This is due to a submarine canyon causing the unpredictability of the waves. The canyon is 200km long and 5km deep. Described by surfers as a “freakshow”, Nazaré will continually provide surfers with big waves.

Men’s Category

Nominees:

• 1. Mason Barnes (Nazaré- February 26, 2022)
• 2. João Macedo (Nazaré- February 25, 2022)
• 3. Pedro Scooby (Nazaré- January 8, 2022)
• 4. Nic Von Rupp (Nazaré- January 8, 2022)
• 5. Lucas Chumbo Chianca (Nazaré- January 8, 2022)

Winner: Mason Barnes

Women’s Category

Nominees:

• 1 – Justine Dupont (Nazaré- January 8, 2022)
• 2 – Michelle des Bouillons (Nazaré- December 11, 2021)
• 3 – Justine Dupont (Nazaré- January 8, 2022)
• 4 – Justine Dupont (Nazaré- January 8, 2022)
• 5 – Michelle des Bouillons (Nazaré- December 13, 2021)

Winner: Justine Dupont

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