A Mavericks Wipeout of the Year for Surfer’s Big Wave Challenge 2024
Honoring the Big Wave Community: Reflections on Surfer Magazine’s Big Wave Challenge
Every year, the Surfer Magazine Big Wave Challenge highlights some of the most dedicated athletes, fearless surfers, and creative visual storytellers from around the globe. The results for 2024 were just released, and to be included among so many talented humans is surreal — and truly humbling.
But more than anything, it’s an opportunity to recognize and celebrate this amazing community.
→ Read the full Surfer Magazine Big Wave Challenge article
A Global Community That Came Together in Nazaré
In October 2024, many of us gathered in Nazaré, Portugal — one of the most iconic big wave destinations in the world — for the official Big Wave Challenge ceremony. It was more than just an awards event. It was a reunion of surfers, filmmakers, safety crews, families, legends, and newcomers. We all coming together to share stories, celebrate wins, and remember just how lucky we are to be part of this ocean-driven culture.
A heartfelt thank-you to Bill Sharp for making this event happen and for continuously creating a space where the big wave community can be honored, remembered, and re-energized year after year.
Saluting the Surfers & Storytellers
The 2024 results were stacked with jaw-dropping performances from world-class surfers like Lucas Chumbo, Paige Alms, Peter Mel, Justine Dupont, and so many others who continue to push the limits of what’s possible on a wave.
This contest isn’t just about who paddles deepest or who drops in biggest. It’s about respecting the ocean, celebrating the near-misses, the wipeouts, the recoveries, and the sheer will & bravery it takes to be out there.
And behind every surfer is a creative team — photographers, filmmakers, drone pilots, editors who chase these moments from cliffs, skis, or water housing. The imagery this year was absolutely next level. AND - special shout-out to Tucker Wooding for winning Videographer of the Year.
Breaking Down a Wipeout (and the Wave That Caused It)
I was honored as the videographer to win the “Best Wipeout” category capturing Trevor Carlson's every move that day. Trevor took a hard hit that day, but is extremely resilient and trains hard - he bounced back quickly.
This one happened at Mavericks, just off the coast of Half Moon Bay, California.
Mavericks is unlike any other wave. It breaks over a deep-water reef that suddenly rises and compresses swells into towering walls of water — often 40, 50, even 80 feet high. The wave bends, folds, and jacks up over a jagged underwater shelf, creating a pitching lip that can land with the force of a small building.
Add in freezing water, unpredictable sets, wind, and one of the most powerful impact zones in surfing, and you’ve got one of the most technical and dangerous waves on Earth. The margin for error is razor thin — and when you get it wrong, you feel it.
Still, there’s no place like it.
Source: https://www.surfer.com/big-wave-challenge/trevor-carlson-big-wave-challenge-mavericks-wipeout
Gratitude for the Community
To all the surfers, safety teams, creatives, and organizers — thank you. To be even a small part of this community is an honor!
This year’s Big Wave Challenge was a reminder of how powerful our collective passion is... and how, whether you’re paddling out, filming from the rocks, or editing a clip at 2 a.m., you’re part of the story.
Read the full recap and see the winners here →
See more surf content on Kyle Hulse's Instagram →