Dramatic wipeouts in spotlight as big-wave surfing honors athletes

The world’s top big-wave surfers celebrated the culmination of the 2018-19 season Thursday at a World Surf League ceremony honoring winners in several Big Wave Awards categories.

These ranged from biggest waves paddled into (versus towing into waves via personal watercraft), biggest waves ridden by men and women, Best Overall Performance, Ride of the Year, and the perennial fan favorite: Wipeout of the Year.

Because wipeouts on gigantic waves are so entertaining, this post is dedicated mostly to that category.

Hawaii’s Makua Rothman was named winner for an over-the-falls thumping he endured last May 22 at Cloudbreak in Fiji. (Be sure to watch the slow-motion portion.)

Makua Rothman not liking his situation. Photo: WSL

We’ve posted video of Rothman’s wipeout, followed by video showing all five Wipeout of the Year nominees so viewers can judge for themselves whether judges were correct in selecting Rothman.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0phJO1P7FFM%5D

We’ve also included video showing Grant Baker’s Ride of the Year performance (below), because that could also have been featured in the Wipeout of the Year category.

Baker did not not safely emerge after being covered inside a massive Jaws (Maui) barrel last Nov. 26, and his selection as Ride of the Year winner sparked a fair bit of controversy during and after the awards ceremony.

“ ‘Ride of the Year’ should at least be a make?!?!” reads one of several comments beneath the WSL’s story announcing the winners.

“So what are the parameters or definition for Ride of the Year? Not sure I get it,” reads another comment.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tegMImw9aaY%5D

Because of this controversy, we’ve posted video showing all five Ride of the Year nominees, so viewers can judge for themselves whether Baker should have won.

The Big Wave Awards competition window was March 21, 2018 through March 20, 2019.