"It's been an incredible journey. This award isn't just for me, it's for the whole Santa Cruz surf community and for the safety crews who made that session possible."
"To paddle into something that size takes more than strength - it takes trust in your training, your team, and the ocean. I'm honored to be recognized, and I'm stoked to share this moment with Santa Cruz."
"We've spent countless hours in the water over the last few winters, preparing for days like December 23rd,"
"I want to thank Luca for the rides we've shared and, especially, for the wave that won us the award. I wouldn't have ridden that wave, or many others, wi"
Alessandro "Alo" Slebir won the 2024-25 Men's Biggest Wave and a $7,500 prize for a viral Mavericks ride on Dec. 23. Wilem Banks earned the Biggest Paddle-In Wave of 2025 for his Dec. 22 ride at Jaws in Hawaii. Peter Mel received the 5 Hour Energy One Shot Photo of the Year, taken by photographer Fred Pompermayer. A West Peak Sparkling Spirits Celebration at Pono Hawaiian Grill in Santa Cruz will honor Slebir, Banks and Mel. Slebir credited the Santa Cruz surf community and safety crews, and thanked tow partner Luca Padua for the winning ride.
Read at The Mercury News
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]