On the cover photo: Heavy favorite, Kai Lenny, photographed by WSL/Cruz

Unlike last year, when Ramón Navarro and Natxo González had a good chance of winning the big wave awards, there is almost no Hispanic presence in the WSL big wave awards.

The only Hispanics in the tournament are photographers, as the photos of Justine Dupont's wave in Nazaré nominated for the biggest wave of the year and Ian Walsh's in Jaws were taken by Mexican María Fernanda Bastidas and Argentine Martín Caprile respectively.

With a different format due to the Covid pandemic, the broadcast and announcements will be made in phases through the WSL and the channels of the event's main sponsor, the Austrian brand Red Bull.

The calendar will be the following:
● July 20: Announcement of nominees
● July 20: Fan voting for worst shot begins at WorldSurfLeague.com/gobig
● July 27: The winner of the worst shot will be announced in World Surf Weekly at 19 p.m.
● August 03: Announcement of the winners of the biggest wave in World Surf Weekly at 19 p.m.
● August 10: Winners of the Best Performance of the Year will be announced in World Surf Weekly at 19pm.
● August 17: Announcement of the winners of the biggest wave of the year in World Surf Weekly at 19 p.m.
● August 24: The winners of the best wave of the year are announced in World Surf Weekly.

According to the WSL statement there are chances that GUINNESS records will be broken with
Maya Gabeira (BRA) and Justine Dupont (FRA) in the category of the biggest wave ever surfed.

The nominees follow below:
best hit
– Felipe Cesarano (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) in Nazaré, Portugal, on January 14, 2020. (Video by Pedro Miranda.)
– Keala Kennelly (Honolulu, Hawaii) in Jaws, Hawaii, on February 11, 2020. (Video by Carlo Carbajal)
– Torrey Meister (Hawaii) in Jaws, Hawaii, on February 11, 2020 (Video by Carlo Carbajal)
– Francisco Porcella in Jaws, Hawaii, on February 11, 2020. (Video by Carlo Carbajal)
– Jerome Sahyoun (Casablanca, Morocco) in Mullaghmore Head, Ireland on January 14, 2020. (Video by Luke McNee)

Biggest wave ever paddleboarded
– Russell Bierke (Ulladulla, Australia) in Jaws, Hawaii, on December 12, 2020. (Photos by Erik Aeder, Adam Carbajal, Aaron Lynton and Keoki Saguibo. Video by Marcus Rodrigues)
– Nathan Florence (Haleiwa, Hawaii) in Jaws, Hawaii, on December 12, 2020. (Photos by Erik Aeder, Marco Arellano, Richard Hallman, Aaron Lynton and Keoki Saguibo. Video by Carlo Carbajal)
– Billy Kemper (Haiku, Hawaii) in Jaws, Hawaii on December 12, 2020. (Photos by Marco Arellano, Dooma Photos – Richard Hallman, Aaron Lynton and Keoki Saguibo. WSL Team Video)
– Eli Olson (Haleiwa, Hawaii) in Jaws, Hawaii, on December 12, 2020. (Photos by Erik Aeder, Marco Arellano, Aaron Lynton and Cait Miers. Video from the WSL video team)
– Ian Walsh (Kuau, Hawaii) in Jaws, Hawaii, on December 12, 2020. (Amanda Beenen-Cantor, Martin Caprile, Mendo Dornellas, Aaron Lynton and Luana Teixeria. WSL team video)

Nominees for the female award:
– Paige Alms (Haiku, Hawaii) in Jaws, Hawaii, on December 12, 2020. (Photos by Marco Arellano, Amanda Beenen-Cantor, Sofie Louca, Aaron Lynton and Cait Miers. Video from the WSL video team)
– Paige Alms (Haiku, Hawaii) in Jaws, Hawaii, on November 15, 2019. (Photo by Aaron Lynton. Video by Marcus Rodrigues)
– Felicity Palmateer (Burleigh Heads, Australia) at Jaws, Hawaii, on December 12, 2020. (Photos by Erik Aeder, Noah Andrews, Adam Carbajal, Aaron Lynton and Cait Miers. Video by Carlo Carbajal)

Best performance of the year
Male
– Lucas Chianca (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
– Grant Baker (Durban, South Africa)
– Russell Bierke (New South Wales, Australia)
– Nathan Florence (Hawaii, USA)
– Billy Kemper (Hawaii, USA)
– Kai Lenny (Hawaii, USA)
– Tom Lowe (Cornwall, UK)
– Eli Olson (Hawaii, USA)
– Nic Von Rupp (Sintra, Portugal)
– Ian Walsh (Hawaii, USA)

Nominated for the female award
– Maya Gabeira (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
– Michaela Fregonese (Paraná, Brazil)
– Paige Alms (Hawaii, USA)
– Justine Dupont (Seignosse, France)
– Felicity Palmateer (Queensland, Australia)

Award for the biggest wave of the year with or without assistance from Jet Sky
Male:
– Lucas Chianca (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) in Nazaré, Portugal on February 17, 2020. (Photo by Helio Antonio. Video by Nuno Dias)
– Kai Lenny (Maui Hawaii) in Jaws, Hawaii, December 31, 2019. (Video by Marcus Rodrigues)
– Kai Lenny (Maui Hawaii) left in Nazaré, Portugal, on February 11, 2020. (Photos by Helio Antonio, Pedro Cruz, Vitor Estrelinha and Brady Lawrence. Video by Johnny Decesare)
– Kai Lenny (Maui Hawaii) today in Nazaré, Portugal, on February 11, 2020. (Photos by André Botelho. Video by Laurent Pujol)
– Sebastian Steudtner (Alemanha) in Nazaré, Portugal, on February 11, 2020. (Photos by Helio Antonio. Pedro Cruz and Laurent Masurel. Video from the WSL video team.)

Female
– Maya Gabeira (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) in Nazaré, Portugal, on February 11, 2020. (Photos by Helio Antonio, Pedro Cruz and Damien Poullenot. Video by Pedro Miranda)
– Justine Dupont (Seignosse, France) in Nazaré, Portugal on November 13, 2019. (Photos by Maria Fernanda and Rafael Riancho. Video by Pedro Miranda)
– Justine Dupont (Seignosse, França) in Nazaré, Portugal, on February 11, 2020. (Photos by Helio Antonio, André Botelho, Vitor Estrelinha and Laurent Masurel. Video by Antoine Chicoye)

Best wave of the year
Male:
– Russell Bierke (Ulladulla, NSW, Australia) at Jaws, Maui, Hawaii, on December 12, 2019. (Video by Carlo Carbajal)
– Billy Kemper (Haiku, Hawaii, USA) at Jaws, Maui, Hawaii, on January 23, 2020. (Video by Are Frapwell)
– Kai Lenny (Paia, Hawaii) at Jaws, Maui, Hawaii on January 25, 2020. (Video by Johnny Decesare)
– Tom Lowe (Cornwall, UK) at Mullaghmore Head, Ireland on 14 January 2020. (Video by Oliver Hegarty)
– Eli Olson (Haleiwa, Hawaii, USA) at Jaws, Maui, Hawaii, on December 12, 2019. (Video by Tomo McPherson)

Female
– Michaela Fregonese (Paraná, Brazil) at Jaws, Maui, Hawaii, on December 31, 2019. (Video by Adam Carbajal)
– Paige Alms (Haiku, Hawaii, USA) at Jaws, Maui, Hawaii on November 15, 2019. (Video by Elliot Leboe)
– Justine Dupont (Segnoisse, França) in Nazaré, Portugal on February 11, 2019. (Video by Laurent Pujol.)