Cover photo: Chumbo Chianca in Nazaré. By Red Bull Content Pool/Hugo Silva

The WSL has just announced a long list of nominees to win the prestigious $350.000 prize pool for big waves. With a large majority of entries at Jaws, Nazaré and Mavericks in what was a busy year despite the pandemic, a bitter fight is looming in the categories of best performance, biggest wave, biggest wave paddled out and wave of the season.

The only Hispanic American surfer in the competition, male or female, is Colombian Isabella Gomez, who is nominated for “Wave of the Year” in the women’s category for a bombshell she surfed at Jaws on January 16.

Below are the nominees by category and gender:

Wave of the year, female
Paige Alms in Todos Santos, Mexico on January 11, 2021.
Michelle des Bouillons at Nazaré, Portugal on February 22, 2021.
Justine Dupont at Nazaré, Portugal on January 16, 2021.
Maya Gabeira at Nazaré, Portugal on February 5, 2021.
Izzi Gomez at Jaws, Hawaii on January 16, 2021.
Keala Kennelly at Himalayas, Hawaii on December 2, 2020.

Male Wave of the Year
Conor Maguire in Mullaghmore Head, Ireland on October 28, 2020.
Grant Baker in Mavericks, California on December 11, 2020.
Kai Lenny in Jaws, Hawaii on December 2, 2020.
Kai Lenny in Jaws, Hawaii on December 2, 2020.
Kai Lenny in Jaws, Hawaii on December 2, 2020.
Kai Lenny in Jaws, Hawaii on January 16, 2021.
Peter Mel in Mavericks, California on January 8, 2021.
Billy Kemper in Jaws, Hawaii on December 2, 2020.
Eli Olson in Jaws, Hawaii on January 16, 2021.
Vinicius dos Santos in Nazaré, Portugal on February 22, 2021.
Kalani Chapman at Outer Reef Log Cabins, Hawaii on January 16, 2021.
Wilem Banks in Mavericks, California on December 8, 2020.

Biggest wave and paddle
Female Nominees
Bianca Valenti in Mavericks, California on January 12, 2021.
Justine Dupont in Jaws, Hawaii on January 17, 2021.
Keala Kennelly in Himalayas, Hawaii on December 2, 2020.
Justine Dupont in Mavericks, California on December 8, 2020.
Paige Alms in Todos Santos, Mexico on January 11, 2021.
Raquel Heckert in Jaws, Hawaii on January 17, 2021.

Male Nominees
Kai Lenny in Jaws, Hawaii on December 2, 2020.
Kai Lenny in Jaws, Hawaii on December 2, 2020.
Kai Lenny in Jaws, Hawaii on December 2, 2020.
Kai Lenny in Mavericks, California on December 8, 2020.
Peter Mel in Mavericks, California on December 8, 2020.
Peter Mel in Mavericks, California on January 8, 2021.
Grant Baker in Mavericks, California on December 11, 2020.
Billy Kemper in Jaws, Hawaii on December 2, 2020.
Nathan Florence in Jaws, Hawaii on December 2, 2020.
Vinicius dos Santos in Nazaré, Portugal on February 22, 2021.
Ian Walsh in Jaws, Hawaii on December 2, 2020.
Wilem Banks in Mavericks, California on January 10, 2021.

The biggest tow in wave
Female Nominees
Maya Gabeira in Nazaré, Portugal on October 29, 2020.
Maya Gabeira in Nazaré, Portugal on February 5, 2021.
Justine Dupont in Mavericks, California on January 1, 2021.
Justine Dupont in Jaws, Hawaii on January 16, 2021.
Justine Dupont in Nazaré, Portugal on October 29, 2020.
Michelle des Bouillons in Nazaré, Portugal on February 22, 2021.

Male Nominees
Conor Maguire at Mullaghmore Head, Ireland on October 28, 2020.
Kalani Chapman at Outer Reef Log Cabins, Hawaii on January 1, 2021.
Kai Lenny in Jaws, Hawaii on January 16, 2021.
Kai Lenny in Jaws, Hawaii on January 16, 2021.
Kai Lenny in Jaws, Hawaii on January 16, 2021.
Ian Walsh in Jaws, Hawaii on January 16, 2021.
Sebastian Steudtner in Nazaré, Portugal on October 29, 2020.
Sebastian Steudtner in Nazaré, Portugal on October 29, 2020.
Lucas “Chumbo” Chianca in Nazaré, Portugal on October 29, 2020.
Makua Rothman in Jaws, Hawaii on January 16, 2021.
Nathan Florence in Jaws, Hawaii on January 16, 2021.
Francisco Porcella in Jaws, Hawaii on January 16, 2021.

The best performance of the year
Female Nominees
Justine Dupont
Keala Kennelly
Maya Gabeira
Paige Alms
Michelle des Bouillons
Raquel Heckert

Male Nominees
Kai Lenny
Peter Mel
Conor Maguire
Grant Baker
Sebastian Steudtner
Ian Walsh
Nathan Florence
Eli Olson
Billy Kemper
Lucas “Chumbo” Chianca
Makua Rothman
Vinicius dos Santos

Winners will be announced on October 29 here: WorldSurfLeague.com/redbullbigwaveawards.