Most people will never stand next to a six-story building. The biggest wave ever surfed was taller than that, and someone rode it.
It is not just a sports record. It is about surfers who spent years chasing something that seemed impossible, and a small group who made it happen anyway.
From the official Guinness World Records to the rides that came close, the surfers behind each of them, and the locations where history keeps being made.
There is footage worth watching for every entry on this list.
Some of these waves were so large that they took years to officially confirm. That alone tells you a lot.
What Is The Biggest Wave Ever Surfed?
The Guinness World Record for the biggest wave ever surfed belongs to Sebastian Steudtner of Germany.
He rode an 86-foot (26.21 m) wave at Praia do Norte in Nazaré, Portugal, on October 29, 2020. The record falls under the category “Largest Wave Surfed (Unlimited) – Male,” which includes tow-in surfing.
Tow-in means a jet ski pulls the surfer into the wave, making it possible to catch waves too fast and powerful to paddle into on your own.
On the women’s side, Brazilian surfer Maya Gabeira holds the “Largest Wave Surfed (Unlimited) – Female” title.
She surfed a 73.5-foot (22.4 m) wave at the same beach in Nazaré on February 11, 2020, a remarkable comeback after nearly losing her life at that same break in 2013.
How the Biggest Wave Is Measured and Why Records GetDebated
Not every big wave claim becomes an official record. The process involves specific categories, careful measurement, and a review that can take years.
- Guinness World Records Categories: Guinness World Records tracks big waves in two divisions: Unlimited (Tow-In) and Paddle-In.
- Tow-In Surfing Explained: Tow-in surfing uses a jet ski to pull surfers into waves too fast and powerful to paddle into.
- How Wave Height Is Measured: Wave size is calculated after the ride using photogrammetry from video footage and still frames.
- Why Measurements Differ: Camera angle, trough position, and measurement methods can change the final height estimate.
- Why Verification Takes Time: Official confirmation requires technical review. Steudtner’s 2020 record, for example, was validated nearly two years later.
That gap between surfing a wave and owning a record is exactly what keeps the biggest wave ever surfed conversation going for years.
The Biggest Waves Ever Surfed
These are the biggest waves ever surfed, from the first official Guinness record to the rides still waiting on confirmation today.
1. Shawn Dollar
Dollar paddle-surfed this 61-foot wave at Cortes Bank in December 2012, far out in the open Pacific with no land nearby. The ride helped establish Cortes Bank as a serious big wave location alongside Nazaré and Hawaii.
Footage from that session shows just how raw and exposed the conditions are at that offshore break.
2. Aaron Gold
Gold’s paddle-in ride at Jaws on January 15, 2016, set the Guinness record for the largest wave surfed paddle-in (male). There was no jet ski involved, just Gold and his board catching a 63-foot wave under his own power.
Gold’s ride was officially measured at 63 feet by Guinness World Records, although early XXL Award estimates placed the wave higher.
It is widely considered one of the most physically demanding achievements in the history of big wave surfing.
3. Yuri Soledade
Soledade rode this estimated 71-foot wave at Peʻahi (Jaws) during a major swell. The ride, widely recognized as a tow-in wave, remains one of the largest waves documented at that break, despite lacking formal Guinness World Records verification.
The channel boat angle used at Jaws puts the surfer in clear proportion to the wave face.
4. Francisco Porcella
Porcella had suffered serious injuries at Teahupo’o and Jaws before arriving at Nazaré. His 73-foot wave on October 24, 2016, came after years of wipeouts and setbacks and is widely seen as a personal comeback ride.
The footage from the cliff at Praia do Norte shows the full face of the wave and Porcella’s clean line across it.
5. Maya Gabeira
This is the current official Guinness World Record for the biggest wave ever surfed by a woman. Gabeira nearly lost her life at this same break in 2013.
Her return to Nazaré, documented in a Red Bull TV film, and this record ride on February 11, 2020, make her story one of the most well-known in surfing.
6. Justine Dupont
Justine Dupont surfed this wave during the Almost Eddie Swell at Cortes Bank on January 13, 2023, winning the inaugural New Big Wave Challenge Biggest Wave Award (Women).
Estimated at 75 feet (22.9 m), it stood out in remote open-ocean conditions. It has not been ratified by Guinness as of 2026.
7. Mike Parsons
Cortes Bank sits more than 100 miles offshore in the Pacific, with no land in sight. Parsons and a small crew reached it by boat on January 5, 2008, and surfed in genuinely remote conditions.
His 77-foot ride set the Guinness World Record at the time and remains one of the most logistically ambitious big-wave missions ever attempted.
8. Garrett McNamara
McNamara is widely credited with putting Nazaré on the global surfing map. His 78-foot ride on November 1, 2011, set the Guinness record at the time and sparked a wave of interest in the Portuguese break.
Before McNamara, very few surfers had taken Praia do Norte seriously as a big wave destination worth traveling for.
9. Rodrigo Koxa
Koxa held the Guinness record for the biggest wave ever surfed before Steudtner broke it in 2022. His 80-foot ride at Praia do Norte on November 8, 2017, went viral, introducing millions of people to Nazaré as a big-wave location.
It remains one of the most-watched big wave surfing videos on the internet.
10. Sebastian Steudtner
This is the current official Guinness World Record for the biggest wave ever surfed. Steudtner rode an 86-foot (26.21 m) wave at Praia do Norte on October 29, 2020, using the tow-in technique.
The record took nearly two years to verify and was officially confirmed by Guinness in May 2022.
11. Lucas “Chumbo” Chianca
Chianca surfed during the same February 2024 session as Steudtner at Nazaré, and many observers believed his wave was even larger. No official measurement has been released.
The footage from that day shows two surfers on potentially record-breaking waves within the same session, making it one of the most-watched big wave days in recent memory.
12. Alessandro “Alo” Slebir
Slebir rode this wave at Mavericks near Half Moon Bay, California, on December 23, 2024. Early observers and Mavericks Rescue estimates claimed up to 108 feet, sparking record talk.
The World Surf League later measured it at 76 feet (23.1 m). He won Men’s Biggest Wave for 2024–25. Guinness hasn’t ratified it.
13. António Laureano
Laureano was just 18 years old when he paddled into this wave at Nazaré on October 29, 2020, the same day Steudtner set his Guinness record. The University of Lisbon measured it at 101.4 feet.
The WSL has never confirmed that number, leaving it among the most disputed rides in big wave history.
14. Vini Dos Santos
Dos Santos surfed this wave at Praia do Norte in February 2022 during a major XXL swell. A later analysis by oceanographer Dr. Douglas Nemes estimated it at 29.68 m (97.37 ft) using image-based body calibration.
It has no Guinness verification or specific WSL ratification, but remains a widely discussed unofficial giant.
15. Sebastian Steudtner
Steudtner rode this wave at Nazaré on February 24, 2024, during a storm-driven swell. Porsche-developed drone measurement put it at 93.73 feet (28.57 m).
If Guinness ratifies it, it would top his official 86 ft record from October 29, 2020. As of February 2026, confirmation is still pending.
The Best Places in the World to See Record-Breaking Waves
The biggest waves ever surfed don’t happen everywhere. A handful of locations produce conditions that push the limits of what’s rideable
- Nazaré, Portugal (Praia do Norte): Home to 7 of the 10 biggest waves ever surfed, powered by the 170km underwater Nazaré Canyon.
- Jaws (Pe’ahi), Maui, Hawaii: A legendary tow-in and paddle-in break where Aaron Gold set the biggest paddle-in wave record in 2016.
- Mavericks, California: A cold, dangerous reef break where Alo Slebir rode a disputed record wave in December 2024.
- Cortes Bank, California: A remote offshore reef over 100 miles from land, the site of massive rides by Parsons and Dupont.
- Teahupo’o, Tahiti: Not the tallest wave on Earth, but widely considered the most powerful and dangerous break in surfing.
Each of these breaks has shaped the biggest wave ever surfed conversation in its own way, and each one still has records left to break.
Final Thoughts
Big wave surfing is one of the few sports where the record books change slowly, but when they do, the whole world notices. And yet, is surfing a sport? The debate is still very much alive.
The biggest wave ever surfed stands as a Guinness-certified benchmark today. But as you have seen, the conversation is far from over.
New rides are still being measured. Old claims are still being debated. And the 100-foot barrier has not been officially broken yet.
The next record could come from Nazaré. It could come from Mavericks. It could come from somewhere nobody is watching yet.
Bookmark this page, we will keep it updated as new rides get confirmed. Which wave on this list do you think deserves more attention? Drop your thoughts in the comments.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Counts as A World Record in Big Wave Surfing?
A ride must be submitted to Guinness World Records and verified by an official measuring body. The wave height is reviewed using video footage and approved scientific methods.
Why Do Claimed Heights and Official Heights Differ?
Camera angle, trough position, and measurement method all affect the final number. Different reviewers using different tools on the same wave can reach very different results.
Is the Biggest Wave Ever Surfed Always at Nazaré?
Not always. Mavericks and Cortes Bank have produced record-contending waves, too. But Nazaré’s underwater canyon makes it the most consistent location globally for the biggest waves.
