Los Angeles (AFP)
The American Kai Lenny, already crowned best performer of the year 2019/2020 in surfing big waves, those of more than 20 meters in height, was also awarded the trophy for the biggest wave surfed of the year , Monday, by the World Surf League.
Lenny has certainly not broken the world record, owned by Brazilian Rodrigo Koxa since November 8, 2017 for a 24.38 m wave in Nazaré. But he nevertheless surfed a 21.33 m high wave on February 11, exactly at the same place in Portugal, which has become a mythical spot in recent years.
Aged 27, Lenny had tripled his chances of victory as three of his highest surfed waves had been selected: one in Jaws, Hawaii on December 31 and another in Nazaré on February 11. In front of him, the Brazilian Lucas Chianca (February 17 in Nazaré) and the German Sebastian Steudtner (February 11 in Nazaré) compete.
On the women's side, the trophy for the biggest wave surfed of the year has not yet been awarded. The WSL has decided to call on scientists to decide between the Brazilian Maya Gabeira, world record holder (20.72 m in 2018 in Nazaré) and the French Justine Dupont, and did not indicate when the result will be. known.
Dupont is therefore in the running to achieve, like Lenny, a beautiful double since she was also crowned best performer of the year 2019/2020, rewarded for her winter spent facing the cliffs of Nazaré, where she succeeded to tame two huge waves, in November and February.
The Big Waves Awards, handed out for 20 years, are awarded by a panel of WSL judges after analyzing the video images and photos of the performances sent by the surfers.
© 2020 AFP