The German surf rider Sebastian Steudtner has won the most important title in big wave surfing.
The 36-year-old was honored on Saturday night for surfing a giant wave in Nazaré, Portugal.
It was the third time that he won the prize, also known as the “Surfing Oscar”.
Steudtner, who lives in Portugal, had already been recognized for the biggest wave in 2010 and 2015.
“The Big Wave Award is the greatest award in my sport and can be equated with the world champion title.
Accordingly, I am of course very happy about the award and I am proud to have won it for the third time in my career, ”said Steudtner of the German Press Agency.
More than 20 meters high
In Steudtner's Sport, surfers surf waves, some of which are more than 20 meters high.
You will be pulled into the waves by a jet ski.
You don't just have to be "an excellent surfer, but above all physically and mentally prepared for all eventualities," said Steudtner.
"Especially for moments when you get caught and the wave pushes you 20-30 meters below the surface of the water."
How high Steudtner's wave ridden on October 29, 2020 was, is currently still being evaluated using images and video recordings.
It is "definitely one of my biggest waves so far, and I wouldn't want to rule out the possibility that this could be a new world record," said Steudtner.
He can “remember very well that I've never been so fast on the surfboard and the wave broke in front of me, which looks awesome in terms of dimensions”.