Paulo Moura, surfer from Pernambuco, was awarded in the main category, Biggest Wave of the Year, with an incredible swell on the beach of Naufragados, Florianópolis (SC). In the Wave of the Year category, Guilherme Hilel and Michaela Fragonese were the standouts. The world champion, Lucas Chumbo, proved that the biggest wipe out can also be a winner

Considered one of the points of surfers and body borders, Naufragados beach, in Florianópolis (SC), was one of the highlights of the 5^th edition of the Brazilian Ocyan Big Wave Award. It was there that the experienced athlete Paulo Moura, a reference when it comes to surfing giant waves, was awarded the top prize: Biggest Wave of the Year! In addition to the surfer from Pernambuco, the elite of the sport was revered during the awards ceremony that took place in Barra da Tijuca, west area of Rio de Janeiro. The Ocyan Brazilian Big Wave Award, besides praising the roots of big riders who brave in adverse water conditions, also showed how vast the Brazilian coast is in giant waves, proving that Nazaré is here!

Grand Champion of the night, Paulo Moura, whose wave was recorded by cameraman Humberto Ferreira, mentioned his inspirations in the sport and dedicated the award to the community of Naufragados: “I wanted to say, especially because I am from Pernambuco, along with Eraldo and Burle, that you have always been our inspiration in surfing! I watched them, followed the competition path, and then migrated to the big waves. And now I can surf waves in Brazil and around the world! It’s great because you guys left a legacy for us, and I am very grateful for that! I want to dedicate this title, especially to the entire community of Naufragados God bless you! This wave is for you, this title is for you.

In the Ocyan Wave of the Year Male and Female categories, the winners were Guilherme Hilel and Michaela Fragonese, with footage from surf spots in the state of Rio de Janeiro. The big riders showed that the Fluminense coast is full of challenges. Guilherme ventured into Barrinha, which is in the city of Saquarema. Michaela, on the other hand, faced the swell at Itacoatiara beach, in Niterói.

In his acceptance speech, Guilherme paid homage to Marcio Freire, a surfer who died in Nazaré, Portugal, at the beginning of the year. “I want to dedicate this award to Marcio. His family chose to give me his inflatable vest and rubber glove. He passed me the belt and I, as a big wave surfer, have an obligation to honor it.

Michaela emphasized the importance of the event giving women the opportunity to stand out. “I would like to congratulate the production for putting this female category, because the big wave cycle in Brazil is still very precarious in this sense. The competitions don’t want to put the women’s category and this is very sad. But not here, here you always put it. We will always be around putting on our own show.”

One of the most anticipated moments of the award ceremony, the Best Wipe Out category was won by world champion Lucas Chumbo. The fearless surfer faced a giant wave at Laje do Gardenal, in the city of Rio de Janeiro, and had his wipeout recorded by Yunes Khader.

The award was presented to the athlete by surfer and former Big Brother Brasil participant Pedro Scooby, who joked: “This is the funniest category of the award. Lucas added: “Sometimes things look like they are going to go wrong and end up going right.”

Dudu Pedra and Camille Oliveira were the champions in the Best Bodyboard Wave category for men and women. He surfed in Itacoatiara, Niterói, and the recording was made by Caio Amaral. Camille surfed in Rosa Sul, Santa Catarina, and her wave was captured by Matheus John. For Dudu, surfing a giant wave is an opportunity to be intensely alive. “In reality, bodyborders are passionate about the sport. Sometimes nobody sees what we did. But it is very important to be publicly honored, to receive this award in front of so many people. I once read a very nice quote that said that nothing is more expensive than missing an opportunity. I see every big wave as an opportunity to live! And so, we live on!”.

Camille, from Sergipe, could not attend the event. But she made sure to send a video thanking the organization of the event. “I am very happy for this victory. It is a great achievement, and it means a lot to me.

The award in the Best Bodysurfing Wave category went to Kalani Latanzi. Like Dudu Pedra, the athlete also surfed in Itacoatiara, Niterói, and his performance was filmed by Matheus Couto. Kalani, paid tribute to his mother and the cameraman who accompanied him during his surfing days.

“Long live Bodysurfing, Bodyboarding, all water sports, especially Bodysurfing, which is the base sport, the one that can save lives. So, if you have Bodysurf know-how, you have an ability to maybe save a person or be smartly prepared for big waves. That’s it, I would like to dedicate this award to a special person, the woman of my life, Claudia Alvin, who is up there. She is the person who raised me, everything I am, I owe to her. I want to congratulate everyone, the organizers, the athletes, and thank this guy here beside me, Matheus Couto, videomaker revelation. In the last surf, he stayed there with me for three days.”

One of the most emotional moments of the night happened when surfing legends took the stage and were cheered. Some of them were the first big riders to surf giant waves in Brazil. Rico Souza, Eraldo Gueiros, Fernanda Guerra and Ricardo Bocão were cheered by the audience. “I am very happy to see this beautiful party, with so many big wave surfers and to be here, next to companions of so many years. This party is too beautiful. Aloha!”, declared Rico.

Check out the winners in each category:

Biggest Wave of the Year

1^st place

Athlete: Paulo Moura – Cameraman: Humberto Ferreira – Place: Naufragados (SC)

2^nd place

Athlete: Ian Concenza – Cameraman: Renan Vignoli – Place: Laje de Manitiba (RJ)

3^rd place

Athlete: Gabriel Sampaio – Cameraman: Pedro Rolon – Place: Itacoatiara (RJ)

Ocyan Men’s Wave of the Year

1^st place

Athlete: Guilherme Hilel – Cameraman: Matheus Couto – Place: Barrinha (RJ)

2^nd place

Athlete: João Chianca – Cameraman: Matheus Couto – Place: Barrinha (RJ)

3^rd place

Athlete: Pedro Calado – Cameraman: Matheus Couto – Place: Itacoatiara (RJ)

Ocyan Women’s Wave of the Year

1^st place

Athlete: Michaela Fragonese – Cameraman: Cesar Aiello – Place: Itacoatiara (RJ)

2^nd place

Athlete: Alessandra Marinelli – Cameraman: Renan Vignoli – Place: Laje de Manitiba (RJ)

3^rd place

Athlete: Michele Des Bouillons – Cameraman: Renan Vignoli – Place: Laje de Manitiba (RJ)

Best Wipeout

1^st place

Athlete: Lucas Chumbo – Cameraman: Yunes Khader – Place: Laje de Gardenal (RJ)

Best Female Bodyboard Wave

1^st place

Athlete: Camille Oliveira – Cameraman: Matheus John – Place: Rosa Sul (SC)

Best Male Bodyboard Wave

1^st place

Athlete: Dudu Pedra – Cameraman: Caio Amaral – Place: Itacoatiara (RJ)

Best Bodysurf Wave

1^st place

Athlete: Kalani Latanzi– Cameraman: Matheus Couto– Place: Itacoatiara (RJ)