It might only be January but 2023 is already delivering one of the best big wave seasons in recent memory, with enough potential blobs brewing on the charts to send it to the record books before it’s done. From Waimea and Jaws in Hawaii to Todos Santos in Mexico and Cortes Bank out somewhere on the Californian horizon, the year has seen big wave surfers readying their PWCs, packing their vests and unsheathing their biggest blades to take on a string of endless, enormous swells strafing coastlines around the Pacific.
In the 20 Foot Plus recap above, Surfline’s Nick Carroll and Kevin Wallis detail all of the action and weather patterns involved, with interviews featuring many of the key players. From a false start at the Eddie Aikau Invitational that led to an all-time Waimea free surf session starring John and Ivan Florence, to one of the least crowded and least windy Jaws days of the past decade, featuring Nathan Florence, this edit has Hawaii covered. Crossing the Pacific to watch Jamie Mitchell, Ian Walsh and Greg Long tame Mexico’s Todos Santos, we’re reminded it’s not all sweet success as we see Coco Nogales go down hard to end a scary session.
Finally we venture out to sea to surfing’s most mythical deep water wave, Cortes Bank. Cortes veteran Bill Sharp organized the trip for HBO's 100 Foot Wave, with an all-star line-up featuring Lucas Chumbo, Andrew Cotty and Garrett McNamara… though it’s Justine Dupont who steals the show with the biggest wave ridden in 2023 so far. As Nick Carroll says ominously in conclusion however, “it’s still winter, and there’s always the question, 'What’s next?'”
UPDATE: Coco Nogales, the surfer who was injured at Todos Santos, is now in a stable condition. He has been treated for his injuries and is in recovery.
"Hola amigos,” Coco wrote, to our correspondents at Surfline. “It's been three days since I left the hospital, where I got surgery. I'm now resting in Greg Long’s home and feeling better, little by little. The doctors tell me I need to wait a few weeks before starting my rehabilitation. Big thanks to Greg and everyone who's helped me out."
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19 янв 2023
