Kai Lenny, Haiku, Hawaii, USA
Big Wave Tour ranking: Tenth
Kai Lenny is an anomaly in big wave surfing. He is incredibly well-known and his performances are spoken about the world over, but he has yet to do anything really mind-blowing in a contest arena. All of his incredible performances and exploits have come from the freesurfing genre, and it's working for him.
As one of the avant garde surfers out at Jaws on any swell, with his mix of experimental, radical and unorthodox approach to big wave surfing at Jaws, it was a matter of time before he received full recognition for his big wave prowess.
"This year I felt the hunger for more big sessions to push my level as a big wave surfer," reckoned Lenny. "I really did my best to push myself and my performances. Every wave I rode I did it with conviction and focus towards my dream goal. Ride the biggest waves and surf them as if they were small!"
Being part of the new school of big wave surfers, Kai has seen some extraordinary things this last season and understands the consequences of what is transpiring right now.
"Every year the sport gets elevated with each big session. This year in particular we have seen some new blood in the mix, who by my perspective have been fearless with going on waves of incredible consequence in extraordinary positions," reckons Lenny. "The growth of the sport is so strong, and there are many of us who, with every big wave ridden, want to push the boundaries just a little bit further."
As mentioned, it is Lenny's vision that saw him recognized for a Surfline Performance Of The Year Award."My dream of the future of big wave surfing is riding these monster waves as if they were small," says Lenny. "My idea of next level performance is massive turns and huge aerials. Over the next several years I'd like to see it go in that direction."
Along that line, Lenny has his clear-cut goals."I want to score massive Pe'ahi and ride it to the best of my imagination," reckons Lenny. "Then I want to take what I learn here in my backyard and test it out at the best big waves around the world. I am also super motivated to compete and win on the Big Wave World Tour, I really love competing and big waves so the two put together is a dream situation."
Surfline Performance Of The Year Awards Nominee - Kai Lenny
WSL
Kai Lenny, Haiku, Hawaii, USA Big Wave Tour ranking: Tenth
Kai Lenny is an anomaly in big wave surfing. He is incredibly well-known and his performances are spoken about the world over, but he has yet to do anything really mind-blowing in a contest arena. All of his incredible performances and exploits have come from the freesurfing genre, and it's working for him.
As one of the avant garde surfers out at Jaws on any swell, with his mix of experimental, radical and unorthodox approach to big wave surfing at Jaws, it was a matter of time before he received full recognition for his big wave prowess.
"This year I felt the hunger for more big sessions to push my level as a big wave surfer," reckoned Lenny. "I really did my best to push myself and my performances. Every wave I rode I did it with conviction and focus towards my dream goal. Ride the biggest waves and surf them as if they were small!"
Being part of the new school of big wave surfers, Kai has seen some extraordinary things this last season and understands the consequences of what is transpiring right now.
"Every year the sport gets elevated with each big session. This year in particular we have seen some new blood in the mix, who by my perspective have been fearless with going on waves of incredible consequence in extraordinary positions," reckons Lenny. "The growth of the sport is so strong, and there are many of us who, with every big wave ridden, want to push the boundaries just a little bit further."
As mentioned, it is Lenny's vision that saw him recognized for a Surfline Performance Of The Year Award."My dream of the future of big wave surfing is riding these monster waves as if they were small," says Lenny. "My idea of next level performance is massive turns and huge aerials. Over the next several years I'd like to see it go in that direction."
Along that line, Lenny has his clear-cut goals."I want to score massive Pe'ahi and ride it to the best of my imagination," reckons Lenny. "Then I want to take what I learn here in my backyard and test it out at the best big waves around the world. I am also super motivated to compete and win on the Big Wave World Tour, I really love competing and big waves so the two put together is a dream situation."
Kai Lenny
Kai Lenny takes off on a 24-hour strike mission for a tow swell in Tahiti and pushes the limits of what's possible on a surfboard (and on a
With big wave season ending in Hawaii, Kai Lenny chases a new challenge in Alaska where he meets up with snowboarding icon Travis Rice to
Kai Lenny chases his big wave dream of a title at The Eddie before switching gears to compete against the World Tour's finest surfers in a
Kai Lenny assembles a surf super-team with Kelly Slater and Carissa Moore for the Backdoor Shootout at Pipeline, then competes in the first
Big wave champion, ultimate waterman and now a married father of twin girls - Kai Lenny's balancing act looks different in 2023, where his
Hawaii/Tahiti Nui
With only minutes remaining, Maui's own Jackson Bunch turned in a clutch performance to turn the heat and claim his second-career QS
The young phenom Erin Brooks added another illustrious win to her growing resume and secured spot into the Sambazon World Junior
The former CT elite Luana Silva decimated her Quarterfinal debut, earning an excellent 16.50 heat total in the process.
Maui's leading woman Nora Liotta started off her Haleiwa surge with a solid 15.10 heat total and is pressure-free in the last event of the
Oahu's own Joshua Moniz turnedd in an impressive 14.85 heat total in his Haleiwa debut and remains hungry for a big result to catapult up