Billy Kemper is just 29-years-old, and already wears the title as the "King of Jaws." Most big wave surfers train their lives to achieve such an accolade, but there can only be one king.
Yesterday morning, the conditions provided Kemper with yet another day to prove himself in his backyard. And this wave below is what he calls, "the wave of his life."
Kemper is the winningest surfer at Jaws. In 2015, he won the first Pe'ahi Challenge with the barrel of the event, and most recently he won the 2019 cbdMD Jaws Big Wave Championships with the same commanding performance.
The only year he didn't win was in 2017; however, he still finished runner-up to fellow Maui waterman, Ian Walsh. Kemper has yet to make anything short of a Final at his local wave, which is a testiment to how much much his rigorous training has paid off.
The water angle of his wave is where you see just how technical the ride really was. He sets his line, wrangles a massive foam ball, air drops inside of the barrel, and rides through in celebration. How does he keep doing it?
Already submitted for consideration for the 2020 Big Wave Awards Ride of the Year, a win could make this wave even more historic.
There's already chatter on social media that this could be the wave of the winter, the best Jaws barrel ever, or even the greatest big wave paddle barrel ever. What are your thoughts? Tell us in the comments below.
Is This the Wave of the Winter?
Bryan Benattou
Billy Kemper is just 29-years-old, and already wears the title as the "King of Jaws." Most big wave surfers train their lives to achieve such an accolade, but there can only be one king.
Yesterday morning, the conditions provided Kemper with yet another day to prove himself in his backyard. And this wave below is what he calls, "the wave of his life."
Kemper is the winningest surfer at Jaws. In 2015, he won the first Pe'ahi Challenge with the barrel of the event, and most recently he won the 2019 cbdMD Jaws Big Wave Championships with the same commanding performance.
The only year he didn't win was in 2017; however, he still finished runner-up to fellow Maui waterman, Ian Walsh. Kemper has yet to make anything short of a Final at his local wave, which is a testiment to how much much his rigorous training has paid off.
The water angle of his wave is where you see just how technical the ride really was. He sets his line, wrangles a massive foam ball, air drops inside of the barrel, and rides through in celebration. How does he keep doing it?
Already submitted for consideration for the 2020 Big Wave Awards Ride of the Year, a win could make this wave even more historic.
There's already chatter on social media that this could be the wave of the winter, the best Jaws barrel ever, or even the greatest big wave paddle barrel ever. What are your thoughts? Tell us in the comments below.
Billy Kemper
Lakey Peterson ripping at lowers, Billy Kemper takes out the Men's Ride of The Year Award, and Coco Ho keeping the vibes right at home.
It takes serious courage and commitment to scratch into waves like these.
2020 Men's Paddle Nominee: Billy Kemper at Jaws, Maui, Hawaii on December 12, 2019. Photos by Marco Arellano, Dooma Phhotos, Aaron Lynton
Grant Baker, Russell Bierke, Lucas Chianca, Nathan Florence, Billy Kemper, Kai Lenny, Tom Lowe, Eli Olson, Nic Von Rupp, and Ian Walsh.
2020 Men's Paddle Nominee: Billy Kemper at Jaws, Maui, Hawaii on December 12, 2019. Video by WSL Video Team.
News
46
Pat O'Connell breaks down the highlights and takeaways from the WSL Countdown events and plays the Time Machine from the '98 season.
Episode 30
After rumors of a perfect swell, the waves delivered perfect right handers as Australian Trudy Todd knocked off Samantha Cornish.
Episode 8
Koa Smith explores the radical design of the El Tomo Fish before testing out in the Hawaiian surf.
With winter knocking on the door, Florence offers and insider's perspective of the raw power of Backdoor.
Watch the Full One-Hour Presentation on WorldSurfLeague.com