There are a lot of gigantic waves entered in the Biggest Tow category of this year's Red Bull Big Wave Awards, but when you've got not one, not two, but three entries under consideration, it's hard not to be considered a favorite.
That's the enviable position Kai Lenny and Justine Dupont find themselves in after a major season of pushing the boundaries charging some of the biggest waves on Earth. They're both strong contenders for Performers Of The Year after splitting time between Nazare in Portugal and Jaws in Hawaii during the last big-wave season.
The number of entries doesn't guarantee a win, but if you review the footage from what Lenny and Dupont have submitted, it's clear they're two of the standout athletes this year. And statistically speaking, it can't hurt to have more entries for the judging panel to critique.
2021 Women's Biggest Tow Nominee: Justine Dupont At Jaws on January 16. Filmed by Sebastian Tronolone Jr.
So, what made their season so special? It's a combination of factors. Being there is half the battle when it comes to big waves. With a perfect storm of variables needing to come together to produce quality, ridable mountains of water. Lenny and Dupont have both wholly dedicated themselves to the chase, and even with international travel being a nightmare over the last year-plus, they've been able to be in the right place at the right time.
Then there's the shear commitment both of these athletes have shown. There is an easily perceptible desire from both to push the boundaries. They are constantly raising the bar and trying to go harder than the previous season. From Lenny's creativity and boundless energy -- think giant air rotations on 60-footers -- to Dupont's bravado and courage to pull into some serious cartoonish looking barrels.
Dupont really put the miles in over the last year as her three nominations come from three different surf spots: Nazare, Jaws and Mavericks. The amount of work it takes to put oneself in the right place at the right time to accomplish something like that is a testament to her passion and dedication to the big-wave pursuit.
Meanwhile, all three of Lenny's nominees come from Jaws. One of the true specialists at the Hawaiian reef, what he's doing out there today, especially on his tow board in mind blowing. He approaches the wave, even on it's most fearsome of days, like it's a four-foot day at Lowers. He did venture to Nazare and Mavericks as well, but he shines brightest at home at Jaws.
2021 Men's Biggest Tow Kai Lenny at Jaws on January 16, 2021. Video from Marcus Rodrigues.
Of course, it's not a given they'll take top honors. Maya Gabeira and Sebastian Steudtner each have two entries each, so they're not far behind. After that, Lenny and Dupont are up against a tough field and the judges are going to have their work cut out for them.
But the ability to complete three top-quality entries deserves some recognition in its own right. The 2021 Red Bull Big Wave Awards show airs on Friday, October 29, at 3:00pm PST on WorldSurfLeague.com, so stay tuned to find out if these three-peat chargers take out the Biggest Tow category.
You can check out all three of Lenny and Dupont's entries here, as well as all the other amazing waves ridden during the competition window.
The 2021 Red Bull Big Wave Awards show airs on Friday, October 29, at 3:00pm PST on WorldSurfLeague.com. For a full list of nominees and all the clips, head here.
Kai Lenny And Justine Dupont Lead The Charge For 2021's Biggest Tow Awards
Ben Collins
There are a lot of gigantic waves entered in the Biggest Tow category of this year's Red Bull Big Wave Awards, but when you've got not one, not two, but three entries under consideration, it's hard not to be considered a favorite.
That's the enviable position Kai Lenny and Justine Dupont find themselves in after a major season of pushing the boundaries charging some of the biggest waves on Earth. They're both strong contenders for Performers Of The Year after splitting time between Nazare in Portugal and Jaws in Hawaii during the last big-wave season.
The number of entries doesn't guarantee a win, but if you review the footage from what Lenny and Dupont have submitted, it's clear they're two of the standout athletes this year. And statistically speaking, it can't hurt to have more entries for the judging panel to critique.
So, what made their season so special? It's a combination of factors. Being there is half the battle when it comes to big waves. With a perfect storm of variables needing to come together to produce quality, ridable mountains of water. Lenny and Dupont have both wholly dedicated themselves to the chase, and even with international travel being a nightmare over the last year-plus, they've been able to be in the right place at the right time.
Then there's the shear commitment both of these athletes have shown. There is an easily perceptible desire from both to push the boundaries. They are constantly raising the bar and trying to go harder than the previous season. From Lenny's creativity and boundless energy -- think giant air rotations on 60-footers -- to Dupont's bravado and courage to pull into some serious cartoonish looking barrels.
Dupont really put the miles in over the last year as her three nominations come from three different surf spots: Nazare, Jaws and Mavericks. The amount of work it takes to put oneself in the right place at the right time to accomplish something like that is a testament to her passion and dedication to the big-wave pursuit.
Meanwhile, all three of Lenny's nominees come from Jaws. One of the true specialists at the Hawaiian reef, what he's doing out there today, especially on his tow board in mind blowing. He approaches the wave, even on it's most fearsome of days, like it's a four-foot day at Lowers. He did venture to Nazare and Mavericks as well, but he shines brightest at home at Jaws.
Of course, it's not a given they'll take top honors. Maya Gabeira and Sebastian Steudtner each have two entries each, so they're not far behind. After that, Lenny and Dupont are up against a tough field and the judges are going to have their work cut out for them.
But the ability to complete three top-quality entries deserves some recognition in its own right. The 2021 Red Bull Big Wave Awards show airs on Friday, October 29, at 3:00pm PST on WorldSurfLeague.com, so stay tuned to find out if these three-peat chargers take out the Biggest Tow category.
You can check out all three of Lenny and Dupont's entries here, as well as all the other amazing waves ridden during the competition window.
The 2021 Red Bull Big Wave Awards show airs on Friday, October 29, at 3:00pm PST on WorldSurfLeague.com. For a full list of nominees and all the clips, head here.
Kai Lenny
8x World SUP Champion, inspired windsurfer, kitesurfer, foiler, big wave surfer, waterman, and Red Bull athlete, Kai Lenny, joins us on the
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
News
"Nets for Change" Initiative Will Remove Abandoned Fishing Nets from the Ocean and Repurpose Them as Basketball Nets at Community Courts in
Five years in the making, the QS is back on mainland Mexico's famed stretch of beach, La Zicatela, for 1,000 valuable points.
Relive one of Puerto Escondido's own, Tehuen Petroni, charge through Quarterfinals to earn a place into the Semifinals at his home break.
The QS is back at the famed stretch of La Zicatela for the first time since 2019 with some of Mexico's premier competitors set to clash
2019 marked the last time QS competitors put on a showcase in solid Puerto Escondido conditions and John Mel earned his first-ever victory.