They are called chargers. They are the best surfers on the planet when it comes to facing the most impressive waves on the globe. Presentation of the references of the discipline.
Justine Dupont
Men and women together, the Frenchwoman is now recognized as one of the best big wave surfers on the planet, especially on the famous spot of Nazaré. In Portugal, it is on this XXL wave that the French surfer made a name for herself in the world of chargers. She did not hesitate to settle there to progress with her companion Fred David who is often found on a jet ski, pulling her in the water. Last November, Justine confirmed her position as the best big wave surfer in the world by winning three awards at the last Big Wave Awards (ceremony that rewards the surfers who caught the biggest waves of the year). Discover below her best sessions of 2021 in video.
Kai Lenny
He, too, has won multiple awards at the 2021 Big Wave Awards. If the Hawaiian Kai Lenny is an ultra versatile surfer, he excels in particular when the conditions become epic. At home on his archipelago, it is on the spot of Jaws, known worldwide for the violence of its waves, that he often makes memorable sessions. The 29-year-old surfer also regularly travels to Europe when conditions are optimal in Nazaré. A spot on which Lenny has already made several 360 ... A figure that others are hard to replaquer on water much calmer ... Last year, it is with this wave below taken to the paddle (without jet ski) in Jaws that the Hawaiian had won a trophy at the Big Wave Awards.
Conor Maguire
It is at home in Ireland that Conor Maguire trained to become one of the best big wave surfers in the world. The local had his work cut out for him with one of the most violent and difficult waves to catch, Mullaghmore. "When you're in the water, surfing is only part of the experience," Maguire explains. "The other part is these steep cliffs that feel like you're at the end of the world." Mullaghmore's wilderness spot may not be as famous as Jaws or Nazaré, but it's still a benchmark for any surfer who wants to face Mother Nature's most violent stuff.
Pierre Rollet
If the Frenchman is perhaps less present in the media than Kai Lenny, Grant Baker and other Peter Mel, it does not remain less one of the most emblematic figures in France. It is in the Basque Country that he has his base camp, where the wave of Belharra strikes very rarely, but whose sessions often enter the history. Last year, his sponsor Oxbow had made a superb report on Pierre Rollet. During several months, a media team had followed him in his most intense adventures, secretly keeping all the images. An exceptional documentary of 41 minutes, written and directed by Julie and Vincent Kardasik and to discover below.
In addition to the four surfers mentioned above, we can also mention Billy Kemper, Shane Dorian, Andrew Cotton, Benjamin Sanchis, Grant Baker, Peter Mel, Sebastian Steudtner, Lucas Chianca, Maya Gabeira, Paige Alms or Keala Kennelly.