Tommy Myers Wins Ride Of The Year
After he packed the second of his QB bombs, Tommy Myers told Swellnet he was hoping he’d win the Ride Of The Year.
It was a throwaway line, said as much in jest as hope, as the official big wave spotlight rarely strays from Hawaii, Northern California, or Nazare if they’re measuring sheer vertical height. Further, when it lands in Australia then it’s always somewhere in the south: Shippies, The Right, Cow Bommie.
Over the weekend, the big wave awards - now called the Big Wave Challenge - gave out an award to the subtropical east coast. It was the first time in its 25-year history this had happened and the recipient was, of course, Tommy Myers.
Tommy won it for the first wave at the bommie, which he caught on Easter Friday.
2025 BIG WAVE CHALLENGE WINNERS:
- MEN'S SURFER OF THE YEAR Lucas Chianca (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
- WOMEN'S SURFER OF THE YEAR Justine Dupont (Seignosse, France)
- MEN'S RIDE OF THE YEAR Tom Myers at Queenscliff Bombie, Australia. Video by Essa Staszewska.
- WOMEN'S RIDE OF THE YEAR Michaela Fregonese at Jaws, Hawaii. Video by Vincent Kardasik.
- MEN'S BIGGEST WAVE Alo Slebir at Mavericks, California. Video by Blakeney Sanford. Photo by Frank Quirarte. Estimated face size: 76 feet
- WOMEN'S BIGGEST WAVE Michaela Fregonese at Jaws, Hawaii. Video by Vincent Kardasik. Photo by Erik Aeder.
- MEN'S PADDLE Wilem Banks at Jaws, Hawaii. Video by Carlo Carbajal. Photo by Erik Aeder.
- WOMEN'S PADDLE Domi Charrier at Punta de Lobos, Chile. Video by Jorge Calderon. Photo by Rodrigo Farias.
- WIPEOUT OF THE YEAR Ty Simpson-Kane at Jaws, Hawaii. Video by Sofie Louca.
- YOUNG GUN (under 18) Kamiel Deraeve (Oostende, Belgium)
- VIDEOGRAPHERS OF THE YEAR Marcus Rodrigues & Carlo Carbajal
- ALTERNATIVE SURF CRAFT RIDE OF THE YEAR Lucas Fink at Jaws, Hawaii.
- FIVE HOUR ENERGY ONE SHOT PHOTO OF THE YEAR Fred Pompermayer. Photo of Peter Mel at Mavericks.
Comments
That's an awesome achievement - congrats on the recognition.
That's unreal. Sydney needs something positive atm. Well done, Tommy!
(can someone photo and post his tawny frogmouth columns here?)
Well done.
You don't hear Sydney and big wave award very ofen in the same sentence.
Incredible effort and to be won at Queensy Bombie, just crazy stuff. It and the second wave were history making rides.
ICYMI
nuts ride congrats
Well done, young man. Hope he gets some income out of it.
Got picked up by Flo bros X so dare say a little folding already. Good on him.
well done Tom - who would've thought Manly would every feature in that category. Done us proud
Legend.
fararking epic!!!! far fark farking fark.
Wow congrats Thomas!
Insane wave, well deserved. I wonder if there's going to be a more international crowd on that wave next time?
19x out of 20 it's just a big drop and off into the channel. Tommy has lucked into the two best waves of each session with none other looking like it (super wide open and hollow - wave straight after was a doozy though). I can't see any informed crew chasing it.
He's definitely managed to wrangle the unicorn, not once but twice!
An amazing ride and Tom's ride last month was just about as incredible.
Short clip of Tim's speech:
that was incredible !!!!
Maybe the only person on that list that has a job outside of the surf industry?
Fuck yeah, a bucket full of honest Aussie humility. Nailed the ride and the speech.
Didn't he. So humble and well deserving. Congratulations Tommy you animal!
Here comes .....
Here comes the Boy with the Pudding Bowl Haircut .
epic waves ridden , well deserved.