Updated April 30, 2018 09:58:06

Brazilian surfer Rodrigo Koxa has claimed the major prize at the Big Wave Awards in California, winning the award for the largest wave ever surfed.

Koxa achieved the feat in Nazare, Portugal, on November 8, 2017, as he broke the world record for riding a wave 24.28 metres, overtaking the previous record of 23.77 metres set by Garrett McNamara in 2011.

Koxa's compatriot Lucas Chianca, 22, who won the Nazare Challenge earlier this year, was awarded the best men's overall performance trophy.

The best women's overall performance went to Hawaiian surfer Paige Alms for the third time in her career.

Alms defended her Big Wave Tour crown after winning the Pe'ahi Challenge this year.

Britain's Andrew Cotton won the wipeout of the year award after his horror fall in Nazare, Portugal, on November 8, 2017.

Cotton wasn't present to pick up his award as he is still recovering from the broken vertebrae that he suffered in that wipeout.

Reuters

Topics: surfing, sport, portugal, united-states, brazil

First posted April 30, 2018 00:53:28