Former Big Wave Record Holder Continues Nazaré Climb

Seven years ago, Rodrigo Koxa held the record for the biggest wave ever surfed. It was measured at 80 feet, ridden, of course, at Nazaré.

Koxa has been a fixture at the Portuguese giant for a decade. But in 2014, he had a horrific wipeout that kept him out of the water for some time. It took two years to fully rebuild his confidence and deal with the PTSD.

"Four months later, I had bad dreams, I didn't travel, I got scared, and my wife helped me psychologically,” Koxa recalled when he took the Guinness World Record in 2018. “Now, I'm just so happy, and this is the best day of my life.”

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These days, the 45-year-old Brazilian is still suiting up at the Nazaré Canyon. This entry, filmed by Kaique Silva in late January, is not as big as his old world record. But it was his largest wave of the season. He and his tow partner Vitor Faria are thick as thieves in their "Go Bigger" team. Age be damned, this likely won't be the last time you see Koxa at Nazaré's apex.

Related: 80-foot Nazaré Bomb is the Biggest Wave Ever Ridden