Brazilian surfer Rodrigo Koxa was recognized by the World Surf League as a world record holder during its Big Wave Awards in Santa Monica on Saturday for riding a massive wave while surfing off the coast of Nazare, Portugal on November 8th.
The group said that they determined the wave he rode was 80 feet high, breaking the previous record of 78 feet set by American Garrett McNamara in 2011.
The World Surf League issued a statement honoring Koxa:
"The award goes to the surfer who, by any means available, catches the biggest wave of the year.”
"Not only did Koxa win this year's honor, but he now holds the Guinness World Record for the biggest wave surfed."
Roxa described riding the monster wave as “the best day of my life” and said that winning the Quiksilver XXL Biggest Wave Award was "a dream come true."
Not only does Koxa get him named etched in the Guinness Book of World Records, but he also took home a prize of $25,000.