Brazilian surfer rides 80-foot wave off Portugal, sets new world record

A Brazilian surfer rode a monster wave off Portugal to set a world record.

The World Surf League says its judges determined that a wave Rodrigo Koxa surfed at Nazare, Portugal, on Nov. 8 reached a height of 80 feet (24.38 meters). The previous mark was by American Garrett McNamara in 2011 — 78 feet (23.77 meters).

Koxa calls the award as “a dream come true.”

1:09 Surfing legend Laird Hamilton helps rescue families from flooding on Hawaiian islands

• Surfing legend Laird Hamilton helps rescue families from flooding on Hawaiian islands
• Surfing Saint John

Previous Video

Next Video

The league announced the record Saturday at its Big Wave Awards in Santa Monica, California. The group says it awards the surfer who “by any means available catches the biggest wave of the year.”

Nazare is on Portugal’s Atlantic coast between Lisbon and Porto.