Brazil's Rodrigo Koxa surfs the biggest wave on record

Rodrigo Koxa has been credited with a world record for riding the biggest wave ever surfed.

The World Surf League confirmed the record at its Big Wave Awards in Santa Monica, California on Saturday (Sunday NZT), saying its judging panel determined that a wave Koxa surfed at Naraze, Portugal, on November 8 was 80 feet (24.38m).

"The award goes to the surfer who, by any means available, catches the biggest wave of the year," the WSL said in a statement.

"Not only did Koxa win this year's honour, but he now holds the Guinness World Record for the biggest wave surfed.

The Brazilian surfer's mark overtook the record of 78 feet (23.77m) which American Garrett McNamara set in 2011.

Koxa described the award as "the best day of my life" and "a dream come true."

Britain's Andrew Cotton was awarded the the wipeout of the year award after his horror fall in Nazare, which was on the same day as Koxa's super ride.

Cotton is still recovering from the broken vertebrae that he suffered in the wipeout.

This article was first published on nzherald.co.nz and is republished here with permission.