Poll: Who Had the Worst Wipeout of 2025?

One key note: Out of respect for those who nearly lost their lives this year in heavy surf, like Makai McNamara, Tom Lowe and Carlos Burle, we’re omitting the waves that almost killed surfers. Instead, this poll focuses on the more visually striking and dramatic wipeouts. Ones that sock, not require resuscitation. Not a totally victimless crime, but 

Griffin Colapinto, Teahupo’o

Did any Championship Tour surfer go harder than Teahupo’o in the lead-up to the 2025 Tahiti Pro than Griffin Colapinto? Barron Mamiya, Joao Chianca and Jack Robinson deserve a nod, but Griffin stole the show when the famed French Polynesian slab went nuclear several days before the contest. With careers and WSL Finals qualification at stake, many surfers understandably wanted no part in life-threatening waves like this. But Griffin went for it because he’s just a natural surf fiend. Watch him pindrop on 10-footer and get flogged under Eli Olson’s tow wave in the clip above. 

Lucas Chianca, Nazaré

Even with tens of thousands of spectators watching from the cliff, dozens of safety personnel, and a full-on WSL livestream tracking his every move, I doubt Lucas “Chumbo” Chianca had ever felt more alone than he did going over the falls multiple bombs at the TUDOR Nazaré Challenger earlier this month. It looked gruesome. Nazaré rarely offers reprieve, and this was an abnormally large day, even for the world’s biggest beachbreak. And yet despite having two horrendous beatdowns and nearly getting sent into the rocks, the 30-year-old Brazilian managed to win best overall performance anyway. 

Paul Wetterau, Puerto Escondido

It was almost perfect for Paul. Puerto teased him with a clean entry on a solid right, but he got hung up just enough in the lip, disengaging him from his board and his board from the wave face. The result: an airdrop and splat into the flats. A relatable move, except this was on a 20-foot sand mixer. Ouch. 

 Will Santana and Daniel Rangel, Nazaré 

The frame grab alone tells you this was a bad trip. Nazaré has delivered some memorable wipeouts over the years, but I haven’t seen anything quite like this. After ski driver Daniel Rangel picked up Will Santana, this gurgling mountain simply consumed both of them and their ski in a violent tempest of white foam. 

Russell Bierke, Australian Slab

Russell Bierke is one of the most adept and savvy heavy-water surfers alive. But even he was as the mercy of a horrific left slab that went square on him. It's the first wave featured in his edit "Inner Mechanics," and depending on your fear tolerance, must be played on repeat. Not only did he get pitched into the depths like an ant down a drain, he headbutted the rock bottom for good measure. Don't say we didn't warn you.

Mike Stewart, Teahupo’o

I know, I know, this is a bodyboard entry, but Mike Stewart is probably the most barreled human alive, has the respect of every Pipeline heavy, and is credited with being among the first brave souls to get slotted at serious Teahupo'o in the 1980s. So when the 62-year-old sent it over the ledge on a comically large west bowl Teahupo’o, cracking a rib in the process, you’re damn right we have to salute.