Amid one of the busiest Jaws seasons in recent memory, the 2024-25 winter saw the debut of a grassroots competition that paid tribute to the fearless surfers who take on the towering waves of Peahi. The Peahi Challenge, supported by local Maui businesses, honored the dedication and bravery of surfers who tackled the monstrous waves that define the legendary break.
On Sunday, organizers revealed the names of the eight winners from the inaugural event. Among the recipients were Maui locals, an Australian wave rider, and even a dedicated filmer. The judging panel included big wave icons like Mark Healey, Keala Kennelly, Jamie Sterling, Shaun Lopez, and Micah Nickens.
2024-25 Peahi Challenge Winners
- Best Overall Performance & Peahi Challenge Champion: Ty Simpson-Kane
- Best Tow Wave: Kona Oliveira
- Best Paddle Wave: Kipp Caddy
- MVP Award & Dedication to Safety: Marcus Rodrigues
- Biggest Paddle Wave Men: Wilem Banks
- Biggest Paddle Wave Women: Katie McConnell
- Biggest Tow Wave Men: Shaun Walsh
- Biggest Tow Wave Women: Mikaela Fregonese
Each winner received $700 in cash and a custom glass-blown trophy valued at over $1,200. Special recognition is due to Daniel Goldberg, a local big wave surfer and commercial fisherman, for organizing the event and providing these remarkable moments a much-deserved platform. You can find all the action on the event’s Instagram page.
While every award and surfer’s achievement deserves recognition, one particular ride stands out as potentially record-breaking. Wilem Banks, a regular standout at Maverick’s, caught what many are calling one of the largest waves ever ridden, a feat made even more extraordinary by the circumstances surrounding the ride.
Although it remains uncertain whether Banks’ wave surpasses Aaron Gold’s legendary 63-foot Jaws bomb, the sheer scale of his ride is undeniable. Banks dropped into a wave that barreled down faster than anyone could imagine, yet he maintained control, riding the rail of his Rusty gun through the furious foam at the wave’s base. Remarkably, this was only Banks’ fourth session at Peahi—his first trip to the break was just a month prior in December. While much of the surf world’s attention was fixated on the Eddie Aikai Big Wave Invitational that same day, Banks, along with fellow surfers Albee Layer and Tom Lowe, bravely paddled out in the morning to face the daunting conditions.
In a recent interview on The Kyle Thiermann Show, Banks recounted the experience in vivid detail. Describing the intimidating nature of Jaws, Banks explained how he struggled to gauge his position on the reef as the wave loomed large. “Jaws comes from such deep water, you don’t really realize the position you are on the reef until the wave is pretty close to you,” he told Thiermann. “As that thing was approaching, I was like, am I inside or too far out? In my mind, I was probably not going to go as I paddled over (the first wave), but as it approached, I realized I was in a pretty good spot.”
Despite Banks’ remarkable ride, Albee Layer, another standout in big wave surfing, was notably absent from the Peahi Challenge awards. Layer’s consistent performances in the most challenging conditions and his insightful social media commentary on big-wave surfing last season are deserving of recognition. One of Layer’s highlights was describing a massive set in which he and Banks traded waves, with Banks skillfully dodging a towering 70-foot-plus wave before locking into his second ride.
As the winter season continues, the Peahi Challenge has proven to be more than just a contest—it’s a celebration of the bravery and skill of those who venture into the heart of Jaws.