It was a wave-riding year for the record books. Surfers gathered in Anaheim on Saturday to celebrate this El Niño season that produced massive waves around the world and allowed big-wave surfers to make history. The Big Wave Awards, in its 16th year, celebrates an elite crop of surfers who take on building-size waves – a feat few in the world can achieve.

San Clemente’s Greg Long was crowned World Surf League Big Wave Tour Champion. It’s Long’s second time earning the title; the first was secured in 2012.