SURFER Announces Partnership With 2024 Big Wave Challenge

Honoring the biggest waves, most spectacular rides and heaviest wipeouts, a reimagined Big Wave Challenge returns with the largest prize purse in big-wave surfing today

The Arena Group, owner of SURFER, announced today its sponsorship of the 2024 Big Wave Challenge. Partnering with legendary big wave media pioneer Bill Sharp, co-producer of HBO’s 100 Foot Wave, the reinvigorated Big Wave Challenge will recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of the world’s best big wave surfers and content creators, awarding a total of $150,000 in prize money. The announcement aligns with the relaunch of SURFER and a special edition print magazine coming this summer.

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SURFER Announces Partnership With 2024 Big Wave Challenge (Photo: Business Wire)

“The Big Wave Challenge carries on the legacy of recognizing the extraordinary performance and commitment levels of big wave surfers,” said Bill Sharp, creator of the Big Wave Challenge. “This year, with SURFER on board, we can take this event to the next level to celebrate these incredible athletes and inspire the next generation of big wave riders.”

The Big Wave Challenge is the successor to the XXL Big Wave Awards, which was founded by Sharp in 2000. The competition’s unique format allows surfers from across the globe to participate throughout the year by photographically capturing their rides on the biggest swells. Footage is aggregated and shared with fans around the world. Nominees are announced at the end of the season and winners will be decided by an expert panel of judges and revealed at a gala award ceremony in Nazare, Portugal, on October 19, 2024.

“The big wave frontier has inspired and fed the imagination of surfers forever, and with more than 25 years of experience honoring the best of big wave surfing in the modern era, the tradition continues and the future is now,” said Jake Howard, Editor-in-Chief of SURFER. “Sponsoring the Big Wave Challenge with Bill Sharp is a perfect fit for us as we honor these athletes pushing the limits of the sport in the most harrowing conditions.”

During the competition, SURFER will lean into highlighting the rides, surfers, content creators, water safety personnel and their stories as the digital platform will be the official online hub for the Big Wave Challenge. More exciting developments to come in the weeks and months ahead.

To learn more about the Big Wave Challenge and dive into the latest big wave videos and stories, visit www.SURFER.com.

About The Arena Group

The Arena Group (NYSE American: AREN) is an innovative technology platform and media company with a proven cutting-edge playbook that transforms media brands. Our unified technology platform empowers creators and publishers with tools to publish and monetize their content, while also leveraging quality journalism of anchor brands like TheStreet, Parade, Men’s Journal and Athlon Sports to build their businesses. The company aggregates content across a diverse portfolio of over 265 brands, reaching over 100 million users monthly. Visit us at thearenagroup.net and discover how we are revolutionizing the world of digital media.

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