Not long ago, we wrote about how Hawaii and the West Coast were missing from the 2026 Big Wave Challenge entirely, and how Bill Sharp said the awards would have been canceled if not for Mullaghmore and Teahupo’o. Luckily, the show went on and, on Saturday night, the winners were announced. Natxo Gonzalez took Men’s Ride of the Year for his paddle-in monster at Mullaghmore. Tom Lowe, another Mullaghmore standout whose comeback from near-death was the story of the year, took Men’s Surfer of the Year. Izzi Gomez earned Women’s Ride of the Year at Teahupo’o. Rodrigo Koxa and Michelle Des Bouillons took the Biggest Wave categories, both at Nazaré, where every nominated wave in the division came from. Justine Dupont was named Women’s Surfer of the Year. Grant Baker took Men’s Paddle at Nazaré. Zoe Chait took Women’s Paddle at Todos Santos. Alberto Truncer took Wipeout of the Year. And Ian Pegoraro of Maui took Young Gun.…