When it comes to waves of unusual size and power, 2026 may not go down in history as the “biggest ever,” but it still packed a punch, and more than that, it showcased just how wide-ranging and diverse the scene has become in recent years. The nominees for the 2026 Big Wave Challenged exemplify this. Consider all of the Ride of the Year nominees, both men and women, come to us from either Teahupo’o in the South Pacific or Mullaghmore Head in the North Atlantic. Traditional big-wave fields like Peah’i, Waimea, Maverick’s, Todos Santos, or even Dungeon’s didn’t factor into that specific category at all. To be fair, Todos is a player in the Paddle category, but you get the point. Girth, weight, and heaviness have taken over the spotlight, while sheer height does not always take the cake. Of course, in the Biggest Wave category one spot is responsible for every nominee: Nazaré.…