Globe Trotting: Winter’s Best Swells from All Around the World

I had not been to Fiji for many years and this was a pretty different trip as I didn't stay in the action packed islands, namely Namotu or Tavarua. Instead, I was on a small, rocky boat stationed near the judging tower at Cloudbreak. We got to see when it turned on out there. This shot is a result of that boat and a little knowledge knowing that late this day would be good. Here, Nat Young, Rookie of the Year stole the wave of the afternoon and gave me one of my favorite photos to date. Photo: Nate Smith from Highlights from the Weirdest Year Ever

Kelly Slater again on one of the most amazing waves I have seen ridden in a contest. I managed to shoot this from the Volcom boat that was anchored in the channel. I was standing next to my mate Andrew Christie yet we both have different perspectives. Shooting contests is always a challenge to get something that the next guy hasn't. KS got clipped at the end of the wave, but man it was a pretty special moment. Photo: Nate Smith from Highlights from the Weirdest Year Ever

 Golden hour. Photo: Matt Dunbar from Rewinding an Epic Year

Isaac Stant, about to bear the brunt of a massive mid-November swell at Jaws. Photo: Sofie Louca - Fish Bowl Diaries from World's Best Big Wave Surfers Converge on Massive Jaws

Shane Dorian, head over heels for Jaws. Photo: Sofie Louca - Fish Bowl Diaries from World's Best Big Wave Surfers Converge on Massive Jaws

Photo: Tim Hogan from Friday the 13th Goes off at Pipe

Not small. Photo: Ricky Lesser from Los Angeles Scores Epic Thanksgiving Swell

Photo: Tim Hogan from Friday the 13th Goes off at Pipe

Photo: Rui Boino from World Record Potential: Giant Waves Slam Nazaré

Photo: Matt O'Brien from San Francisco's Indian Summer

Greg was greeted with near-perfection. Photo: Frank Quirarte from The Long Trip Back: Greg Long Faces Cortes Bank and the Wave that Almost Killed Him

Massive peak of goodness that never ever comes to the South Bay. Photo: Ricky Lesser Los Angeles Scores Epic Thanksgiving Swell

Pulled back perfect Pipe. Photo: Matt Dunbar from The Epic Finale of the 2013 Billabong Pipe Masters

My feet have never been so numb, and I didn't even paddle out. Surfer: Pete Devries. Photo: Marcus Paladino from The Frozen Coast: Tofino Gold

Walking the plank. Photo: Donnie Hedden from A Pleasurable Experience: A Surf Trip through California

The last time we had waves we went to a spot up north that was super crowded so we wanted to find a uncrowded sandbar this time. We were literally the only ones out the whole time. Photo: Nick Denny from Southeast Swell Ignites Maryland Coast

Bottomless. Photo: RyanStruck from Super Swell Slams New Jersey

Mick Fanning moments after hearing he got the 9.7 that solidified his status as world champ. Photo: Matt Dunbar from The Epic Finale of the 2013 Billabong Pipe Masters

Kelly Slater. Photo: Matt Dunbar from The Epic Finale of the 2013 Billabong Pipe Masters

Photo: Tim Hogan from Friday the 13th Goes off at Pipe

Jamie O'Brien. Photo: Peter Joli Wilson from Pipeline Ignites Before Pipe Masters Final Day

Pipeline line-up. Photo: Peter Joli Wilson from Pipeline Ignites Before Pipe Masters Final Day

There was a little bit of swell in the water. The bone yard taking a direct hit as the prayer circle floats by. Photo: Seth Migdail from Game On! 2013 Mavericks Invitational Opening Ceremonies

Moments like these, California feels like a great place to be. Photo: Paul Greene from California Mid-Winter Fire

I won't tell you where this wave is, but let's just say it is not Sydney. The locals here love this place and I wish to return so out of respect, I won't name it. This wave was just insane and this was when I has fresh stitches in my foot. Seeing these peel off was killing me not being able to get in the water, but I think I made it look pretty inviting this way. Any surfer could nail this wave. It was crazy fun. Photo: Nate Smith from Highlights from the Weirdest Year Ever

Reaching for the roof. Photo: Seth Migdail from Ocean Beach Goes Off

Backlit sunset beauty. Photo: Seth Migdail from Ocean Beach Goes Off

Bryan Johnson gets a solo session in on a below zero morning. That's seasmoke on the surface caused by frigid temps hitting the high-30 water temps. Photo: Brian Nevins from Frigid Winter Surfing in New Hampshire

New Hampshire. Photo: Brian Nevins from Frigid Winter Surfing in New Hampshire

Mike Moran snow flurry surf at The Wall, New Hampshire. Photo: Brian Nevins from Frigid Winter Surfing in New Hampshire

Local boy Francisco Canelas hitting the lip on a set wave that looks more like G-Land's Money Trees. Photo: Joao Bracourt from Southern Portugal Steals Nazaré's Thunder

Winter paddle out. Photo: Mike Aronesty from An El Porto Winter

After a month long flat spell to start 2013. NJ surfers awoke to a a huge south swell with perfect rights. I love the looks on people faces when I tell them this is New Jersey. Photo: Christor Lukasiewicz from My Best Images of 2013

Tom Petriken opting to go left on a fun early spring day in Monmouth County. Photo: Christor Lukasiewicz from My Best Images of 2013

From the last big swell of the year in Monmouth County. Photo: Christor Lukasiewicz from My Best Images of 2013

Stay away from those cliffs! Photo: Andre Rapala from Hercules Hammers Portugal

Photo: Mickael Plisson/Shooting Karma64 from Hercules in France

Tranquility. Photo: Andy Potts from Perfection in 2013: Looking Back

I was lucky enough to meet up with Chris Burkard for some of this swell, along with Keith and Dan Malloy. The passion they all have for the ocean and surfing is beyond inspirational, and watching them all doing what they love these couple days was an epic experience. Heres Keith rolling over a morning bomb. Photo: Colin Nearman from California Winter Kicks into High Gear

Grant Baker racking up points. Photo: Nick Allen from Monster Mavericks Up Close

Kellen Ellison, winner of the 2014 Rincon Classic. Photo: Nick Liotta from The Queen and Her Faithful Servants: The 2014 Rincon Classic

Pure excitement. Photo: Adam Warmington from Massive Mavericks Invitational Sees Thumping Swell

Enormous sets stretch back to the horizon. Photo: Jose Pinto from Winter Storm Brigid Batters Nazaré with Massive Swell

Through the trees. Photo: Miles Jackler from The California Collection: Photos from an Amazing Stretch of Swell

Long, workable rights. Photo: Miles Jackler from The California Collection: Photos from an Amazing Stretch of Swell

Slater on his way to his second of two Pipe victories this winter. Photo: Bielmann from Kelly Slater Destroys Field, Takes Volcom Pipe Pro

A good pintail and a hollow wave are a wonderful thing. Photo: Aroyan from The Real Winter Wonderland: January in California

My wife Val, paddling back out into the serenity. Photo: Aroyan from The Real Winter Wonderland: January in California

The most famous fortress in surfing today. Photo: Joao Bracourt from Nazaré Bears Brunt of Brigid's Huge Swell

First day. The swell wasn't quite there yet, but we were the only boat out, plus one Jet ski. Sunny, glassy, amazing waves and a bunch of friends having a blast. What a memorable day. Photo: Claudia Boily from Todos Explodos: A Mission to Todos Santos

This one hurt to watch. Coco Nogales and Tim Reyes Photo: Claudia Boily from Todos Explodos: A Mission to Todos Santos

 During a record amount of snow days. Red Bank regional barrel barbarian, Alex Brooks. Photo: Mike Incitti from A Stormy, Snowy Atlantic Winter

Where the sun starts to glow. New Jersey. Photo: Mike Incitti from A Stormy, Snowy Atlantic Winter

Ain't no rest for the wicked. Asbury Park, NJ. Photo: Pete Milnes from Pumping East Coast Sessions

Snow-covered beaches halt crews from dredging, giving this sandbar a little extra longevity. Photo: Tim Leopold from Snow-folio: Tim Leopold