Photo: Wilson

Flynn Novak is currently the only surfer on earth who nails backflips on the regular. He pulled three just this winter. So now, he's eyeing an extension of this marvel -- the double backflip. Interview camera: Mike Nulty; Action footage: Ariel Wileford, Graham Nash, Bruno Lemos, Volcom

Axier Muniaian at Agiti. Photo: Greg Rabejac

On January 4th, big-wave history went down at Maui's infamous Jaws. For the first time ever, a collective effort was made to not tow and just paddle. Jetskis were only used for safety. While a few bombs surely went unridden, a tight crew of chargers had the luxury of positioning themselves to stroke in without the worry of a tow-surfer buzzing right past them. So how big is too big? Ian Walsh, pleading his case for "the sky is the limit." Photo: Batel Shimi

And with surfers pushing the realm of what is doable, big-wave safety has also increased. Last winter Shane Dorian unveiled the V1 (vertical ascent) wetsuit. Since then, a majority of the big-wave community has bought into the idea, many making slight alterations for their personal preference. And just a year later, 15 of the 35 surfers in the Jaws' lineup were wearing the V1 or something similar...allowing wives, girlfriends and family members to sleep just a little better at night. Photo: Tracy Kraft Leboe

Photo: ASP

It's clear by now that the Brazilian push is alive and well on the world scene. But when a little-known Brazilian surfer named Ricardo Wendhausen nailed this ridiculous backside 540 alley-oop and it began surfacing on social sites, a bigger question came up -- just how deep is the talent pool in South America? And how many more guys like Ricardo are lurking outside the limelight, waiting to become the next YouTube sensation? Video: F2 Productions

Chasing a swell is nothing new. And with increases in technology, it's not as trying an experience as it once was. But it's not a cakewalk either. During early January's XXL swell, Australian Jamie Mitchell was the lone soldier to do the NPAC trifecta -- surfing Waimea and Outer Reefs on the 4th, Maverick's on the 5th and finishing it off with Todos Santos on the 6th. With some serious logistical navigating needed to pull off this feat, you can bet Mitchell didn't forget his iPhone charger. Photo: Wilson