Sebastian Steudtner

Steudtner grew up in Germany, Nuremberg being his hometown. At age 16 he moved to Hawaii, on his own and with only the reluctant acquiescence of his parents, to pursue a surfing career.^[5]

Steudtner won the 2010, 2015 and 2021 WSL Biggest Wave awards.^[5] Steudtner was engaged to speak and work with English Premier League team Liverpool, conveying lessons and exercises from his surfing experience.^[6][7][8][9]

On October 29, 2020, in Nazaré, Portugal, he surfed a 26.21 m (86.0 ft) tall wave, the tallest measured wave ever surfed.^[10] The record was authenticated by the World Surf League as part of the Red Bull Big Wave Awards.^[4]

In an interview in 2021, Steudtner said that with improvements in rescue and support equipment, waves that are "much bigger" than currently could be surfed, and that that was his goal.^[11]

In 2024, Steudtner surfed a wave measured at 28.57 m (93.7 ft) at the same location. If officially ratified, it would surpass his own world record of the tallest wave ever surfed. ^[12]

Steudtner's girlfriend and tow partner until 2021 was Maya Gabeira, who is the record holder for the tallest wave ever surfed by a woman, at 20.8 m (68.2 ft).^[13] They continue to support each other professionally.