Wilem Banks

Santa Cruz charger Wilem Banks is one of the West Coast’s fiercest big wave surfers with a track record that turns heads. He’s carved his name on massive faces from Mavericks to Jaws, earning Ride of the Year at the 2024 Mavericks Surf Awards after a knee‑buckling airdrop that stuck and turned heads in the lineup. Wilem’s paddling into giant walls at Peahi has put him in the mix with the world’s best and landed him an alternate invite to the prestigious Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational on Oahu’s North Shore. Raw power, calm focus, and a willingness to go big make him a standout in Santa Cruz and beyond.