WATCH: WSL Wipeout of the Year nominees

For surfers who know the feeling these wipeouts melt your insides.

But even for people that have never caught a wave in their lives there is something mesmerising, terrifying and sinfully joyful about watching these lunatics gather their courage, paddle over the edge of a mountain of water and completely lose it.

It takes years of fine tuning a body, preparing yourself to be able to take on one of these, not to even mention the screw-loose madness/nerve to actually paddle out there.

When it goes right there is no better feeling in the world, apparently, for these guys.

When it goes wrong there is little doubt it is a life or death situation.

All five of these guys made it out safely and have already caught even bigger waves since.

These are the nominees for the World Surf League Big Wave Awards Wipeout of the Year.

And they are great viewing.