Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Awards Webcast on Friday
The world's best big wave surfers have begun gathering in Southern California ahead of Friday night's Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Awards presented by Monster Energy at the Grove Theater in Anaheim.
Some 2000 surf industry VIPs will watch the invitation-only show, while a multimedia webcast will bring the entire program as it happens to big wave fans around the world. The webcast is scheduled to get underway with live red-carpet interviews at 6:00 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time on www.BillabongXXL.com
Nominees for the XXL Award for the biggest wave ridden anywhere in the world over the last year include Californians Don Curry (Carmel) and Tyler Smith (Santa Cruz) for their startling rides at Ghost Trees, the recently discovered surf spot located just off the 18th Hole of the famed Pebble Beach Golf Links on the Monterey Peninsula. Also in contention for the XXL prize of $1000 per foot -- at least $60,000 -- are Hawaiians Shane Dorian (Kona), Dan Moore and Garrett McNamara (both of Sunset Beach) who rode their waves at the Jaws/Peahi break off the North Shore of Maui. Last year's winner was Maui waterman Pete Cabrinha, who earned $70,000 for his world-record 70-footer at Jaws.
Nominees for the Monster Paddle Award for the biggest wave of the year caught by arm-power alone include California's Shane Desmond (Santa Cruz) and Greg Long (San Clemente) for their bombs at Maverick's in March, and Hawaiians Shane Dorian (Kona) and brothers Andy and Bruce Irons (Hanalei) who caught theirs at Waimea Bay in December. A panel of experts will review the photos and videos and the rider of the wave deemed to be the biggest by the panel of experts will receive $10,000.
This year's XXL introduces a new category -- the Monster Women's Award. Two female surfers are contending for the best big wave performance -- Californians Jamiliah Star (Santa Cruz) and Kim Hamrock (Huntington Beach). The award carries a prize of $5000.
The Monster Tube Award will celebrate this year's most impressive journeys through the Green Room. The cosmopolitan list of nominees includes Hawaiian Archie Kalepa and Brazilians Danilo Couto and Eraldo Gueiros (each thoroughly covered up at Jaws), Australian Dylan Longbottom at Shipstern Bluff, Tasmania and Tahitian Raimana Van Bastolaer at Teahupoo in French Polynesia. The barrel of the year receives a $5000 bounty.
Also being named on Friday evening will be the winner of the Surfline/Jay Moriarity Best Overall Performance Award and its $5000 bounty.
The Fifth Annual Billabong XXL Awards are presented by Monster Energy, Honda watercraft, Surfing Magazine, Dodge Trucks and High Surf Accessories. Surfline.com is the official surf forecaster.
The finalists, in alphabetical order:
Billabong XXL Biggest Wave Award Nominees:
Don Curry (Carmel, CA) at Ghost Trees, Pebble Beach, California on March 9, 2005
Shane Dorian (Kona, HI) at Peahi/Jaws, Maui, Hawaii on January 17, 2005
Garrett McNamara (Pupukea, HI) at Peahi/Jaws, Maui, Hawaii on December 15, 2004
Dan Moore (Sunset Beach, HI) at Peahi/Jaws, Maui, Hawaii on December 15, 2004
Tyler Smith (Santa Cruz, CA) at Ghost Trees, Pebble Beach, California on March 9, 2005
Monster Biggest Paddle Wave Award Nominees
Shane Desmond (Santa Cruz, CA) at Maverick's, California on March 2, 2005 [during the Maverick's Surf Contest]
Shane Dorian (Kona, HI) at Waimea Bay, Oahu, Hawaii on December 15, 2004 [during the Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau contest]
Andy Irons (Hanalei, HI) at Waimea Bay, Oahu, Hawaii on December 15, 2004 [during the Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau contest]
Bruce Irons (Hanalei, HI) at Waimea Bay, Oahu, Hawaii on December 15, 2004 [during the Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau contest]
Greg Long (San Clemente, CA) at Maverick's, California on March 2, 2005 [during the Maverick's Surf Contest]
Monster Tube Award Nominees:
Danilo Couto (Brazil) at Peahi/Jaws, Maui, Hawaii on December 15, 2004
Eraldo Gueiros (Brazil) at Peahi/Jaws, Maui, Hawaii on December 15, 2004
Archie Kalepa (Maui) at Peahi/Jaws, Maui, Hawaii on December 15, 2004
Dylan Longbottom (Australia) at Shipstern Bluff, Tasmania, Australia on February 19, 2005
Raimana Van Bastolaer (Tahiti) at Teahupoo, Tahiti on April 22, 2004
The Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Awards are presented by Monster Energy, Honda watercraft and Surfing Magazine. Surfline is the official Surf Forecaster.
Source: Global Surf News
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