Surfers Ride Giant Waves Around the World - Billabong XXL

While surfers in the Northern Hemisphere await the arrival of El Niño-fueled big winter waves, there has been no shortage of massive swells around the world in the last six months. Just last week, Shipstern Bluff -- a notoriously shallow wave off the southern tip of Tasmania, Australia -- produced some of the most spectacular rides of the year and triggered numerous entries into the BILLABONG XXL GLOBAL BIG WAVE AWARDS. Spawned by a massive storm in the Southern Ocean, the huge swell was challenged by a group of big wave chargers including Aussies MARTI PARADISIS and KARL ATKINS, who used jet powered watercraft to tow into the towering walls of water. Visiting surfer JAMES HICK -- who hails from the unlikely hometown of Jersey, England -- accomplished some of the day's most heart-stopping rides. The devilish Tasmanian surf session also featured its share of spectacular wipeouts. Despite the bone-jarring impacts, there were no serious injuries. Successfully completed waves are now candidates for the BILLABONG XXL RIDE OF THE YEAR AWARD and its US$50000 first prize. The tenth annual BILLABONG XXL AWARDS take place in California next April and honor the biggest and best rides of the previous twelve months, anywhere in the world, based on the photographic evidence. Other top rides to date include a huge paddle-in wave by GREG LONG at Puerto Escondido, Mexico. LONG, from San Clemente, California, is no stranger to the XXL stage, having won the 2009 Ride of the Year