Surfing, Kitesurfing, Windsurfing and Bodyboarding News Center. Breaking News, Surfing Games, Surf Movies, Wind and Wave Forecasts, Surf Videos, Photos, Board Size Charts, Surf Shop, Surf Spots, Surf Schools, Surfcams, RSS Feeds.
Finalists announced for the Oakley Surfing Life Big Wave Awards Print E-mail
Monday, 15 February 2010 11:08

Is this big enough? Mark Mathews won last year's Oakley Surfing Life Big Wave Awards'

We’re now down to six Biggest Wave nominees, four Biggest Paddle-In contenders, and six possible Biggest Slabs from the 50-plus entries registered with organisers over the past eight months.

In just 10 days, Mark Mathews will know if he’s repeated his Biggest Wave win from 2009, or if he’s taken out the new category of Biggest Slab – or both! He’s been nominated in two divisions for a wave he rode off south-west Oz in June last year.

‘When I saw the wave coming I knew it was going to be the biggest barrel I’d ever ridden.
I’m so stoked I made it through to the finals two years in a row, not to mention in two categories! In Australia, we get big waves, but absolutely huge barrels, almost leading the world in that arena, so it’s great to have a reward (Biggest Slab) for riding those waves!’

But Mathews faces super tough opposition, notably from Aussie junior star Dean Bowen, who got an absolute monster recorded as part of a special juniors-only to surfing contest late last year off a remote piece of South Aussie coast.

Biggest Slab challengers include BWA perennial Alfy Cater, and several rides from the notorious Tasmanian spot, Shipstern Bluff, while Paddle-in contenders include two New Zealanders – one being two-time Paddle-in winner Doug Young.

Finalists

Biggest Wave
Dean Bowen (South Australia)
Laurie Towner (Western Australia)
Mark Visser (Western Australia)
Mark Mathews (Western Australia)
Marti Paradisis (Tasmania)
Damon Gunness (New Zealand)

Biggest Paddle-in
Doug Young (New Zealand)
Sandy Ryan (Tasmania)
Ian Chalmers (Tasmania)
Shayne Baxter (New Zealand)

Biggest Slab
Mark Mathews (Western Australia)
Alfy Cater (Western Australia)
Ryan Hipwood (Tasmania)
James Hick (Tasmania)
Paul Morgan (Southern NSW)
James Holmer-Cross (Tasmania)

The judging panel will now go into overdrive to pick these amazing rides to pieces in time to present the Awards at a star-studded evening at Bondi’s Open Air Cinema on February 17.


SOURCE: Oakley Surfing Life Big Wave Awards


 

Join our surfing community in Facebook!  Get the top news stories in your Twitter account!  SurferToday.com on Google +  Subscribe our RSS News Feeds | Add Surfing, Kiteboarding, Windsurfing or Bodyboarding News to your blog or site!  SurferToday.com news stories on your iGoogle!

Check the Wave Height Forecast for your surfing region
Check the Wind Forecast for your surfing region
Check the Peak Wave Period for your next surf session
Play free online Surfing Games
Watch the best and the latest Surf Videos
Discover the best Surf Watches in the market
The biggest waves ever surfed
A collection of beautiful Surf Photos and wonderful surfer girls
The most complete list of Surf Books
The most complete list of Surf Movies

SURFING

Kelly Slater is the 2012 Laureus Action Sportsperson of the Year

Tuesday, 07 February 2012

SurferToday.com | Surfing News Center Kelly Slater has been named 2012 Laureus Action Sportsperson of the Year. The 11-time world surfing champion from Cocoa Beach, Florida, has won his fourth Laureus Award, equalling the record of Roger Federer, the only other four-time winner. The US surfer has confirmed his 11th world surfing title, a few months before reaching 40 years of age, which will occur on the 11th February. Kelly Slater is considered the best surfer of all time. He has been competing in pro surfing for more than two...
+ Full Wave

Taylor Jensen keeps world longboard domination

Tuesday, 07 February 2012

SurferToday.com | Surfing News Center Taylor Jensen has won the 2012 Australasian ASP Longboard Qualifying Series event at Sandy Bay, Whangarei, New Zealand. The 2011 ASP world champion in the longboard division defeated Mitch Surman, Thomas Kibblewhite and Jared Neal in the final heat. Jensen's opening ride was a near flawless 9.0 (out of a possible 10) and the smooth natural footer linked a long hang ten nose ride with a number of fin-waft re-entries to take the lead in the heat held in 1 – 1.5 meter waves.Jensen’s second...
+ Full Wave

+ Surfing News

KITESURFING

The complete 2012 PKRA World Tour schedule

Tuesday, 07 February 2012

SurferToday.com | Surfing News Center The 2012 PKRA World Tour schedule has been announced. The world's finest kiteboarding championship will kick off in Dakhla, Morocco, on the 28th March, with a Freestyle contest. Riders loved the atmosphere of the Dakhla Attitude camp and the perfect conditions that the lagoon had to offer. It's promising to be an exciting year with 15 destinations on the calendar giving the opportunity to riders from the farthest corners of the hearth to partake in a PKRA event. There will be 11 Freestyle...
+ Full Wave

The 2012 Kite Surf Pro unveils qualification system

Tuesday, 07 February 2012

SurferToday.com | Surfing News Center The Kite Surf Pro World Championship has released the qualification system for the 2012 season, in cooperation with the International Kiteboarding Association (IKA). All wave kiteboarders have the opportunity to compete against each other in the exciting world competition. The 24 slots for the 24 riders male fleet are allocated as follows: top 8 riders from previous season are pre-qualified; two wildcards awarded by the KSP Tour, two wildcards awarded by the PKRA and two local...
+ Full Wave

+ Kitesurfing News

WINDSURFING

Camille Juban joins MauiSails windsurfing team

Tuesday, 07 February 2012

SurferToday.com | Surfing News Center Camille Juban has signed a contract deal with MauiSails. The hot Guadeloupe young wavesailor has recently won the AWT Ho'okipa Makani Classic wave contest, against a strong fleet of some of the world best sailors. "I'm really excited for 2012. I've worked hard for many years and I look forward to working with a leading brand in MauiSails. I believe this will help me take my sailing to another level", says Camille Juban. Given the opportunity, Juban decided to use MauiSails to help push his...
+ Full Wave

Paulo dos Reis claims the 2012 Downunder Pro

Monday, 06 February 2012

SurferToday.com | Surfing News Center Paulo dos Reis has captured the 2012 Downunder Pro, at picturesque Jimmy’s Beach, Hawks Nest, Australia. The Brazilian racer dominated the four-day regatta by winning all 7 races over the event ahead of Jesper Vesterstrøm, from Denmark, and 56 other windsurfers. "This was the first time I’ve come to Australia and I was very impressed with the hospitality and the great racing conditions. It was windy, and that’s the conditions I like, so I’m very happy to win and I will definitely be...
+ Full Wave

+ Windsurfing News

BODYBOARDING

Rip Curl and Pierre-Louis Costes extend partnership until 2014

Tuesday, 07 February 2012

SurferToday.com | Surfing News Center Pierre-Louis Costes has resigned a sponsorship contract deal with Rip Curl, for two years. The 2011 IBA world bodyboard champion has been working with the surfing brand, one the "Big Four", for quite a while. The partnership between Rip Curl and Pierre Louis Costes is running since 2002, with only one goal: claiming the world title. But Pierre-Louis Costes had to work hard and to win other contests until the golden moment. The Frenchman living in Portugal won six national U18 French...
+ Full Wave

Future Hawaiian pros competed at Makapuu Beach

Monday, 06 February 2012

SurferToday.com | Surfing News Center Kahekili Labatte and Summer Hilen have won the Men and Women Open Am divisions of the first event of the 2012 USBA Science Hawaii Regional Tour, held at Makapuu Beach. It's always great to see riders from across the state competing in difficult and challenging wave conditions. All division had their standouts, however it was Summer Hilen in the Open Women's, Tanner McDaniel in the 13-17, JB Hilen in the Drop-Knee, Kawika Kamai in 12 and Under and Kahekili Labette in the Open Am that really...
+ Full Wave

+ Bodyboarding News