Surfing, Kiteboarding, Windsurfing and Bodyboarding News Center. Breaking News, Surfing Games, Surf Movies, Board Size Charts, Surf Videos, Wind and Wave Forecasts, Surf Shop, Surf Spots, Surf Cams, Surf Travel.
Countdown for the 2012 Billabong XXL Big Wave Awards
Tuesday, 20 March 2012 11:52

Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Awards: time to measure giants

The entry period for the 2012 Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Awards is over. The Northern Hemisphere leaves winter and enters a warmer temperature. Fortunately, the world's best waves and surfers will also be getting heated up for the moment of decisions.


Nominations will be announced before the end of this month, with the awards presentation set for Friday, May 4 at the Grove Theater in Anaheim, California before an invitation-only crowd of 2,000 surf world VIPs.

The Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Awards feature an array of categories including the $50,000 Ride of the Year, Monster Paddle, Monster Tube, XXL Biggest Wave and the Verizon Wireless Wipeout of the Year. There are also "world champ" awards for the Surfline Best Overall Performance (male) and the Billabong Girls Best Performance (female).

The 12th annual edition of the event features over $120,000 in cash prizes for the surfers and photographers. The selection of five finalists in each category is currently being determined via a straw vote of the "XXL Academy," a group of over 400 surfers and photographers who have entered the competition over the last dozen years.

According to Billabong XXL event director, there is a philosophical discussion underway amongst the competitors themselves about what constitutes the best of big wave surfing this year.

"This year it comes down to what should matter most - Total Completion vs. Total Commitment. On many of the most talked-about waves this year the surfer did not stay on top of his board to the very end of the shoulder, although it may have been incredibly close", says Bill Sharp.

"The rules say a surfer should complete 'the meaningful portion of the wave' but exactly what is meaningful depends on who is looking at it. And that's why the selection of the nominees and voting for the winner are in the hands of the surfers and photographers."

What isn't being debated is this season's status as one of the most spectacular in the history of surfing. "Biggest ever" or "heaviest ever" swells were challenged by surfers using jet ski tow-ins at a wide array of the world's legendary big wave breaks, including Teahupoo in Tahiti, Nazare in Portugal, Mullaghmore Head in Ireland and Shipstern Bluff in Tasmania.

Epic paddle-in sessions also gained global attention at spots like Jaws in Hawaii, Maverick's in California, Cloudbreak in Fiji and Mexico's Todos Santos and Puerto Escondido.


 

Join our surfing community in Facebook!   Get the top news stories in your Twitter account!   SurferToday.com on Google +   Follow us on Pinterest   SurferToday on Youtube

The best surf watches in the world
Wave Height Forecast
Wind Speed and Direction Forecast
Wave Period
Surf Videos
Surf Books
Surf Movies
Online Surfing Games

SURFING

Riding a 15-foot Teahupoo wave with Shane Dorian
21/05/2013
article thumbnail

Shane Dorian has captured all the glory of a 15-foot Teahupoo wave with his surf camera mount.
We've seen Shane Dorian tasting the power of Nazaré and speaking about the wave of his life. The big wave surfer born on the July 19, 1972, in Hawaii, has published an impressive picture, directly from the Tahitian pit. The mid-May swell that hit "The End of the Road" brought huge, perfect tube rides to the French Polynesian island. Dorian was there to ride the wild beast.


Jordy Smith wins the Billabong Rio Pro 2013
19/05/2013
article thumbnail

Jordy Smith has conquered the Billabong Pro Rio 2013, in clean two-to-four foot (1 meter) waves, at the primary site of Barra da Tijuca, in front of thousands of surf fans.
The best ocean conditions of the entire Billabong Pro Rio 2013 came in the finals' day, with Jordy Smith beating Adriano de Souza in the last heat of the last day of the event waiting period. Win it or break it. Adriano de Souza and Jordy Smith were up and riding with different trumps under their belts. The Brazilian w [ ... ]


+ Surfing News

KITEBOARDING

Pudla Narapichit hailed Kiteboard Tour Asia 2012/2013 champion
21/05/2013
article thumbnail

Pudla Narapichit and Doque Delos Santos have been crowned the Kiteboard Tour Asia 2012/2013 champions.
With 120 riders from 30 countries, the final and decisive Chinese stage once again broke all records, at Pingtan Island, also known as Haitan Island. The spot is regarded as China's windiest location - regular wind speeds of over 30 knots are recorded over the winter monsoon season and all of the island's old traditional style stone houses need to have rocks placed on top of their tiled roo [ ... ]


Kitesurfing in India kicks off with the Red Bull Quila Surf
20/05/2013
article thumbnail

The first kitesurfing competition will hit India, between 23rd-25th May, at Mandwa. The Red Bull Quila Surf will showcase 70 Indian kitesurfers in the water.
The costal district of Raigad is ready for action. The Red Bull Quila Surf is the first ever kitesurfing competition in the country and anxiety grows. Ines Correia, the 2011 Kite Surf Pro (KSP) World Tour champion from Portugal, has been invited to judge the riders based on speed, maneuverability and attitude.


+ Kitesurfing News

WINDSURFING

Taty Frans and Kiri Thode blast the Curacao Challenge 2013
17/05/2013
article thumbnail

Taty Frans and Kiri Thode have claimed the Slalom and Freestyle titles at the Curacao Challenge 2013, in the Netherlands Antilles.
A total of 85 windsurfers from some of the world's best sailing countries like Bonaire, Aruba and Curacao competed in front of hundreds of spectators. The 5th edition of the Curacao Challenge showcased an high level of competition mixed with a great atmosphere. The event held a Tow-In Freestyle contest, Slalom races and a SUP battle.


The windsurfing book for young people
14/05/2013
article thumbnail

"Go Windsurfing!" is a windsurfing book for young people published by the Royal Yachting Association.
Written and illustrated by Claudia Myatt, "RYA Go Windsurfing!" offers easy reading style and engaging content to children aged between 7-12 years old. The entertaining and clear format takes the reader from the beginnings through to starting to race and what they need to know to stay safe while out windsurfing. There is also an informative section at the back which explores Windsurfing amaz [ ... ]


+ Windsurfing News

BODYBOARDING

Lachlan Cramsie takes the Arica Chilean Challenge Trials 2013
21/05/2013
article thumbnail

Lachlan Cramsie has stolen the 2013 GoPro IBA Arica Chilean Challenge Trials, in solid and glassy 4-6 foot barreling waves at El Gringo, Chile.
The Australian rider defeated Ruben "Babby" Quiñones, George Humphreys and Roberto Bruno in the final and decisive heat. Nevertheless, all the best seven trialists secured a spot in the main event, where they will compete against the top 24 Grand Slam Series bodyboarders and event wildcards Alan Espinoza, Jake Stone and Diego Cabrera.


Dan Ryan air drops into vertical Teahupoo
15/05/2013
article thumbnail

Dan Ryan has scored epic air drops into deep barrels, in Teahupoo, Tahiti, during the largest swell of the year.
The adrenaline-fueled 13th May 2013 has been considered an historical big wave surfing day, in the French Polynesian island. Too big to paddle-in, too vertical for surfers. No worries. Dan Ryan, member of the big wave bodyboarding club, was one of the few prone riders defying fear, at the Teahupoo bowl. When the moment came, he went for it, big time.


+ Bodyboarding News