Puerto Escondido, Jaws, and The Right are the locations nominated for "Ride of the Year" 2014/2015 at the World Surf League (WSL) Big Wave Awards.
Despite the breathtaking sessions that took place in Nazaré, which attracted riders from all corners of the globe, the European big wave location is once again left out of the most coveted category.
Three of the five "Ride of the Year" nominations took place on July 5th, 2014, at Puerto Escondido, Mexico - skimboarder Brad Domke, Shane Dorian (who has a second nomination from Jaws) and Gabriel Villaran rode the beasts. The remaining entrant is Dean Morrison for an impressive ride at Western Australia's The Right.
The "Paddle Award" is the second most valuable prize. The winner will take $20,000 for paddling into the biggest wave of the year. Grant "Twiggy" Baker (Jaws and Pico Alto), Jamie Mitchell and Nic Vaughan (Mavericks) and Damien Hobgood (Punta de Lobos) are the nominated chargers in this category.
The World Surf League (WSL) Big Wave Awards relegates the "Biggest Wave" of the year to third place, with a prize of $10,000 for the winning surfer. Sebastian Steudtner, Ross Clarke-Jones and Hugo Vau caught the monsters in Nazaré while Mick Corbett and Jarryd Foster survived Cow Bombie.
Barrels in large surf may be spectacular, but with only $5,000 for the winning surfer it seems like the danger factor loses relevance in the "Tube Award" division. Dean Morrison, Brad Norris and Chris Ross found a shelter at The Right, Matachi Drollet was towed into a monstrous pit at Teahupoo, and Mick Corbett got barreled at Cow Combie.
The World Surf League (WSL) Big Wave Awards will take place at the Grove Theater in Anaheim, California on May 1st, 2015.
Ride of the Year 2014/2015 | $50,000 | Nominees
Brad Domke (Wabasso Beach, Florida, USA) at Puerto Escondido, Mexico on July 5, 2014
Shane Dorian (Kona, Hawaii, USA) at Jaws, Maui, Hawaii on November 12, 2014
Shane Dorian (Kona, Hawaii, USA) at Puerto Escondido, Mexico on July 5, 2014
Dean Morrison (Gold Coast, Australia) at The Right, Australia on April 18, 2014
Gabriel Villaran (Punta Hermosa, Peru) at Puerto Escondido, Mexico on July 5, 2014
Paddle Award 2014/2015 | $20,000 | Nominees
Grant Baker (Durban, South Africa) at Jaws, Maui, Hawaii on November 12, 2014
Grant Baker (Durban, South Africa) at Pico Alto, Peru on July 3, 2014
Damien Hobgood (Satellite Beach, Florida, USA) at Punta de Lobos, Chile on May 5, 2014
Jamie Mitchell (Gold Coast, Australia) at Maverick's, California on December 20, 2014
Nic Vaughan (Rancho Palos Verdes, California, USA) at Maverick's, California on December 20, 2014
XXL Biggest Wave Award 2014/2015 | $10,000 | Nominees
Ross Clarke-Jones (Avoca Beach, New South Wales, Australia) at Nazaré, Portugal on December 11, 2014
Mick Corbett (Perth, WA, Australia) at Cow Bombie, Australia on August 9, 2014
Jarryd Foster (Dodges Ferry, Tasmania, Australia) at Cow Bombie, Australia on August 9, 2014
Sebastian Steudtner (Nuremberg, Germany) at Nazaré, Portugal on December 11, 2014
Hugo Vau (Terceira, Azores, Portugal) at Nazaré, Portugal on December 11, 2014
Tube Award 2014/2015 | $5,000 | Nominees
Mick Corbett (Perth, WA, Australia) at Cow Bombie, Australia on August 9, 2014
Matahi Drollet (Tahiti, French Polynesia) at Teahupoo, Tahiti on September 11, 2014
Dean Morrison (Gold Coast, Australia) at The Right, Australia on April 18, 2014
Brad Norris (Perth, WA, Australia) at The Right, Australia on April 18, 2014
Chris Ross (Margaret River, WA, Australia) at The Right, Australia on April 18, 2014