NEWPORT BEACH, CA - (March 20, 2014) - The end of winter has arrived today in the Northern Hemisphere, and thus concludes of the year-long event period of the 2014 Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Awards. The annual competition celebrates the best and biggest moments in the sport at every surf break in the world over the last 12 months, all based on the action being caught on camera.
The nominees in seven award categories will be revealed before the end of March, and the gala awards presentation is set for Friday, May 2 at the Grove Theater in Anaheim, California in front of an invitation-only crowd of 2,000. Currently, surfing fans can decide their own favorites among hundreds of still photos and video clips now on display on the event website at www.BillabongXXL.com.
The Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Awards feature a variety of divisions including the $50,000 Ride of the Year, Biggest Paddle, Best Tube, XXL Biggest Wave and the XXL Wipeout of the Year. There are also hotly-contested awards for the Surfline Best Overall Performance (male) and the Billabong Girls Best Performance (female). The 14th annual edition of the event features over $120,000 in cash prizes for the surfers and photographers.
This year's contenders for potential nomination are more global than ever before. Featured among the record number of entries are savage tubes in Ireland, Mexico, Tasmania, Tahiti, and Western Australia. Northern California's Maverick's is in the mix as always, as is Jaws on the Hawaiian Island of Maui, which experienced an unprecedented number of big paddle-in days along with the biggest tow-in day seen in some six years. Adding even more fuel to the XXL fire are the waves ridden in Europe during several mind-blowing swells this winter which produced amazing waves and hairy rides at Nazaré, Portugal. Those entries and all others will be closely reviewed for nomination potential based on both the level of performance, estimated face height, successful ride qualification and all other other criteria outlined for each of the categories in the extensive Billabong XXL rulebook.
"This was clearly the most outrageous year for extreme big waves in the fourteen years of the Billabong XXL Awards," said Event Director Bill Sharp. "It will be remembered as a time when nature provided a grand stage for the world's best big wave surfers to make global headlines taking on the swells produced by some of the most intense storms on record. Thanks to the performances and personalities of all these incredible athletes, big wave surfing has captured the attention of new fans worldwide like never before, and all eyes will be on who will win this year's Billabong XXL Big Wave Awards. Good luck to all."
No comments:
Post a Comment