Winners announced at the Oakley Big Wave Awards
In a gala evening, attended by a star-studded celebratory audience and the who’s who of the surf industry, four Australian men have been crowned the champions of Big Wave Surfing in Australian waters for 2015.
The premier Biggest Wave category came down to a tight, cross-country battle between two surf spots far removed from the safety of the Australian coastline – Cow Bombie in south-west WA and Pedra Branca, a day’s sail off the coast of Tasmania. Rohan Annesley and Jarryd Foster, two underground chargers from Western Australia tackled two huge waves at Cow Bombie, and Justen ‘Jughead’ Allport, an East Coast big wave luminary, ventured to Pedra Branca for his attempt at the prize. Jarryd Foster, however, walked away from the battle with the $20,000 winner’s cheque, making a cross-country journey for work all the more worthwhile (see photo below by Jamie Scott).
“It was such a special day of waves. I’m originally from the south-west of Western Australia, but have relocated to Tasmania and have been living there for the past two years. Funnily enough, I was back in Western Australia for work for a really short period of time when this swell popped up. It was the biggest I had seen out at Cow Bombie and definitely the cleanest it gets at this size. I had to scramble to borrow a wetsuit and borrow some boards and luckily for me I got towed into this wave, on all borrowed gear, and it’s turned out to be the biggest! Living in Tasmania now, with all of the big wave chargers around me, helping me to feel home and a part of their community, this is really a victory for both of the big wave crews from either side of the country. I think I will have to share the prize with the local West Australian lads, especially Mick Corbett and Rohan Annesley who were out there early with me with no one else around, and, of course, shout myself a surf trip!”
In recent years, the Biggest Paddle-In category has made a resurgence in popularity and competition as more and more surfers return to the pure art of Paddle-In surfing. In both 2013 and 2014, a man most of the surfing world only know as ‘Camel’ walked away with a convincing victory. He’d hoped to make it three years in a row, and was one of the three finalists, accompanying the Gold Coast's Jamie Mitchell, but perennial favourite and long-time Big Wave Surfing aficionado, the Sunshine Coast’s Mark Visser, walked away with the $5,000 winner’s cheque (see photo below by Jamie Scott).
Mark comes from a part of Australia not very well known for big waves. The Sunshine Coast breeds hungry, talented and skilful small wave surfers, but it’s definitely not known for its big surf, nor surfers who can hold their own in surf of the twenty foot plus variety. Mark, however, has earned his big wave stripes over the past decade through intense training, innumerable hours spent in the water at some of the world’s heaviest big wave locations and by pitting himself against the best big wave surfers in the world. This year, all that preparation and training has paid off, in the form of $5,000.
“I missed the big swell that eventuated in Jarryd’s winning ride as I was at my father in-law’s funeral. In a light-hearted way I had a private moment with him in my head, thinking ‘send me another swell from up there,’ and the next thing you know, I’m stroking into this waves only a couple of weeks later. At the start, I was out there completely by myself and I was getting smashed. It’s tough out there, you’re so far out to sea there’s no real reference points to line yourself up with. I was glad to be getting belted by so many sets though, as when they’re that consistent it makes you feel like they might be scaring the big sharks away! The other two finalists, Camel and Jamie Mitchell, turned up with photographer Jamie Scott and we figured out the lineup pretty quickly after that. On this wave, I thought I was too deep, but I saw the line I wanted to take and just went anyway. My fins only just held in, and I barely bottom-turned around the mass of whitewater, but I made it, and ended up pulling off next to Jamie in the channel who was riding the wave as well. On this trip, I only packed my large paddle board, I wasn’t interested in towing, I wanted to tackle Cow Bombie without the temptation to tow, and in this case, I’m very glad that I did!”
Perennial Biggest Slab Award contender and favourite, Western Australia’s Chris Ross, has finally walked away with the prize for tackling the heaviest, thickest wave over the past 12 months. Chris, a local in the frigid, cold, sharky, dangerous waters of Australia’s south-west, is a consistent stand-out in waves of consequence and is one of a handful of West Australian surfers to charge the notorious break of The Right regularly. Chris, or Crossy as he is known to his mates, would be out at The Right charging death-defying waves whether there was cameras in the water or not and this is well-deserved victory for a man who loves nothing more than tackling huge surf, with or without reward (see photo below by Russel Ord).
“If you fall off in the wrong spot at The Right you can go over the ledge and it can pull you down thirty feet or more, bust your ear drums and you might not know how to get back to the surface. The lip could seriously tear your head off out there. I’ve had some shocking wipeouts there over there years, even on this wave I didn’t make it out of the huge amount of whitewater at the end, but the stall and giant barrel at the beginning were more than worth it. I’m stoked to finally take the Slab Prize, I’ll be back out there next swell trying to nail it again, for sure!”
This year, the awards’ saw the introduction of an additional winning category, the Viewer’s Choice Award. For the first time in the awards’ 13-year history, Oakley and Surfing Life handed over some of the deciding power to the surfing community, who voted over a two week period for their favourite entry. While Justen Allport narrowly missed out on the Biggest Wave category win this year, his peers and fans alike chose his ride as the Viewer’s Choice winner. Justen, nickname Jughead, not only receives the kudos, respect and admiration from his peers and fans, but an expenses-paid trip for two to the luxurious, perfect-surf-blessed Macaronis Resort in the Mentawai Islands of Indonesia awaits him in 2015.
Surfing Life’s Oakley Big Wave Awards have come to highlight a side of surfing that’s way beyond both the recreational mainstream and the professional competitive arena – a zone where seemingly normal people take seemingly outlandish risks, with seemingly little concern for fame or renown. No contest singlets, no ratings points, just one really big wave.
Comments
Biggest wave overall?
Based on those photos, you'd have to reckon the biggest paddle wave is right up there with the biggest tow wave.
Its worth seeing the whole sequences before making judgement of wave size . Theres even some video documentation too .
It was a great night and the biggest wave winner Jarryd Foster was the deserved winner for the largest wave ridden. But as Makua Rothman said on the night that the judging-criteria has to change.
The real winner of the $20k will have to be deemed the BEST RIDE - (tow or paddle)
Hopefully Oakley & ASL will take a good look at what most of us would agree
would be the right way to go.
For sure, $20k for being towed in vs $5 for sitting there, holding on to your nuts and throwing yourself over the edge?
Paddle award is vastly inferior to the tow award. Should be the other way around.
For many years i have suggested that the prize money is unbalanced . I reckon that each division should get 10 k each . In the past my suggestions have fallen on deaf ears but this time they maybe listening . Thanks to jughead allport & makua rothman who brang it up on stage . You guys are legends ( jug was in the tow in division so that makes it even more important ) i was happy to see chris ross win somthing finally even tho a lot of ppl rated dingos ride ) becos its quite clear that hes the master at the right . If you check out all of the pictures on the competition website youll see what i mean . It was disapointing that only 3 guys were chosen as finalists in the paddle in division yet 6 were chosen in the
The biggest wave division had 6 guys & biggest slab 3 guys . So thats = 9 tow ers went to sydney . And just 3 invites for paddle ! 3 paddlers compared to 9 tow in ! A bit backwards ! invited to the pressos in sydney , That is a bit wrong i think . Considering the waves that would have been in the best 6 for paddle in . I was suprised by the final 3 paddlers chosen .i had leroy rust & russ bierke in my top 3 paddle ins
The 6 finalists for the biggest wave was a hard one to pick the winner of i thought so i didnt have expectations . My top 6 votes were a bit different to the top 6 . Im not sure why but i guess that not everyone reads the judging criteria before making the judgment , Or my judging skills are bad . Its difficult to judge i find sometimes
I would like to point out that the day that visser , mitchell & myself surfed cow bommie together was not big or heavy in my opinion . Most waves were 15-18ft & the odd one a bit more i suppose maybe just 20ft being generous . So i was suprised that us 3 made the top 3 positions in paddle division . I readily admit that my cow bommie entry wasnt in the running to win . I would like to know what others thought of leroy rusts wave in n.z.
The biggest slab division had the most entries & is a very australian thing ( slab waves ) the guys are elite chargers and i think its just as honorable as biggest wave & biggest paddle . The crew doing that are taking the most risk of injury or death ? Maybe? . Although paddling for hours way out at sea is also risking death / dying ( from shark ) . The "biggest wave" division are surfers who have a ski & partner so theres less time in the water , & you have security of getting rescued by ski . anything ?
Not a thing caml and congratulations on being up there again. It is awe inspiring stuff.
Thanks for the insight Caml. You all deserve a prize I reckon. Crossy is a worthy winner anyway. Couldn't have happened to a better bloke.
Hey Caml.....Off topic , did you ever get any official recognition for helping Hines at the Bluff ?
Blowin yep
Good stuff Caml!
Well done on that front mate. That's the sort of shit that counts in this world.
what boards were you riding Caml?
Freeride 2 diffrent waves were submitted into the paddle division & for riding those waves a 10"6 quad fin was ridden . I forgot to point out that oakley & surfing life deserve a big thanks for running this event even though i didnt agree with the prize moneys . At least they have the event for more than ten yrs ( is that correct ? ) nick carroll are you there ? And they have been very good to me . Many underground chargers have been revealed thru this event . Surfers have used this event to get known in the big wave arena for stepping off a career etc .
Surfers that have freak ability in big surf can step up into this competition & help their careers as big wave surfers . also not to mention photographers play a part in this and they also take a chunk of the prize money . Its not just riding the biggest wave thats gonna earn the win its also documenting it . Often a wave thats bigger can be defeated by photography that makes a smaller wave look bigger .
were they those shark repellent striped Webbys?
I don't know caml from a bar of soap but I'd like to wish him good luck and happy hunting.
Takes some measure of a man's character to do that shit.
And I would agree with the tow-in vs paddle in prizemoney sharing comments. Personally, I always think that a peer's vote is the one that matters the most. I don't know how they do it, and it seems that caml voted somehow (or just made his own assessments?) but I would hope that the big wave contestants themselves would be the voters who pick the prize winners
Yeah Camel that wave went full nut bag on Leroy. Sequence is here.
http://www.surfinglife.com.au/bigwaveawards/entries/biggest-paddle/12570...
Was epic night the beers flowed haha. Also Camel's speech was classic on behalf of Chris Ross's award. Nick Carroll was polished presenter and Jughead spoke brilliantly eloquent and funny - super relaxed.
Good luck to the crazies out there - roll on 2015 hoping to see some big uns.
Yeh good on oakley and surfing life for having this event but totally agree that prize money splits should change. Biggest paddle or best ride is worth way more than biggest wave. Keep charging lads yew
Mickfree thanks for the link . And judging yep i did round 1 judging . Will explain tmoro
First round judging is done by registered surfers . We are asked to pick top 3 or 6 in each division . 2nd & final round judging is done by 5 or 6 expert judges from hawaii & u.s.
I know this sounds like a stupid question , but like you say camel about the photog , making waves look bigger .
I tend to think that the short tow boards don't attract the eye of the viewer , so people concentrate on the larger size difference between the human and the wave .
But paddle entries are on big boards so visually you take in both man and board which can make the wave look smaller in comparison to the guys on " wake boards " ...... Anyway congrats to everyone .
Gannet I think I've got your entry on my phone ,
just kidding .......
Congrats on visser finally getting an award for something but his story re sitting out there getting belted by lots sets on his own smells a bit fishy. The swell was very very inco and slow building, he was out there (with mate on ski) alone for a while at first but sitting around with nothing breaking,he had not caught a wave before others showed up (his own words) and then when crew arrived, Caml, Jamie M and a couple of other non professional surfers along with Jamie Scott , the swell slowly filled in and then got really consistent as arvo progressed. lots waves ridden by all. No point letting the truth getting in the way of a good story but mark could learn a lot from the likes of Chris Ross and Caml charging consistently , winning and saying not a lot especially about themselves.
It's 2015, Marty McFly has a hoverboard... We can't get video footage of the biggest Aussie wave of the year?
I think that there is a very strong case now that the prize $'s be split evenly between the Tow and paddle sections....
Originally when the event was started ...there was still a lot of hunting for big wave spots in Australia and at the time the easiest and safest way to explore and ride potentially the biggest waves here was Tow......since then paddle has reared its head,and as we now know max wave size in Aust seems to be around the 20' mark...which can be paddled...or if its a slab ,tow....
So congrats to all the boys....lets lobby and see if we can get a bit more balance with the prize $'s........
Im sure australia has always had waves over 20 ft if you are on the correct reef . And i thought that m.c. & rcj have towed some of those 25-35 ft waves . True ? Theres been big waves paddled for a long time in oz and victoria is one of those places .but its been underground and not publicised.only recently its been exposed that oz has 20ft plus waves .i actually thought vic was the place its been done for a long time . Cows is the only break thats been exposed to have paddle waves over 20ft and i personally know its yet to be paddled at 25ft .
Should be split both ways evenly for sure
Biggest wave - paddle and tow
Biggest barrel - paddle and tow
Biggest slab or gnarliest ride (triple sucks, air drops, dry ledges, holy crap he should never have made thatwave type material etc - paddle and tow
Biggest wipeout (the sportsmanship award!) - paddle and tow - half prize money to the others just for being a good lad and copping a flogging
Is that Jamie M sharing visser's winning wave?
Is there any reason, other than being deeper, that he won, & not equal first... They both paddled the biggest wave of the season.
That was the reason they gave on the night - Mark was deeper, so he won the award. Sounds like there's only one winner.
Thought that might be the case, thanks for clarifying ben.
was thinking the same thing Moth
It was JM, but photshopped right out of pic on Mr vissers website, but hey why not after all he was out there all alone was he not?
get out of town , he didn't really photoshop him out mikehunt did he??
Surely on the night they didnt have to explain that mark V won & ja mitchell didnt . It goes without saying . Back in 2012 jamitchell won the paddle in div at cows . Theres video of the ride , out on the shoulder 20 mtres is another surfer taking off . This isnt a first ! And it needs no explanation.
looks like it
http://markvisser.net/sites/default/files/imagecache/900w/Screen%20Shot%...
That photo of Mark Visser on his web site is just cropped in, it was Marks wave anyway as caml said
If you crop visser out of the picture i dont think jm would have won becos hes on the shoulder . Positioning is taken into account . U dont win if you get a huge wave only , its got to score well with how its ridden .
So if you make the drop but then get caught behind the section you don't score as well as if you made the drop, made it to the shoulder and pulled off?
So you have to make the ride for it to count which make sense. I didn't see entire wave of Mick Corbet entry , big barrel, did he come out?
I don't think you technically have to complete the wave for it to be counted (this was also discussed one the night, as Chris Ross - who won the slab division - didn't emerge from his barrel at The Right).
And nah, Mick got clipped at the end of his barrel at Cow Bombie. Said the wipeout wasn't too bad but the wave after gave him a good hiding.
I think making the wave should have some kudos but it doesn't seem so. Nathan Fletcher nor Koa Rothman - neither made the wave for their awards. Both waves were rogues though and significantly bigger than anything else on the day.
Camel been campaigning Paddle should be more and he is right. Paddle has the growth curve compared to tow and is where the interest will be in the future.
And requires the most skill/balls
Interesting timing - Twig just posted on Facebook:
"We are pushing for a rule change next year for the XXL, whereby unless you complete your ride, it can't count for any category except wipeout. The idea is to start rewarding good surfing rather then the get to the bottom and win the prize mentality. In my opinion, this wave of mine shouldn't count?"
Agreed. A wave should be completed.
Or they could introduce a new category.
XXL takeoff of the year.
Thats a decent idea from twig although somtimes all the correct lines are ridden then you still get knocked off your feet . Check chris rossz wave he pulled the line to make it but foam ball got him . In the past xxl and oakley awards theres been winners from unsuccessful rides and i tend to agree they shouldnt get the award except if they complete all the important bits .but the idea that you must make it would be a complete game changer . Especially nowadays with the superman floaty vests theres less regard for safely making the wave . Regarding mick corberts ride you can see all the sequence on the comp website . Note a few of the entries are in 2 divisions ie biggest wave & also one of the othe divisions and some of them dont have the sequence but the other division will have the sequence so double check if the first one fails
I don't think you should have to make the wave for it to count.
As long as you make the drop and get to the bottom of the wave that's fine in my opinion, if you get mowed down afterwards, you still paddled and made a monster.
Say someone paddles the peak at 40ft Cow, they're probably going to get avalanched once getting to the bottom, but this shouldn't get into the wipeout category, if they make and complete the drop that's a winner.
Totally agree on changing the prize money as well, it should be at least equal or more weighted to the paddlers.
What about da barrel Craig?
Hmm, that's a hard one. Mick made it bascially all the way and got clipped.
If that criteria changes (as Craig alluded to) it would possibly lead to guys not taking off as deep given they need to make the shoulder (eventually) to qualify. As Zen said, maybe another division being biggest successful takeoff, this way competitors can still fully charge & if they get it all right plus some luck they may make the wave completely too...
On another note, the surfers should have to also nominate their photographers as well, this way it stops poaching photogs from getting a look in...
Oilr can you please explain excactly how the picture poaching occurs ? It seems to happen at the RIGHt that theres up to 3 photogs entering the ride . Are you saying the surfer can eliminate a photogs angle if they dont want it ?
Too many grey areas I reckon for a change, unless you make it clear cut. I.e. you have to complete the tide without falling off
Caml, Im saying that if a photog put the time, effort and money to organize to shoot with a surfer or a group of surfers then that photog should be the one whos images get considered, not a photog that just shows up and doesnt bring any surfers with him to shoot. That is called poaching and is disrespectful. If the other photog does bring surfers then he should stick to using the images of the surfers that he came with, not saying he cant shoot the other surfers but just keep those images on the computer and not send them around...pretty simple really
Ah rightyo i see oilR. Craig @ if mick C had come out of that barrell it would have to have won everything but you cant see him at all once the lip goes over him so making it nearly all the way ? Who knows ? @rabbit if a surfer charges a wave just for the photo theyre doing it for the wrong reasons arent they ? Twiggys idea to reward a surfer who makes the ride is better than rewarding charging supermen but theres going to be some debating there .
Caml I wasn't referring to charging simply for a photo but charging to just make the drop but being potentially too deep to make the wave. Hence maybe a new division that rewards the biggest successful drop even if you don't make the wave all the way to the shoulder etc.
BTW congrats to all the Chargers involved especially the WA boys, awesome spectacle to watch...
I guess thats why there is only photos of pros and sponnos each year getting taken and used as no market for photos otherwise in the first place. Allows for characters like visser to add fairytale his story though re surfing alone for hours.
@oilrunner What happen if mr nobody or someone other than photogs invite gets wave of the day/year? then does said photog just not enter shot?
Def think a wave should be made to be considered or entered even, paddle at least to out in front of foam at bottom and tow made to channel.
If someone rides a giant wave and nobody takes a photo does he really ride it?
Campbell if you had paddled into a 20 or 30fter that day your photos would of been entered, no doubt about it, and as for the "pros" comment, Jarryd Foster isnt a pro, Mick Corbett isnt a pro, Rohan annesly isnt a pro, chris ross isnt a pro, brad norris isnt a pro, antman isnt a pro, they all have other jobs. and Camel not a pro, though he should be I reckon ;)
If campbell had paddled into a 20 or 30ftr that day i would have been very surprised no doubt about it. Don,t know all those other guys but the ones I do have been and or are sponsored surfers or pro at one time or another.
Just heard back from the fellas at Oakley. They're gonna get together with Surfing Life and contest co-ordinator Nick Carroll and review the paddle/tow breakdown for next year.
Good on them ! Now that will bring some talent into the paddle scene ! Good on them and while theyre at it can they please explain why its taken so long and for what reason has tow in been worth 4 times the paddle in for all those years . It really has been baffling me . Thanks jughead & makua for talking about it on stage . It really is better to surf without the noise & wake of a ski driving around
Caml I presume you paddle crew still use skis at Cow Bommie for transport & rescue?? But they're not buzzing around the linup I guess??
Well that is good news, Camel and I plus a few others have been trying to get that changed for a number of years now, but it has fallen on deaf ears. Hopefully they will do something about it this year. By the way my name is Jamie Scott and Im not hiding behind a guise as some people on here are, nor are my parents Saudi Arabian sheiks, I run my vehicle on used vege oil and so the name Oil Runner came about....just though id let you know to be transparent....
Cheers Jamie.
Caml just read a nice piece on Seabreeze forum...how you have set up your whole lifestyle around big wave surfing, the highs after a monster session and the 'coming down' a few days after..and the references to being taken by a shark .
Very Touching...thanks.
Yeah ok i didnt know that was on a seabreeze forum but i will try and google it now .i must say that i was very dissapointed with some of the media in the past how they put words into my mouth in about an article headlined " be prepared to die " the w.a. Media where trying to bring on the war against sharks & i became one of the scapegoats after rescuing john hines after he was assaulted by a shark .i really didnt like that
Caml, story was originally from a W.A. newspaper I think.
Ok just read it that was a good one by rhianna king of the west newspaper. Rabbit thats correct we take a ski out to cows then jump off and paddle . At cows ive never been rescued or even had a wipeout its a very short ride so paddling out is fine .i have paddled it twice whilst tow in was happening actually there was towing on the day visser mitchell mikehunt & 1 or 2 others paddled it in sept on the day we got the BWA entry pics & it was dumb seeing it was only 15-20ft & barely breaking .
Yeah that must spoil the vibe on such a day I would imagine. Cheers for that...
The forecast had most fooled but craig had nailed it . The tow guys thought it would be bigger but craig and i had good forecast info that broke the swell into 2 components . It was 2 swells being added together causing the numbers to be high . Thanks craig looking forward to needing your advice for the next important one
So yeah we use skis but its got nothing to do with tow in . It be dangerous to paddle out there , surf then paddle back in . Youd need a compass to find it you can only just see it at water level . 3 km im yet do do that one
Yeah was thinking more about when your actually on the spot. Cheers
You can see the presentations replay on ( surfer.tv surfing life oakley big wave awards ) if you got an hr . Watched it today and noticed a few things that didnt notice on the night . Nick carroll does a fantastic job ; he said its the 13 th year for the event . Nick really knows his stuff with big surf . He repeatedly mentions its an australian & new zealand included event but most of the others just say its an australian event . I feel sorry for the kiwis becos they started winning the paddle in div in the early days with doug young x2 & daniel kereopa x1 , also al byrne & byrning spears make the trophies , & theres been a couple of awesome entries the last few years from leroy rust . So lets not forget the N.Z. Participants . The music they put with the surfing clips & entries is super good . Whatever those tunes are its well done , when they show the finalists entries on the big screen its something else. Most impressive are the slabs . I hope they dont forget the elite slab riders if the prizemoneys rearranged . ( I think make each division equal )
The slab section has been won at shippies but nothin seems to come close to the RIght .hope that something can rival it . It would be sick to see another slab wave on par with it . Also big wave surfing really needs some lefts . Going backhand in big waves isnt advantagious . It would be cool to surf a new big wave and enter in this event , we just need the wave & i will organise the rest .
Yeah shippies!! puts a slightly different perspective on this ride when you match it with the shore footage he was actually barrelled when he took the step so everything was done under the curtain and disappeared from sight when your looking straight into the barell. http://www.swellnet.com/news/swellnet-dispatch/2014/04/07/benn-richardso.... So doesn't compare to the right??
Yeah stickys thats an incredible ride that one . Certainly one of the sickest rides from shippies of the last year . The thing with the biggest slab division , is the judging criteria says its the amount of water throwing horizontally out over the surfers head . Although shippies has the craziest stepping tubes it still doesnt have the water going overhead like the "Right ". The judging criteria is complementing everything the RIghT has to offer so its difficult to beat in the BWA comp . But im sure its gonna give it another go soon enough . Lozza towner & tyler h x have nailed biggest slab there & who else ? Anyone remember
Since when did it become about the money its only $20 000 its nothing really and the whole prize is getting the wave in the first place. I spilt my winnings with brad norris and mic corbett due to it could have been any of us that got that wave its all luck and like i said the true prize is the wave itself, all awards are equally as important don't let some money decide whats more important. The day day some one paddles a proper set at cow well there going to win the xxl paddle or wipe out of the year so theres a ton of cash for ya. Australia is one of the only countries with so many quality waves which just aren't padlable due too there speed and how the fall out at the bottom. So we should keep encouraging this cause last year blew away the world with that session at easter at the right and mic corbett s huge barrel at cow with out these two days of surfing we would of been left behind the world in surfing. I love paddle as much as i do tow, just some waves are better for each so you have to make the most of what you have on the day. for instance the denmark boys they have charged so hard over the years and all there waves down there are slabs so they can only tow and you cant take that from some one because of a rope they have made the most of every wave down there and all the paddle only guys always trying to put tow down come have a day at slab you might get some respect for it because we respect what you guys do and isn't respect a huge part of big wave surfing.
So should everybody get out there and show some"respect for you jarred? not quite sure what you are trying to say above mate, sounds a bit like a cry for attention.
It,s tough being a tow contest winner i guess, you guys must have worked really hard to read the forcasts and drive down south to charge such big waves, organising a photog to capture the moment and downloading/uploading you pics to the net an then handling the rush of fame and fortune resulting from being so brave (I bet mum was very proud)
Believe it or not surfing big waves worldwide and in Australia has been going on for a longtime before there were prize bounties for extra brave behavior, and jet skis to make it happen. It would seem nearly every year a different winner in the tow category but mostly the same guys paddle winners because it takes a lot more work and dedication perhaps to 'catch" a giant wave than being lucky enough to be placed on the biggest wave by your partner to just ride one.
I think that is where respect is earned not just given.
Well done on being a winner
Hey Jarryd, congrats on the award and for splitting with mates. Who was out the day paddling at the cow in August? I remember seeing a photo of a yellow board paddling over a massive wave out there. Did he get any?
A few months ago I was informed that this event would not be running this year , unfortunate seeing the prize money had just been changed to award paddle in equally after 13yrs . Its an end of an era for me personally , the photos were always inspiring
Whats happened sponsors pulled the pin? Industry pressure perhaps.
Yeah Oakley I guess . theres a new Oakley comp now for different target audience imo
Bit of a shame Caml wonder if the Aus/NZ big wave community can organise their own yearly award system devoid of media and brand sponsor influence.
Who knows , there will be some sort of big wave contest beyond cape fear youd think