2008 BILLABONG XXL GLOBAL BIG WAVE AWARDS CHAMPIONS CROWNED
Hawaiian Shane Dorian Claims Ride Of The Year Californian Mike Parsons Surfs
Biggest Wave In History at 70ft+
NEWPORT BEACH, CA -- (April 11th 2008) -- The kings of big wave surfing
have been crowned at the eighth annual Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Awards
in California. Regarded as the Oscars of big wave surfing, the 2007/08
awards recognize the biggest and heaviest waves ridden and documented over
the past twelve months.
2000 surf stoked fans packed the Grove Theater in Anaheim to witness
mind-blowing rides from Chile, Europe, South Africa, Australia, Hawaii,
Mexico, California and French Polynesia. In what proved to be one of the
best years in big wave surfing history, over 500 images and videos were
submitted for judging. The awards are decided by a panel of 250 surfers,
selected surf media and big wave aficionados.
Shane Dorian, 35, of Kona Hawaii, scooped top honors by winning the $50,000
Ride Of The Year Award for a wave conquered at Teahupoo, Tahiti during the
swell of the year on November 1st 2007. After being towed into what shaped
up as one of the rides of the session, Dorian dropped to the base of the
heaving slab and caught a slight rail, putting him in a near
impossible position. After correcting his mistake in the tube, the natural
footer went into a full layback, coming from behind the foam ball to be
cartwheeled into the safety of the channel.
"Usually at Teahupoo, you pick your line, set your rail and you normally
make it, but that wave was really unique," said Dorian. "I nearly fell at
the start, I nearly fell in the middle and then it clipped me at the end.
"It was difficult because I was almost eating it the whole time."
"To think that I got the Ride of the Year is a huge honor for me, I'm really
psyched that Billabong and Monster throw a big deal for it and support all
the guys who go out and ride these waves," he said. "But really, at the end
of the day the ride itself is the biggest reward and it's one that I will
remember forever."
It was the skill required to make the wave from the position he was in that
gave Dorian the nod over Tahitian Manoa Drollet who rode a wave of similar
consequence during the same session. Carlos Burle (Brazil) finished third
for a giant ride at Ghost Tree, California, Ian Walsh finished fourth for a
Teahupoo bomb and Australian 21-year-old Michael Brennan finished fifth for
an insane ride at his local break of Shipstern Bluff in Tasmania. Brazilian
videographer Gustavo Camarao won $5000 for capturing the winning Dorian
ride.
San Clemente big wave legend Mike Parsons, 43, has officially surfed into
the record books for riding a wave judged to be 70ft+ (24m+) to win the
Billabong XXL Biggest Wave Award. The feat was performed at Cortes Bank off
the Californian coast on January 5th 2008. Judges measured the wave at 70ft
but due to the photo cutting off the bottom of the wave they were unable to
accurately pin point the exact base of the ride, meaning it is actually
somewhat larger. It is the second time Parsons has secured the prestigious
Biggest Wave Award after taking out the inaugural title in 2001 for a 66ft
wave ridden at the same location.
"I didn't think a session like that could ever happen twice, I mean that day
in 2001 where I rode the first winner at Cortes was incredible," said
Parsons. "It feels surreal to say that I rode a 70ft wave, I can't believe
it."
"There have been so many big waves ridden throughout time and when I sit at
home I can't believe that I may have ridden the biggest one ever," he said.
"The amazing thing about big wave surfing now is how global it is going."
"Young guys like Jamie Sterling, Mark Healey and Greg Long are really
pushing this sport and taking it to new levels," he said.
Parsons picked up $15,000 and a Honda Aquatrax watercraft for his ride.
Fellow Californian Greg Long featured heavily in the 2008 awards by taking
out the $15,000 Monster Paddle In Award and the $5000 Surfline Men's Overall
Performance Award. The defending XXL Big Wave Award winner has been
supporting his love for big wave surfing without a major sponsor in 2008 and
said the $20,000 prize money would allow him to chase a few more swells in
coming months.
"Surfing big waves has been a passion of mine since I was about 16 years old
and the past two years I have been completely obsessive-compulsive about
it," said Long. "It's what I truly love doing, being out in the ocean when
it is at its wildest and riding these big waves."
Tahitian Manoa Drollet, 30, secured the $5000 Monster Tube Ride Award for
the same wave he was nominated for in the Ride Of The Year Category at
Teahupoo.
Maya Gabeira, 21, took back-to-back titles in the Billabong Girls Best
Performance Award after notching up a collection of giant rides in Tahiti,
California, Hawaii and Mexico over the past twelve months. Gabeira proved
without doubt that she is the world's premiere female big wave surfer.
"It is such and honor to be here again, two years in a row," said Gabeira.
"All my friends are here and my mom flew out from Brazil.
"To see those waves on the big screen here and listen to everyone scream is
such a good feeling."
The 2007/08 Billabong XXL Awards can be seen on ESPN2 on Friday 29th May at
9:30pm. The awards ceremony was webcast live on BillabongXXL.com and
simulcast on EXPN.com
BILLABONG XXL RIDE OF THE YEAR AWARD
1st: Shane Dorian (Kona, Hawaii, USA) at Teahupoo, Tahiti on November 1,
2007. (Video by Gustavo Camarao)
2nd: Manoa Drollet (Tahiti, French Polynesia) at Teahupoo, Tahiti on
November 1, 2007.
3rd: Carlos Burle (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) at Ghost Tree, California on
December 4, 2007.
4th: Ian Walsh (Paia, Hawaii, USA) at Teahupoo, Tahiti on November 1, 2007.
5th: Michael Brennan (Tasmania, Australia) at Shipstern Bluff, Tasmania on
January 14, 2008.
WINNER BILLABONG XXL BIGGEST WAVE AWARD
Mike Parsons (San Clemente, California, USA) at Cortes Bank off California
on January 5, 2008. (Photo by Robert Brown)
WINNER MONSTER PADDLE AWARD
Greg Long (San Clemente, California, USA) at Todos Santos, Mexico on
December 5, 2007. (Photos by Jeff Flindt)
WINNER MONSTER TUBE PHOTO AWARD NOMINEES
Manoa Drollet (Tahiti, French Polynesia) at Teahupoo, Tahiti on November 1,
2007. (Photo by Jeff Flindt)
WINNER BEST MALE OVERALL PERFORMANCE AWARD
Greg Long (San Clemente, California, USA)
WINNER BILLABONG GIRLS BEST PERFORMANCE AWARD
Maya Gabeira (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)