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2008 Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Awards
by George Mojo
24/03/2008:// After the greatest year yet in big wave surfing, the nominees are now in for the 2008 Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Awards.
The Oscars of big wave riding, the XXL Awards take place April 11 in Anaheim, California.
In contention for the XXL Ride Of The Year Award are three amazing tube rides at Tahiti's legendary break of Teahupoo by local Manoa Drollet and two Hawaiian surfers, Ian Walsh of Maui and Shane Dorian of the Big Island.
Brazilian Carlos Burle was nominated for his tense moment in the curl at Ghost Tree off Pebble Beach, California, while young Australian Michael Brennan was acknowledged for his airborne entry into a huge barrel at Shipstern Bluff, Tasmania.
Nominations for the coveted award are led by a pair of waves ridden in the open ocean over 100 miles off the coast of California by Mike Parsons of San Clemente, and Grant Baker, of Durban, South Africa.
They are facing off against a huge wall ridden at Belharra Reef in the Bay of Biscay by Frenchman Vincent Lartizen and two waves at the Ghost Tree break just off the famed golf links at Pebble Beach, California.
The Ghost Tree waves were ridden by two Californian surfers, Brad Gerlach of Los Angeles and Tyler Fox of Santa Cruz.
Several of the waves in this year's competition are estimated to likely exceed the current world record face height of 70 feet.
The Monster Paddle Award category (where watercraft tow assists are not allowed) remains as competitive as ever.
Four of the five nominees come from a single epic day at Todos Santos Island, nine miles off the coast of Ensenada, Mexico, yet the riders hail from all corners of the planet.
Up for consideration are Mark Healey of Hawaii, Greg Long of California, Jamie Mitchell of Australia and Rodrigo Resende of Brazil.
Northern California's notorious Mavericks break also received a nod in this category thanks to a treacherous late drop by Ben Andrews of San Francisco.
The XXL awards run all year long -- concluding with the Vernal Equinox -- and include all rides at every big wave surf spot around the world.
A panel of judges will rule which waves were the biggest and the best and the winners will be revealed at the eighth-annual gala awards presentation at the Grove Theater in Anaheim, California.
The 2008 Beachley Classic got underway this morning, completing Rounds 1 and 2 as well as the opening two heats of Round 3 at nearby Freshwater Beach in clean two-to-three foot (1 metre) waves
Layne Beachley (AUS), 36, has officially announced her retirement from full-time competition, effective at the end of the year
Former Exeter University student Josh Lewin first heat at the Ocean and Earth Pro in the Canary Islands has been delayed because the 2ft surf was deemed uncontestable
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