Greg Long claims 50k Ride Of The Year
The gladiators of big wave surfing took centre stage in California on Friday night for the ninth annual Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Awards.
Regarded as the Oscars of big wave surfing, the XXL awards recognise the biggest and most powerful waves ridden over the past twelve months as judged by a global panel of 250 surf industry, former pros and big wave specialists. Over 2000 people packed the Grove Theatre in Anaheim to witness mind-blowing rides from Chile, Europe, South Africa, Australia, Mexico, California and French Polynesia.
Californian big wave surfer Greg Long, 26, took top honours at the gala ceremony, handed $USD50,000 for winning the Ride Of The Year Category. Long’s entry came from a ride he conquered during the Red Bull Big Wave Africa event on July 26th 2008 at Dungeon’s.
In a double for the State of California, San Diego resident Derek Dunfee took out the coveted Monster Paddle Award. Ridden during the giant session at Mavericks on November 30th 2008, which produced three of the five rides in the same category, Dunfee used perfect positioning to complete a classic big wave ride. He edged out Grant “Twiggy” Baker (ZAF), fellow Californian Nathan Fletcher, South African James Taylor and European charger Axi Muniain (Basque County – Northern Spain).
Twiggy Baker, was awarded two category honours in the award ceremony, taking out both the XXL Biggest Wave Award and the Surfline Men’s Best Overall Performance. The victories came as a long overdue reward for the slightly built Baker, who has been consistently nominated since the XXL awards’ inception but never taken out a win.
Baker’s tow-in assisted ride which took out the Biggest Wave Award and was ridden at Tafelberg Reef was judged to be 61 feet and is the biggest wave ever ridden in South Africa.
“The whole experience is not just satisfying for me personally but to see South Africa up there, to see Dungeons up there, seeing James Taylor up there, overall to put South Africa on the map is most satisfying for me,” said Baker.
The Best Overall Performance Award came from his outstanding rides during big wave swell events in South Africa, California, Chile, Europe and Mexico over the past 12 months. For winning both divisions, Baker claimed a total of $USD 20,000 in cash and a new Honda Aquatrax PWC.
“It is an honour to win Best Overall Performance and to be the first South African to do it,” he said.
Hawaiian Mark Healey, 28, cemented his big wave surfing reputation with a win in the $USD5,000 Monster Tube Category, his first ever Billabong XXL Award. During a swell run to a remote break in the Pacific Northwest, Healey towed into a crazy left slab at a break called Yeti. Unleashing on dry reef and virtually below sea level.
Maya Gabeira (Brazil) maintained her stranglehold on the $USD5,000 Billabong Girls Best Overall Performance Award by winning the category for a third consecutive year. The 22-year-old has continually pushed the boundaries of female big wave surfing over the past 12 months, basing herself in the Hawaiian islands and chasing swell events around the world with tow partner Carlos Burle.
The Verizon Wipe Out Award went to Australian surfer Ross Clarke-Jones for a near life ending battering at Pedra Branca, located off the Tasmanian coast.
Billabong XXL ride of the year award: $50,000
Winner: Greg Long at Dungeons, South Africa on July 26, 2008 ($5,000 Video by Fixerfilm/RedBull BWA)
Billabong XXL biggest wave award: $15,000 and a Honda Aquatrax watercraft with HSA sled
Winner: Grant Baker (Durban, South Africa at Tafelberg Reef, South Africa on August 9, 2008) | Photo by Brenton Geach | Video by Fixerfilm/Hutchmotion
Monster Paddle Award: $15,000
Winner: Derek Dunfee (Maverick’s, California on November 30, 2008)
Monster tube photo award nominees: $5,000
Winner: Mark Healey (Sunset Beach, Hawaii at Yeti Oregon on September 24, 2008)
Surfline best male overall performance award: $5,000
Winner: Grant Baker (Durban, South Africa)
Billabong girls best performance award: $5,000
Winner: Maya Gabeira (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
