Shane Dorian's Jaws pucker factor of 10

Shane Dorian © Bruno Lemos.

Big Wave Updates

Billabong XXL Big Wave Awards 2013 Winter Season Kicks Off

"Once I got over that boil I just had to hang on. Pucker factor was a 10!" - Shane Dorian

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 10 October, 2012 : - - The long awaited winter big wave surfing season struck the North Pacific in ferocious fashion with a spectacular opening day of waves yesterday at Jaws, on the north coast of Maui, Hawaii, resulting in a flood of entries into the Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Awards.

The year-long surfing competition, now in its thirteenth edition, recognizes the greatest achievements in big wave riding, wherever and whenever they happen, as long as it is captured on video or in still photographs. The swell, generated by the remnants of Typhoon Maliksi, hit the Hawaiian chain yesterday and is forecast by Surfline.com to remain solid through today.

Keala Kennelly © Richard Hallman

Early contenders already entered into the various categories of the Billabong XXL Big Wave Awards include a pair of tube rides by Shane Dorian, a huge wall ridden by Makua Rothman and several excellent rides by female charger Keala Kennelly.

Dorian, a multi-time XXL winner, was stoked to find the pathway through a massive Jaws barrel. "I just sorta found myself in the sweet spot," he said last night. "Once I got over that boil I just had to hang on. Pucker factor was a 10!."

The first arrivals can be viewed currently at the XXL Facebook page at Facebook.com/billabongxxl and will be posted to the event website at BillabongXXL.com in the coming days. Reports are already in from the cliff this morning and the swell is firing with more epic rides underway. Check back through the day for more action as it happens.