Aussie big-wave awards down to the wire

Grant Baker © Russell Ord

Surfing Life's Oakley Big Wave Awards

Winner will be chosen in the next 24 hours

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 12 February, 2013 : - - After a hectic season of charging and a weeklong wait at the hands of the judging panel, the finalists in Surfing Life’s Oakley Big Wave Awards will find out at 9pm tonight whether they walk away victorious with a share of the $35,000 prize pool.

Biggest Wave, Biggest Slab, and Biggest Paddle-In categories have been decided upon and the countdown to the gala presentation evening at Simmer on the Bay, Dawes Point, Sydney has begun. With 250 strong crowd, including a who’s who of the surf industry, and a grand total of $35,000 up for grabs across the three categories, finalists would be forgiven for feeling a little nervous.

Huge, crazy rides have been thrown into the mix from renowned big-wave stars, pitched up against colossal waves charged by unknown country kids, veteran Western Australian watermen and a man known only as Camel!

The Awards, having run for over ten years, 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, and achieve huge things with seemingly little concern for fame or renown – Surfing Life and Oakley reward their spectacular achievements.

FINALISTS

BIGGEST WAVE

Tyler Hollmer-Cross, Shipstern Bluff
• Video: Laif Johansan, Image: Andrew Chisholm, Image: Andrew Hoult, Image: Dave Otto

Marti Paradisis, Pedra Branca
• Video: Mikey Brennan, Image: Andrew Chisholm

‘Camel’, Cow Bombie
• Image: Jamie Scott

Paul ‘Antman’ Paterson, Cow Bombie
• Image: Russell Ord

Danny Griffiths, Pedra Branca
• Image: Andrew Chisholm

BIGGEST SLAB

Paul ‘Antman’ Paterson, The Right
• Image: Russell Ord

Grant ‘Twiggy’ Baker, The Right
• Image: Russell Ord

Chris Ross, The Right
• Image: Spencer Hornby

Cale Grigson, The Right
• Image: Russell Ord

Chris Shanahan, The Right
• Image: Chris Ross

BIGGEST PADDLE-IN

Leroy Rust, Papatowai
• Video: Ted Whitaker

Jeff Rowley, Albatross
• Image/Video: Minnie Vuong

James Hick, Secret Spot South Australia
• Jacob Wooden

Paul Morgan, Cow Bombie
• Image: Russell Ord

Jeff ‘Camel’ Goulden, Cow Bombie
• Image: Jamie Scott