Oakley/ASL Big Wave Awards 2006/07

Australia & New Zealand
1 June '06 - 1 February '07

Oakley & Morrison Media announce launch of Big Wave Awards 2006/07

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 19 May, 2006 : - - Oakley and Morrison Media Pty Ltd today announce the launch of Australasia’s original big wave event. After two years on hold Oakley/Australia’s Surfing Life (ASL) Big Wave Awards are back with plans to go bigger than ever before.

The Awards honor that rare breed of surfer who chases giant waves, offering a major cash prize for the biggest wave ridden in Australian and New Zealand waters. Only waves measuring a minimum of 20 feet in height will be considered for entry.  

Over the next seven months the nation’s best big wave surfers will be hunting the biggest rideable wave in Australian and New Zealand waters, putting their skill and experience to the test for a $30,000 prize pool.

The ‘waiting period’ for the event, from 1 June 2006 to 1 February 2007, is timed to coincide with prime big wave surf seasons. “This year looks like it could be all time”, commented Event Coordinator Nick Carroll. “There’s already been some major storm surf in our waters and we’re not really even in the big surf window yet.”

Founding sponsor Oakley has returned in 2006 determined to take the event to new levels. “This event gives the true hard core surfers in this region the opportunity to get some reward for their fearless level of commitment and courage – don’t expect to see any fashion victims or body piercing passion poppers win this one!“, said Oakley South Pacific Surf Manager Mitch Thorson. In 2006, the Oakley/ASL Big Wave Awards also welcome new co-sponsor PlayStation® Portable.

Jason Garling, Queenscliff Bombie 03 July, 2003. Photo: Will Burgess

The awards are open to registered entrants only with all competitors undergoing rigorous scrutiny by the Event Coordinator to ensure that they are suitably experienced to tackle the potentially dangerous elements of big wave surfing.

“We really want the Awards to be an encouragement for all surfers to learn and ride safe“, said Carroll. “If we can’t be sure of a rider’s skill level we have to tell them sorry, go away and work on it, and come back and try again.”

The inaugural Oakley/ASL Big Wave Awards were won by Australia’s Ross Clarke-Jones who was towed into am unforgettable wave at Tasmania’s Shipsterns bluff by surf partner and fellow big wave charger Tony Ray.

The following year, legendary West Australian surfer Damon Eastaugh claimed the main award after riding a monster wave at a bombie near Margaret River. The 2003/2004 awards also acknowledged those surfers charging big waves unassisted with the inaugural biggest paddle in award. The inaugural winner was Doug Young who paddled into a mammoth wave at Papatowai in New Zealand.

Jake Paterson, Cowaramup 30 December, 2003. Photo: J Scott

In 2006 the stakes have been raised with a massive $30,000 cash prize pool up for offer including a newly added award, Best Overall Performance – for the surfer who rides the highest number of successful qualifying entries during the event waiting period.

The prizes on offer include, $20,000 for Biggest Wave Ridden, $5,000 for Biggest Paddle-in, $3,000 for Best Overall Performance and $2,000 for Videographer/Photographer Award.

For more information on the event and conditions of entry please visit

www.surfinglife.com.au/bigwaveawards

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Jarrod Heathcote - Morrison Media
E. jarrod@morrisonmedia.com.au

Nick Carroll - Oakley/ASL Big Wave Awards
E. ncsurf@ozemail.com.au  

Cameron Baranski - Oakley South Pacific
E. cameron.baranski@oakley.com

Big Wave - Surfersvillage