The Surf Blog Spot

Last Friday night there were some exciting 2008 XXL Billabong award winners.  The winners were announced in front of more than 2,000 surfing fans.  The eight annual surfing Oscars were given out 4/11/08 by a panel of 250 surfers, surf media, and big wave riders.

Staying true to my prediction, Shane Dorian claimed The Ride Of The Year Award, making his wallet a little fatter with a $50,000 check.  Dorian’s epic barrel can be seen on the Surf Blog Spot under the XXL Billabong Ride Of The Year.  Dorian was interviewed about his ride at the awards show and here is what he had to say.  “Usually at Teahupoo, you pick your line, set your rail and you normally make it, but that wave was really unique,” said Dorian.  “I nearly fell at the start, I nearly fell in the middle and then it clipped me at the end.  It was difficult because I was almost eating it the whole time.”

The other big winner of the night was San Clemente big wave surfer, Mike Parsons, who surfed his way into the history book (for the time being) for riding the biggest wave judged to be more than 70 ft!  Parsons achieved this new record at the Cortes Bank off the California Coast on January 5, 2008.  The wave was claimed to be only 70 ft, but the wave was cut off at the bottom of photo and the true height of the wave could not be accurately calculated.  Therefore, the wave was only estimated at 70 ft, but in reality the wave was more than 70 ft.  It is the second time this big wave aficionado earned the Biggest Wave Award.  Parsons also won the inaugural title in 2001 for a 66 ft Cortes Bank wave.  Parsons walked off the stage with a little extra $15,000 in travel money.

Another San Clemente surfer, Greg Long, scored big while paddling in at Todos Santos and bringing home the 2008 XXL Monster Paddle Award.  On 12/05/07, Todos Santos pulled in four out of the five 2008 XXL Monster Paddle Award nominees.  Only one went home with the prestigious $15,000 award.  

The 2007/08 Billabong XXL Awards can be seen on ESPN2 on Friday, May 29th at 9:30pm.

Other 2008 XXL Billabong Awards:

Monster Tube Photo Award $5,000

• Manoa Drollet (Tahiti) at Teahupoo, Tahiti on November 1, 2007. 

Best Male Overall Performance Award $5,000

• Greg Long (San Clemente, California)

Billabong Girls Best Performance Award $5,000

• Maya Gabeira (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)

 Billabong XXL info and video: www.billabongxxl.com

The day before the huge swell hit Southern California, the Central Coast of California was getting lit up with hefty tow-in waves.

If you have ever surfed the Central Coast then you know all about the cold and heavy waves.  This video was shot north of Point Conception and south of Santa Cruz, CA.  Next Winter, when you are looking for some Central Coast surf, inject yourself with some courage and try to paddle out.  The Central Coast is not your local beach break.  Watch out for jagged rocks, hazardous sea lions, sharks, and locals.

R.I.P. Peter Davi