The gladiators of big wave surfing took center stage in California last night for the ninth annual Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Awards.

 Regarded as the Oscars of big wave surfing, the XXL awards recognize the biggest and ugliest 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.

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Entire Awards Show to be Webcast Live at www.BillabongXXL.com

IRVINE, CALIFORNIA — (April 15, 2009) – The greatest big wave specialists from around the world have begun to gather in Southern California ahead of Friday night’s Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Awards at the Grove Theater.  The biggest and best rides of the last year will be celebrated in a video tribute before 2000 VIP guests, and the winners in seven different categories will take home the largest cash purse in the history of big wave surfing.
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BILLABONG XXL BIG WAVE AWARDS REVEAL VERIZON WIRELESS WIPEOUT AWARD CONTENDERS;PUBLIC TO VOTE TO DECIDE THE BEST OF THE WORST — PERFORMANCE NOMINEES ALSO UNVEILED

NEWPORT BEACH, CA — (April 1, 2009) — With the 2009 Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Awards just 16 days away, organizers have announced additional nominees in the remaining categories, including the Verizon Wireless Wipeout Award, the Surfline Best Overall Performance Award and the Billabong Girls Performance Award.

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The Biggest Waves and Best Rides from Around the World Vie for $130,000 as
Surfing’s Top Big Wave Event Prepares for Annual Awards Ceremony on April 17

NEWPORT BEACH, CA — (MARCH 25, 2009) — The finalists for the 2009 Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Awards presented by Monster Energy were announced today following yet another remarkable year of surf.  Following 12 months of enormous swell events from Europe to South Africa to Australia to California and beyond, over 550 entered images have been distilled down to this year’s elite nominations.  Video and still images of all the top rides are now available for viewing on the updated event website at BillabongXXL.com.

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The world-famous perpetual trophy for the Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Awards is now touring fine surf shops in the Southern California area.  Check it out in person and see all the names of big wave surfing’s elite along with a video of spectacular XXL highlights since 2000.

Feb 27 - Mar 13     SPYDER SURF          Hermosa Beach
Mar 13 - Mar 27     HANGER 94               La Mesa
Mar 27 - Apr 10     SURFRIDE O’SIDE     Oceanside
Apr 10 - April 17     HSS                         Huntington Beach

NEWPORT BEACH, CA — (February 4, 2009) — Unusual weather patterns in the North Pacific have produced the hottest January on record in much of California, and have left West Coast big wave surfers largely starved for waves for the last two months.  Likewise, the normally battered Hawaiian coastlines have suffered through a similar drought of extreme high surf warnings this winter season.  But at the same time, the Atlantic Ocean has produced a bounty of massive storms and swells, becoming a key focus of the 2009 Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Awards as the event heads into the final six weeks of its yearlong event period.

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AUSTRALIAN AND SOUTH AFRICAN SURFERS AMONG FRONT-RUNNERS

FOR 2009 BILLABONG XXL GLOBAL BIG WAVE AWARDS

NEWPORT BEACH, CA — (Friday January 30, 2009) — Two months remain in the year long period for the Ninth Annual Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Awards and several of Australia’s top riders are in contention for nominations.
 
The $130,000 Billabong XXL Awards are the Oscars of big wave riding, with eligibility open to big wave surfers at every break around the globe during the one-year contest window.

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EPIC MAVERICK’S SWELL SUPERCHARGES BILLABONG XXL GLOBAL BIG WAVE AWARDS;
TWO DAYS OF PERFECTION IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA PRODUCE MONSTER ENTRIES

NEWPORT BEACH, CA — (December 3, 2008) — The Thanksgiving weekend at Maverick’s produced an epic feast for many of the world’s top big wave riders during two of the most perfect days ever seen at the legendary Northern California surf break.   The all-time action at Mavs provided a monumental kick-start to the Northern Hemisphere winter season and adds to the record number of entries in the ninth annual Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Awards presented by Monster Energy.  While the swell did offer a number of waves big enough for tow-in surfing, it proved to be more of a classic exhibition of paddle-in surfing at the upper limit of what is possible in that highly respected discipline of the sport. (more…)

Western Australia, Tasmania, South Africa, Spain and Puerto Rico Lead the Way

NEWPORT BEACH, CA — (November 6, 2008) — Winter may still be technically a month and a half away in the Northern Hemisphere, but the ninth-annual Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Awards presented by Monster Energy is off to an all-time start thanks to numerous major swells all around the surfing world over the last seven months.  The brand-new BillabongXXL.com event website is brimming with both video footage and still photos of some of the biggest waves and best rides in the history of the event.

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Hawaiian Shane Dorian Claims Ride Of The Year

Californian Mike Parsons Surfs Biggest Wave In History at 70ft+

NEWPORT BEACH, CA  –  (April 11th 2008) — The kings of big wave surfing have been crowned at the eighth annual Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Awards in California.  Regarded as the Oscars of big wave surfing, the 2007/08 awards recognize the biggest and heaviest waves ridden and documented over the past twelve months.

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