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Kings of big wave surfing have been crowned
by George Mojo
14/04/2008:// In what has been dubbed the best year in big wave surfing history, the monster surf hot spots of Chile, Europe, South Africa, Australia, Hawaii, Mexico, California and French Polynesia all served up mind bending rides for the five award categories.
Former world tour surfer Shane Dorian, from Hawaii, scooped top honours in what is regarded the Oscars of big wave surfing by taking out the Ride Of The Year Award.
The 35-year-old manhandled a beast of a wave at Tahiti's treacherous Teahupoo break in November, 2007, to receive the nomination.
Despite coming dangerously close to the wipeout of a lifetime, Dorian held on to make the wave and was awarded the Ride Of The Year over Manoa Drollet, of Tahiti, Brazilian Carlos Burle, Hawaiian Ian Walsh and Michael Brenna, from Australia.
Californian big wave legend Mike Parsons surfed his way into the record books by winning the Billabong Biggest Wave Award.
His ride, judged to be 70ft+ (24m) is officially the biggest wave ever ridden and was tackled at Cortes Bank, located off the Californian coast in January this year.
It was the second time the 43-year-old has won the biggest wave category after taking out the inaugural award in 2001 with a ride at the same break.
Parsons is adamant he will ride a 100ft wave at Cortes Bank in the near future.
Fellow Californian Greg Long featured heavily in the 2008 awards by taking out the Monster Paddle In Award and the Surfline Men's Overall Performance Award.
The defending XXL Big Wave Award winner has been supporting his love for big wave surfing without a major sponsor in 2008 and said the prize money would allow him to chase a few more swells in coming months.
French surfer Manoa Drollet claimed the Monster Tube Award for a death defying barrel ride at his home break of Teahupoo during the November super swell of last year.
After two years of being nominated in the category, the win was sweet victory after finishing second in the top Ride Of The Year Category.
Brazilian Maya Gabeira, from Rio De Janeiro, took back to back titles in the Billabong Girls Best Performance Awards after notching up a collection of giant rides in Tahiti, California, Hawaii and Mexico in the past twelve months.
Gabeira proved without doubt that she is the world's premiere big wave female performer.
Countryman Carlos Burle, who is also Gabeira's tow partner was nominated in the Ride Of The Year category and finished in third position.
Top seeds took control of the ASP World Qualfying Series 6-Star Buondi Billabong Pro Portugal posting big scores and impressive performances in the good three to four foot waves on offer at Ribeira d’Ilhas
Briton Russell Winter's run in the Buondi Billabong Pro in Portugal came to an abrupt end when the Cornishman finished last in his second round heat
The upcoming Boost Mobile Pro presented by Hurley may be the closest thing eight-time ASP World Champion and ratings leader Kelly Slater (USA) has to a home court advantage on the ASP World Tour
Home advantage saw Lee Ann Curren claim top spot in Rip Curl Pro Junior Mademoiselle at Les Bourdaines in Seignosse
The August Bank Holiday weekend saw a hive of activity at the inaugural Quiksilver Skins invitation competition, one of the most innovative contest formats to grace the circuit
Champions tell the story of their success step by step
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