The only awards ceremony to honour pure big wave surfers, the Billabong XXL awards, sponsorded by Surfing Magazine, Hawaiian Airlines and Monster Energy, took place last Friday, April 11, in the Grove Theater, near Newport Beach, California.
With gongs given out for Ride of the Year, Biggest Wave, Monster Tube and Monster Paddle, you'd be mistaken for thinking this was a testosterone dominated affair. However the ladies were represented too: three of the bravest names in women's surfing were nominated for the Billabong XXL Women's Overall Performance Award.
But Jamilah Star (Santa Cruz, California) and Jenny Useldinger (Oahu, Hawaii), didn't quite have what it takes for 2008; the title and $5000 was taken home by Maya Gabeira. The Rio de Janeiro, Brazil born, 21 year old may have rose out of no where, when she won the 2007 award, but has been travelling the globe looking for her latest challenge ever since - including her homebase of Oahu, Maverick’s in Cali, Dungeons in South Africa and Mainland Mexico. Congrats!
Log on to www.billabongxxl.com to read the latest and catch the live recorded webcast. Or watch the whole thing on ESPN2 (if you have US cable) on Friday 29th May at 9:30pm.
[Images: Globoesporte.com (big wave) and Foammagazine.com (portrait) ]
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