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 23

NEWPORT BEACH, CA -- (APRIL 2, 2010)

The finalists for the 2010 Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Awards presented by Monster Energy were announced today in the wake of one of the greatest years in surfing history.  Following 12 months of enormous swell events from South Africa to Hawaii to Australia to California to Mexico to Tahiti and beyond, over 1000 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.  

For all details about the Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Awards, please see the website at www.BillabongXXL.com. 

The nominees for 2010, in alphabetical order: 

FIVE BILLABONG XXL RIDE OF THE YEAR AWARD NOMINEES

    (Surfer prize 50,000  -  Video prize 5,000)

Grant Baker (Durban, South Africa) at Maverick’s, California on February 13, 2010.

     (Video by Noel Robinson)

Shane Dorian (Kona, Hawaii, USA) at Maverick’s, California on February 13, 2010.

     (Video by Noel Robinson)

Mark Healey & Shane Dorian (Sunset Beach & Kona, Hawaii, USA) at Waimea Bay, Hawaii on December 7, 2009.

     (Video by Dwayne Fetch)

Ramon Navarro (Pichilemu, Chile) at Waimea Bay, Hawaii on December 8, 2009.

     (Video by Marc Beaty/Surfline)

Raimana Van Bastolaer (Tahiti, French Polynesia) at Teahupoo, Tahiti on March 17, 2010

     (Video by Aaron Lieber) 

FIVE BILLABONG XXL BIGGEST WAVE AWARD NOMINEES

    (Surfer prize 15,000 and a Honda Aquatrax watercraft with HSA sled  -  Photo/video prize 4,000)

Ross Clarke-Jones (Torquay, Vic., Australia) at Jaws, Maui, Hawaii on December 25, 2009.

     (Photos by Erik Aeder and Bruno Lemos.  Video by Elliot Leboe.)

Danilo Couto (Bahia, Brazil) at Jaws, Maui, Hawaii on December 25, 2009.

     (Photos by Erik Aeder and Batel Shimi.  Video by Chris Tronolone.)

Makua Rothman (Sunset Beach, Hawaii, USA) at Jaws, Maui, Hawaii on January 11, 2010.

     (Photos by Erik Aeder, Tracy Kraft, Bruno Lemos and Zak Noyle.  Video by Tim Bonython and Elliot Leboe.)

Sebastian Steudtner (Nuremberg, Germany) at Jaws, Maui, Hawaii on December 7, 2009.

     (Photos by Erik Aeder, Jeff Flindt, Sean Hower, Fred Pompermayer and Batel Shimi.)

Ian Walsh (Kuau, Hawaii, USA) at Jaws, Maui, Hawaii on January 11, 2010.

     (Photo by Tim McKenna.  Video by Tim Bonython and Elliot Leboe.) 

FIVE MONSTER PADDLE AWARD NOMINEES

   (Surfer prize 15,000  -  Photo/video prize 4,000)

Grant Baker (Durban, South Africa) at Maverick's, California on February 13, 2010.

     (Photos by Doug Acton, Robert Brown, Tom Cozad, Art Gimbel, Todd Glaser, Ed Grant, Don Montgomery, Fred Pompermayer and Frank Quirarte. Video by Curt Myers, Eric Nelson and Noel Robinson.)

Shawn Dollar (Santa Cruz, California, USA) at Maverick's, California on February 13. 2010.

     (Photos by Doug Acton, Robert Brown, Todd Glaser, Guerin Myall, Fred Pompermayer, Tyler Fox and Seth Migdail.  Video by Eric Nelson and Noel Robinson.)

Mark Healey & Shane Dorian (Sunset Beach & Kona, Hawaii, USA) at Waimea Bay, Hawaii on December 7, 2009.    

     (Photos by Bidu, Brent Bielmann, Todd Glaser and Shorty.  Video by Dwayne Fetch and Thomas Jamur.)

Alex Martins (San Francisco, California, USA) at Maverick’s, California on February 13, 2010.

     (Photos by Scott Eggers, Art Gimbel, Don Montgomery, Fred Pompermayer and Frank Quirarte.  Video by Eric Nelson and Noel Robinson.)

Ramon Navarro (Pichilemu, Chile) at Waimea Bay on December 8, 2009.

     (Photos by Bidu, Jeremiah Klein, Pete Freiden, Scott Soens, Pete Hodgson, Brent Bielmann.  Video by Mark Beaty/Surfline and Bruce Walker.) 

FIVE MONSTER TUBE PHOTO AWARD NOMINEES

    (Surfer prize 5,000  - Still Photography prize 2,000)

Grant Baker (Durban, South Africa) at Maverick's, California on February 13, 2010.

     (Photos by Doug Acton, Don Montgomery, Fred Pompermayer, and Frank Quirarte.)

Manoa Drollet (Tahiti, French Polynesia) at Teahupoo, Tahiti on March 17, 2010.

     (Photos by Fred Pompermayer and Ben Thouard)

Rusty Long (San Clemente, California, USA) at Maverick’s, California on February 13, 2010.

     (Photos by Don Montgomery, Fred Pompermayer and Frank Quirarte)

Mark Mathews (Maroubra, NSW, Australia) at The Right, Western Australia on June 15, 2009.

     (Photos by Calum Macaulay and Shorty.)

Raimana Van Bastolaer (Tahiti, French Polynesia) at Teahupoo, Tahiti on March 17, 2010.

     (Photos by Fred Pompermayer and Ben Thouard)