El único premio que llegó a manos de un europeo fue el de mayor ola, uno de los premios estrellas, que fue a parar a manos del francés Benjamin Sanchis. Lo que para algunos es una ola babosa y poco temible, para el jurado de los Billabong XXL ha sido la mayor ola surfeada esta temporada, 22 metros (67 pies). Cierto, si solo se mide la altura de la ola es evidentemente la ganadora.

El momento emotivo de la noche llegó con la entrega a título póstumo del premio a la mejor progresión para Sion Milosky, fallecido recientemente en un accidente de surf en Mavericks. Algunos campeones de la noche, como Shane Dorian o Mark Mathews (ganador del premio al mayor caída), donaron sus premios para la asociación Miloski Family Found como ayuda a la familia.









Resultados Billabong XXL Big Wave:

BILLABONG XXL RIDE OF THE YEAR SURFER WINNER:
(Surfer prize $50,000 - Plus Toyota Tacoma year lease)
Danilo Couto

BILLABONG XXL RIDE OF THE YEAR SURFER SECOND:
(Surfer prize $5,000)
David Scard

BILLABONG XXL RIDE OF THE YEAR SURFER THIRD
(Surfer prize $1,500)
Mark Healey

BILLABONG XXL RIDE OF THE YEAR SURFER FOURTH
(Surfer prize $1,500)
Michael Brennen

BILLABONG XXL RIDE OF THE YEAR SURFER FIFTH
(Surfer prize $1,500)
Benjamin Sanchis

BILLABONG XXL RIDE OF THE YEAR VIDEO:
(Video prize $5,000)
Elliot Leboe

WINNER BILLABONG XXL BIGGEST WAVE AWARD
(Surfer prize $15,000 – wave was 67 feet)
Benjamin Sanchis

WINNER BILLABONG XXL BIGGEST WAVE PHOTO AWARD
(Photographer prize $4,000 )
Bastien Bonnarme

WINNER MONSTER PADDLE AWARD
(Surfer prize $15,000 - wave was 57 feet, a new record!!)
Shane Dorian

WINNER MONSTER PADDLE PHOTO AWARD
(Photo prize $4,000)
Batel Shimi

WINNER SURFLINE BEST MEN’S PERFORMANCE AWARD
(Surfer prize $5,000)
Sion Milosky

WINNER BILLABONG GIRLS BEST PERFORMANCE AWARD
(Surfer prize $5,000)
Keala Kennelly

VERIZON WIPEOUT SURFER AWARD
(Surfer prize $2,000)
Mark Mathews

VERIZON WIPEOUT VIDEO AWARD
(Photo prize $1,000)
Andrew Chisholm

MONSTER TUBE SURFER AWARD
(Surfer prize $5,000)
Shane Dorian

MONSTER TUBE PHOTO AWARD
(Photo prize $2,000)
Bruno Lemos

El día 11 de Abril sabremos cuál de estos 5 nominados es el ganador durante la gala de entrega de premios que se llevará a cabo en California. Si me preguntasen a mi no podría descartar a Danilo Couto, Benjamin Sanchis y a Mark Healey pero no me sabría decidir entre Mikey Brennan y David Scard.

Del resto de categorías cabe destacar la doble nominación a título póstumo del fallecido Sion Milosky en las categorías de Monster Paddle y Overall en una sesión en Outer Reef, Oahu.

Hay mayoría hawaiana entre los surfistas nominados, diez, aunque muchos están nominados por la misma ola en varias categorías, seguidos de los australianos con 7 nominaciones, brasileños con 6, y franceses con 4.

En cuanto a las olas ha sido el año de Jaws que se lleva 5 nominaciones y Shipstern Bluff con Shipstern Bluff.



FIVE BILLABONG XXL RIDE OF THE YEAR AWARD NOMINEES

Michael Brennan (Hobart, Tasmania, Australia) at Shipstern Bluff, Tasmania on April 10, 2010.
(Video by Tim Bonython.)
Danilo Couto (Bahia, Brazil) at Jaws, Maui, Hawaii on February 8, 2011.
(Video by Elliot Leboe.)
Mark Healey (Sunset Beach, Hawaii, USA) at Outer Reef, Oahu, Hawaii on January 20, 2011.
(Video by Ariel Willeford.)
Benjamin Sanchis (Hossegor, France) at Mullaghmore Head, Ireland on February 13, 2011.
(Video by Yannock Lousouarn.)
David Scard (Caloundra, Queensland, Australia) at Cloudbreak, Fiji on September 20, 2010.
(Video by Talon Clemow.)



FIVE MONSTER PADDLE AWARD NOMINEES

Danilo Couto (Bahia, Brazil) at Jaws, Maui, Hawaii on February 8, 2011.
(Photos by Eric Aeder, Tracy Kraft and Batel Shimi. Video by Justin Clark, Giora Koren and Elliot Leboe.)
Shane Dorian (Kona, Hawaii, USA) at Jaws, Hawaii, on March 15, 2011.
(Photos by Eric Aeder, Bob Bangerter, Tracy Kraft, Bruno Lemos, Mike Neal and Batel Shimi. Video by Frank Berthuot, Giora Koren and Bruno Lemos.)
Mark Healey (Sunset Beach, Hawaii, USA) at Maverick’s, California on November 2, 2010.
(Photos by Mike Jones, Don Montgomery and Fred Pompermayer. Video by Chris Killen.)
Sion Milosky (Sunset Beach, Hawaii, USA) at Outer Reef, Oahu, Hawaii on February 8, 2011.
(Photo by Daniel Russo. Video by Larry Haynes.)
Mark Yazbeck (Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia) at Waimea Bay, Hawaii on January 20, 2011.
(Photos by Bruno Lemos, Al Mackinnon and Terry Reis. Video by Bruno Lemos.)


FIVE BILLABONG XXL BIGGEST WAVE AWARD NOMINEES

Eric Akiskalian (Gig Harbor, Washington, USA) at South Reef, Lincoln City, Oregon on November 2, 2010.
(Photos by Dave Colllyer and Richard Hallman.)
Dan Corbett (Dunsborough, Western Australia) at Outer Bombie, Margaret River, Western Australia on October 4, 2010.
(Photo by Jamie Scott.)
Rodrigo “Koxa” Augusto Espirito de Santo (Guaruja, San Paulo, Brazil) at Punta Docas, Chile on August 18, 2010.
(Photo by Alexandre Akiwas. Video by Rodrigo Pelado.)
Francisco Porcella (Sardnina, Italy) at Jaws, Maui, Hawaii on November 2, 2010.
(Photos by Giora Koren, Mike Neal and Batel Shimi. Video by Tormod Martines.)
Benjamin Sanchis (Hossegor, France) at Belharra, France on February 16, 2011.
(Photo by Bastien Bonnarme. Video by Julien Roulland.)


FIVE MONSTER TUBE AWARD NOMINEES

Shane Dorian (Kona, Hawaii, USA) at Jaws, Maui, Hawaii, on March 15, 2011.
(Photos by Bruno Lemos, Mike Neal and Batel Shimi.)
Tom Dosland (Haiku, Hawaii, USA) at The Right, Western Australia on October 6, 2010.
(Photo by Calum Macaulay.)
James Hollmer-Cross (Hobart, Tasmania, Australia) at Shipstern Bluff, Tasmania on April 10, 2010.
(Photo by Andrew Chisholm.)
Mark Mathews (Maroubra, New South Wales, Australia) at The Right, Western Australia on October 6, 2010.
(Photo by Calum Macaulay.)
Eric Rebiere (Hossegor, France) at Mullaghmore Head, Ireland on February 13, 2011.
(Photo by Bastien Bonnarme.)


FIVE SURFLINE BEST PERFORMANCE AWARD NOMINEES

Kohl Christensen (Kailua, Hawaii, USA)
Danilo Couto (Bahia, Brazil)
Mark Healey (Sunset Beach, Hawaii, USA)
Sion Milosky (Sunset Beach, Hawaii, USA)
Benjamin Sanchis (Hossegor, France)


FIVE BILLABONG GIRLS BEST PERFORMANCE AWARD NOMINEES

Easkey Britton (Rossnowlagh, Ireland)
Maya Gabeira (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
Keala Kennelly (Honolulu, Hawaii, USA)
Mercedes Maidana (Buenos Aires, Argentina)
Jamilah Star (Santa Cruz, California, USA)


FIVE VERIZON WIPEOUT OF THE YEAR AWARD NOMINEES
(Surfer prize $2,000 and a Samsung Tab by Verizon – Video prize $1,000)
Tiago Candelot (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) at Jaws, Maui, Hawaii on January 20, 2011.
(Video by Tony Adams.)
Mark Mathews (Maroubra, New South Wales, Australia) at Shipstern Bluff, Tasmania on April 6, 2010.
(Video by Andrew Chisholm.)
Everaldo “Pato” Teixeira (Florianopolis, Brazil) at Shipstern Bluff, Tasmania on April 6, 2010.
(Video by Andrew Chisholm.)
Laurie Towner (Angourie, New South Wales, Australia) at Cloudbreak, Fiji on September 20, 2010.
(Video by Elliot Leboe.)
Ben Wilkinson (North Narrabeen, New South Wales, Australia) at Maverick’s, California on November 2, 2010.
(Video by Greg Browning.)