A-frame

Aaberg, Denny

Aaberg, Kemp

Abberton, Koby

Abbruzzi, Sid

Abellira, Reno

Abubo, Megan

academia and surfing

Adler, Tom

advertising and surfing

Aeder, Erik

aerial

Aguerre, Fernando

Aichner, Scott

Aikau, Clyde

Aikau, Eddie

Aipa, Ben

air-drop

airbrush

Airshow

Ala Moana

Alabama

alaia board

Alaska

alcohol and surfing

Alexander, Kala

Allen, Chuck

Alms, Paige

aloha shirt

Alter, Hobie

Alvarez, Pepe

Ancell, Kevin

Andaman Islands

Andersen, Lisa

Anderson, Craig

Anderson, Simon

Andino, Kolohe

Angel, Jose

angle

Angola

Angourie

Antarctica

Apocalypse Now

Arabian Sea

Aragon, Janice

Arakawa, Eric

Archbold, Matt

Arena, Eduardo

Ashton, Juan

Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP)

Atlantic Ocean

August, Robert

Aurness, Rolf

Auster, Ken

Australia

Avalon, Frankie

Azores

backdoor

backside

backside attack, Pipeline

backwash

bail out

Bain, Rob

Baja California

Baker, Bernie

Baker, Grant “Twiggy”

Baker, Tim

Bali

Ball, John “Doc”

Ballard, Bill

Ballard, Rochelle

balsa

Baltic Sea

Banks, Jim

Barbados

Barilotti, Steve

Barland, Michel

Barreda, Sergio “Gordo”

Barry, Michael

Bartholomew, Wayne

Baxter, Jackie

Bay of Bengal

Beach Boys, The

Beacham, Debbie

beachboys

beachbreak

Beachcomber Bills Grand Prix

Beachley, Layne

beavertail

Becker, Phil

Bedford-Brown, Stuart

Belgium

Bells Beach

Bendall, Ma and Pa

Bennett, Barry

Benson, Becky

Benson, Blanche

Benson, Linda

Bermuda

Bertlemann, Larry

Adrenaline-charged photo-and-video-based competition for big-wave surfers, the first of its kind, developed in 1997 by former 

 magazine editor Bill Sharp, with primary sponsorship by equipment and clothing manufacturer Billabong. Guidelines for the initial Big-Wave Challenge (then-sponsored by clothing company K2) were simple: the surfer had to paddle into the wave (no personal watercraft–assisted tow-in takeoffs), the ride had to be documented on film, and the surfer had to get to the trough of the wave without falling. The contest was open to anybody. Entries could be submitted from November 1, 1997, to March 15, 1998, at which time an eight-man panel of judges—two editors each from 

 magazines plus four big-wave experts—would gather to view the photographic evidence and select a winner. San Diego surfer Taylor Knox won the inaugural prize for a near-50-foot wave ridden at Todos Santos, Mexico. Not everyone was excited about the Big-Wave Challenge event. Some dissenters, including big-wave veteran Ken Bradshaw, thought the money would lure inexperienced riders into situations they couldn't handle. Others thought the concept was simply crass and lurid, and counter to the traditionally noncommercial spirit of big-wave surfing. Nevertheless, the contest grew in popularity despite changing sponsorship hands several times in the event's first few years, with Billabong assuming control in 2002.

The contest was opened to tow-surfing in 2001, with separate award categories reserved for the largest paddle-in wave ridden and for the best overall performance. A Monster tube award (named for co-sponsor Monster Energy Drinks) was added in the 2003/2004 season, as was an award for Best Female Performance—a groundbreaking moment in women's big-wave surfing. The XXL's focus shifted in 2006 and rather than rewarding pure wave height, sheer unadulterated gnarliness became the criteria for taking home the top-flight Ride of the Year honors; Biggest Wave ridden became a lesser but still respected category. As of 2013, Maverick's, the fearsome break in northern California, has earned riders the most XXL hardware with seven combined awards in multiple categories; Maui's Jaws and Tahiti's Teahupoo have brought in six awards each. Throughout its history, the XXL Awards and its shifting performance categories effectively charted the evolution of big-wave surfing in the early 21st century, from tow-in surfing, to the resurgence in paddle-in big-wave charging, to the discovery of huge-wave breaks in Europe, to the emergence of a small coterie of female big-wave riders.

Billabong XXL Award winners are as follows:

2002: Carlos Burle (Biggest Wave), Paul Paterson (Biggest Paddle-In Wave), Mike Parsons (Overall Performance)

2003: Makua Rothman (Biggest Wave), Toby Cunningham (Monster Paddle), Garret McNamara (Overall Performance)

2004: Pete Cabrinha (Biggest Wave), Zach Wormhoudt (Monster Paddle), Malik Joyeaux (Monster Tube), Greg Long (Overall Performance)

2005: Dan Moore (Biggest Wave), Shane Desmond (Monster Paddle), Dylan Longbottom (Monster Tube), Shane Dorian (Overall Performance), Jamilah Star (Female Performance)

2006: Brad Gerlach (Biggest Wave), Diego Medina (Monster Paddle), Shane Dorian (Monster Tube), Jamie Sterling (Overall Performance), Jamilah Star (Female Performance)

2007: Ken Collins (Ride of the Year), Greg Long (Biggest Wave), Garrett McNamara (Monster Paddle), Ken Collins (Monster Tube), Garrett McNamara (Overall Performance), Maya Gabeira (Female Performance)

2008: Shane Dorian (Ride of the Year), Mike Parsons (Biggest Wave), Greg Long (Monster Paddle), Manoa Drollet (Monster Tube), Greg Long (Overall Performance), Maya Gabeira (Female Performance)

2009: Greg Long (Ride of the Year), Grant "Twiggy" Baker (Biggest Wave), Derek Dunfee (Monster Paddle), Mark Healey (Monster Tube), Grant "Twiggy" Baker (Overall Performance), Maya Gabeira (Female Performance)

2010: Grant "Twiggy" Baker (Ride of the Year), Sebastian Steudtner (Biggest Wave), Shawn Dollar (Monster Paddle), Raimana Van Bastolear (Monster Tube), Shane Dorian (Overall Performance), Maya Gabeira (Female Performance)

2011: Danilo Couto (Ride of the Year), Benjamin Sanchis (Biggest Wave), Shane Dorian (Monster Paddle), Shane Dorian (Monster Tube), Sion Milosky (posthumous, Overall Performance), Keala Kennelly (Female Performance)

2012: Nathan Fletcher (Ride of the Year), Garrett McNamara (Biggest Wave), Dave Wassel (Monster Paddle), Nathan Fletcher (Monster Tube), Nathan Fletcher (Overall Performance), Maya Gabeira (Female Performance)

Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Awards

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Encyclopedia of Surfing

The Sunday Joint

Encyclopedia of Surfing

The Sunday Joint