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 Hawaii's
Dan Moore was announced as the winner of the 2005 Billabong XXL
Global Big Wave Awards for his legendary 68-foot wave at Jaws on
the north coast of Maui.
A pioneer of personal watercraft-assisted tow-in surfing, the 48-year-old
Moore rode his winning wave on December 15, 2004 during one of the
strongest swells in recent years and received a check for $68,000
-- $1000 per foot -- for the achievement. Almost 2000 surfing VIPs
watched Moore receive his honours in the Billabong XXL Awards ceremony
live at the Grove Theatre in Anaheim, California.
 Massive
wave, massive day
While the panel of surf experts determined the wave to be just smaller
than the 70-footer which earned top XXL honours for Pete Cabrinha
last year at the same spot, Moore's may have set an unofficial record
for biggest wipeout — he was eventually forced to straighten out
after a long ride on the North Pacific behemoth.
"It was an amazing day, just massive," said Moore of the December
session. "We saw that wave forming way outside and my partner, Mark
Anderson, made sure I got it. He pulled me into it really deep and
it just walled up across the reef and took a real high line."
"I was going faster than I've ever gone on
a wave in my life, and there were all these crazy chops, bumps and
steps in the face. I was trying to hang on and it was borderline
out of control. When I saw the lip coming over ahead of me, I knew
I was in for it. It was just a full rinse cycle. Now I know what
a gecko feels like when a person steps on it."
 Biggest
wave awards
The Monster Paddle Award for the biggest wave caught without the
help of a jet ski was won by Shane Desmond of Santa Cruz for his
enormous backside wave caught during the Maverick's Surf Contest
on March 9, 2005 at Half Moon Bay. Desmond received a check for
$10,000. Click on the photo to see the full size of the wave!
The inaugural Monster Women's Award for big wave achievement was
given to Santa Cruz's Jamiliah Star. Star has established herself
over the last several seasons as the hardest charging female on
Oahu's North Shore and this year clinched the honour with rides
on numerous large waves at Sunset Beach and Waimea Bay. Star received
$5,000.
 Best
wipe-out receives rescue sled
A light hearted Best Wipeout Award was handed to Santa Cruz big
wave hero Darryl "Flea" Virostko in honour of his "Flea-Flicker"
three-story plunge at Waimea Bay during the Quiksilver In Honor
of Eddie Aikau contest on December 15, 2004. Flea received a new
watercraft rescue sled from High Surf Accessories, not unlike the
one which assisted him to the beach after his boardless late drop.
For a full list of awards check out the BillabongXXL
Website.
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