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PRESS RELEASE
Raw Courage Big Wave Awards
O’Neill announce 2009/10 Raw Courage Big Wave Awards
 Paddle surfing in big waves takes guts, knowledge and experience and O’Neill is proud to announce the opening of the one year waiting period for the 2009/10 O’Neill Raw Courage Big Wave Awards, an annual event to honour and reward the courage, passion and commitment of South African watermen who take on South Africa’s biggest waves using their bare hands.
Founded in 2008 by big wave legend and O’Neill ambassador, Chris Bertish, the Raw Courage Awards will be awarded in five categories including the Biggest Paddle Wave, Biggest Barrel, Balls to the Wall, Phsycofreak and Grom Charger with a total of over R40 000 at stake, R20 000 of which goes to the Biggest Paddle Wave winner.
Running from 1 May 2009 to 1 May 2010, the criteria specify that only rides on waves 15 foot and bigger will be accepted and all photographic and video evidence must be of South African surfers on South African waves. All entries should be submitted to thebombsurf.com where selected rides will be showcased on the site.
“O’Neill is really excited and stoked to be fostering and encouraging big wave surfing in South Africa by recognizing the country’s top big wave chargers annually through the Raw Courage Big Wave Awards,” says O’Neill SA Marketing Manager, Paul Canning.
“O’Neill is a core brand that has its roots heavily embedded in the big wave aspect of surfing. Monstrous swells hit the South African coast through the winter months and I’m sure we’re going to see some incredible footage being submitted.”
A poll on the website will be taken to determine the top five rides in each category and the award winners will be judged by an elite three man panel comprising big wave legend Jonathan Paarman, 1978 ISA World Champion Ant Brodowicz and vastly experienced surfer and big wave contest judge Tich Paul. The prizes will be presented at a closing function during May 2010.
The O’Neill Raw Courage Awards has its roots in paddle-in surfing and while all awards besides the Biggest Paddle Wave will also accept tow-in rides, the judging criteria will favour paddling as the method of catching the wave. It takes more courage to paddle into and ride an 18 foot wave than it does to tow into a 25 footer.
The Biggest Paddle Wave award is the most prestigious accolade in the Raw Courage Awards and while there are numerous rides in the 15-18 foot range every year, it is photos or video footage of rides on slabs of water over 20 foot that the judges will be looking for. Considering that more people have reached the top of Mount Everest (nearly 2 000) than have paddled into and ridden a wave over 20 foot, winning this award comes with heaps of respect!
Video footage or a minimum of a five-shot photo sequence is required for Biggest Barrel award where the rider will be judged on size, method of entry into the wave, positioning in the tube and the degree of difficulty.
The Balls to Wall will be decided by a peer poll amongst the surfers in the event and no photographic evidence is required to determine the rider who shows the most commitment to pushing the limits and demonstrates his passion for big wave surfing in sessions throughout the year.
Contenders for the Phsycofreak award must submit photo or video evidence of the WOW factor on a big wave. The only award that can be on a wave less than 15 foot, the Phsycofreak could go to the worst wipe-out or some other super radical, heavy situation on a massive wave.
The Grom Charger goes to a surfer 20 or under and is designed to encourage youngsters to commit to riding big waves so South Africa can continue to feature in the highest echelons of international big wave surfing in the future
For more information on the O’Neill Raw Courage Big Wave Awards, including the Rules, Judging Criteria and how to submit entries, go to bombsurf.com and click on Events.
O’Neill Raw Courage Awards
Biggest Paddle Wave Award
Surfer: R20 000
Photo: R2 500
Biggest Barrel Award
Surfer: R5 000
Photo: R2 000
Balls to the Wall Award
Surfer: R5 000
Phsycofreak Award
Surfer: R5 000
Photo: R2 000
Grom Charger Award
Surfer: R2 000
Photo: R1 000
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