O inverno foi histórico em várias zonas do globo devido ao fenómeno El Niño que debitou ondas um pouco por todo o lado e desafiou os big wave riders a aventurarem-se em mares nunca antes explorados. A World Surf League acaba de divulgar, há momentos, a lista de finalistas do 2016 WSL Big Wave Awards cujo período ficou compreendido entre 15 de março de 2015 e 15 de março de 2016. 

Os vencedores serão agora revelados numa gala de entrega de prémios, a ter lugar em Anaheim, Califórnia, no próximo dia 23 de abril, e em seis categorias distintas. Os finalistas do TAG Heuer Wipeout of the Year Award, Women's Best Overall Performance Award e Overall Performance Award serão apenas divulgados no final do mês, mas para já a Surftotal está em condições de dar a conhecer os finalistas da restantes quatro categorias onde a Praia do Norte, Nazaré, e alguns fotógrafos portugueses ganham relevo (especialmente no Biggest Wave Award). 

Ora vê: 

BILLABONG RIDE OF THE YEAR AWARD

(Surfer prizes total $93,000  -  Videographer prizes total $9,000)

Shane Dorian (Kona, Hawaii, USA) at Jaws, Maui, Hawaii on December 6, 2015 (Video by Ryan Moss)

Shane Dorian (Kona, Hawaii, USA) at Jaws, Maui, Hawaii on February 10, 2016. (Video by Dan Norkunas)

Nathan Florence (Haleiwa, Hawaii, USA) at Teahupoo, Tahiti on May 28, 2015. (Video by Tim Bonython)

Tyler Larronde (Haiku, Hawaii, USA) at Maverick’s, California on February 4, 2016. (Video by Josh Pomer)

Albee Layer (Haiku, Hawaii, USA) at Jaws, Maui, Hawaii on February 25, 2016. (Video by Elliot Leboe)

PADDLE AWARD:

(Surfer prize $25,000 - Photographer prize $5,000)

Ben Andrews (San Francisco, California, USA) at Maverick’s, California on February 4, 2015 (Photos by Fred Pompermayer and Frank Quirarte. Video by Larry Haynes)

Pedro Calado (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) at Jaws, Maui, Hawaii on January 15, 2016. (Photos by 808Photo.me, Brent Bielmann, Brian Bielmann, Wangdu Hovey and Tom Servais. Video by Dan Norkunas)

Aaron Gold (Haleiwa, Hawaii, USA) at Jaws, Maui, Hawaii on January 15, 2016. (Photos by 808Photo.me, Brent Bielmann, Brent Broza, Aaron Lynton and Fred Pompermayer. Video by Elliot Leboe)

Mark Healey (Haleiwa, Hawaii, USA) at Puerto Escondido, Mexico on May 3, 2015. (Photos by Nikki Brooks, Ben DeCamp, Astrid Fonseca and Edwin Morales. Video by Jaciel Santiago)

Manny Resano (Playa Popoyo, Nicaragua) at Maverick’s, California on December 7, 2015. (Photos by Sachi Cunningham, Benjamin Ginsberg and Frank Quirarte. Video by Rafael Sauro)

TAG HEUER XXL BIGGEST WAVE AWARD:

(Surfer prize $20,000 - Photographer prize $5,000)

Mick Corbett (Perth, WA, Australia) at Nazaré, Portugal on February 19, 2016. (Photo by André Bernardo)

Garrett McNamara (Haleiwa, Hawaii, USA) at Nazaré, Portugal on November 1, 2015. (Photos by Bruno Aleixo, André Botelho, Vitor Estrelinha, Jorge Figueira and Manuel Ricardo. Video by Timelapse Media)

Niccolo Porcella (Sardegna, Italy) at Jaws, Maui, Hawaii on February 25, 2016. (Photos by Erik Aeder, Rick Dombrowski, Dooma Photos, Paul Karaolides and Zack Williams. Video by Marcus Rodrigues)

Pedro Scooby (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) at Nazaré, Portugal on October 27, 2015. (Photos by Bruno Aleixo, Helio Antonio, Vitor Estrelinha, Pedro Miranda and Hugo Silva. Video by André Callado)

Yuri Soledade (Haiku, Maui, Hawaii) at Jaws, Maui, Hawaii on February 25, 2016. (Photos by Brian Berkowitz, Jimmie Hepp, Elliot Leboe, John Patao and Fred Pompermayer. Video by Elliot Leboe)

PURE SCOT BARREL OF THE YEAR AWARD:

(Surfer prize $10,000 - Still photography prize $4,000)

Tom Butler (Newquay, Cornwall, England) at Mullaghmore Head, Ireland on October 28, 2015. (Photo by Ian Mitchinson.)

Keala Kennelly (Haleiwa, Hawaii, USA) at Teahupoo, Tahiti on July 22, 2015. (Photos by Kirvan Baldassari, Brent Bielmann, Tim McKenna and Isaac Sokol.)

Greg Long (San Clemente, California, USA) at Jaws, Maui, Hawaii on December 6, 2015. (Photos by Erik Aeder, Kelly Cestari, Richard Hallman, Paul Karaolides and Sofie Louca.)

Mark Mathews (Maroubra, New South Wales, Australia) at The Right, Australia on June 26, 2015. (Photo by Jack Sherriffs.)

Ian Walsh (Haiku, Maui, Hawaii) at Jaws, Maui, Hawaii on January 28, 2016. (Photos by Richard Hallman and Aaron Lynton.)