Roughly a week ago, Billabong released a video showing the five nominees for the Verizon Wipeout of the Year Award, a category in the annual . The winner gets a from the surf company—not exactly a lot of money for being spun and then slammed by a wave the size of a two-story home moving at the speed of a locomotive—but at least some consolation.
The four guys that don't win are left with little more than a great story and an impressive video to show their grandchildren. Still, finalist Mark Mathews isn't convinced. “I’m not sure this is something I want to win,” he told his . He took home the best wipeout award last year, and this year plans on missing the announcement so that he can catch some waves during Australia's high season.
The full list of nominees…
Felipe Cesarano at Teahupoo, Tahiti
Danny Griffith at Shipstern Bluff, Tasmania
Rodrigo Koxa at Teahupoo, Tahiti
Mark Mathews at The Right, Western Australia
Garret McNamara at Jaws, Maui, Hawaii
The videographer that captures the winning spill gets a prize of $1,000, which sounds like the better end of the deal.
–Joe Spring