Newport Beach CA. Tuesday, March 27, 2006. The Sixth Annual Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Awards acknowledges surfers with extraordinary achievements in huge surf over the prior 12 months. Nominees in the key categories will be announced this Friday, March 31, at 10:00 AM Pacific Standard Time in conjunction with the launch of the new awards website at BillabongXXL.com.

The new awards website features the finalist waves in both stills and video clips for the world to view, including:
5 nominees for the Billabong XXL Award for biggest wave of the year ($1000 per foot of face height, minimum $60,000, with a photographer Award of $5000);
5 nominees for the Monster Tube Award (Surfer Prize: $5000 Photo Award: $2000); and
5 nominees for Monster Paddle Award (Surfer Prize: $10,000 Photo Award: $2000).

Also included in the new website is an 18 minute video history of the Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Awards, along with the awards website archives from 2002 to 2006. The public is able to cast a vote for the winner of each category via the online poll, although these votes will have no bearing on the judges decision making process.

Other prize winning categories in the Billabong XXL Global Big Wave awards are the Surfline Men's Performance Award, the Women's Performance Award ($5000 each), and the Best Wipeout Award (Ridiculed for life). The winners will be announced at the awards evening; no nominees are named in advance.

The competition runs through March of each year, with the 2006 awards ceremony scheduled for April 14 at The Grove Theater in Anaheim, California. For rules, judging criteria and all event details and particulars, see the awards website at BillabongXXL.com.

Surfline.com is the official surf forecast of the Billabong XXL Awards. The event is presented by Monster Energy and is sponsored by Honda Watercraft, Surfing Magazine, Hawaiian Airlines and High Surf Accessories.

Media contact:
Bill Sharp SurfNewsEd@aol.com 949-548-6740