The Billabong XXL Awards 2012 will air on Fuel TV on May 20th.
Click on the Link below to view all the nominees.
http://www.fuel.tv/actionsports/#!/surf/the-monster-paddle-nominees-in-the-2012-billabong-xxl-big-wave-awards
surf
http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/sports/ci_20288136/mavericks-ride-earns-ken-skindog-collins-billabong-xxl
Ken “Skindog” Collins is a Nominee for the 2012 Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Awards in the Monster Paddle category.
Video By Elijah Crowell from the Go Big Project
YouTube: Billabong XXL Big Wave Awards Nominees Edit 2012
The wave that earned Ken “Skindog” Collins a nomination in the 2011/12 Billabong XXL Big Wave surfing awards Thursday just found him.
Collins was nominated in the Monster Paddle category for a wave he caught at Maverick’s on Feb. 8. The wave, which he estimates at 40 to 45 feet, was a rogue that found him while he was sitting far out on the shoulder, trying to regroup after four waves pounded down on him during an earlier attempt.
“I didn’t want to catch a wave. I went way out to get my bearings straight,” Collins said. “Within 10
Professional surfer Ken Collins makes his way out of the water at the Pillar Point Harbor after a memorial paddle out for Hawaiian big wave surfer Sion Milosky on the one-year anniversary of his death at Maverick’s, Friday. (Jon Weiand/Sentinel)
minutes it came to me. I was like, ‘Oh man, do have to catch this?’ But then I have Shane Dorian screaming at me to go and I was like, ‘I’ve got to at least pretend to go for it.’ Then it was so glassy and beautiful.”
Frank Quirarte and Robert Brown caught photos of the ride and The Go Big Project captured it on film. They stand to split $4,000 if Collins wins, and he could win $15,000. Winners will be announced at a red-carpet event on May 4 and the show will be aired on FuelTV on May 20 at 3 p.m.
A Santa Cruz surfer has been nominated for an XXL award every year since 2004. Collins won the Ride of the Year — the XXL’s biggest award worth $50,000 — and the Monster Tube, in 2007 for a monster 50-plus-footer he caught near Puerto Escondido, Mexico.
“It’s the same thing, I’m going in thinking I have no chance. That’s the natural reaction,” Collins said. “You hope for the best. Looking at all the photos of all the waves, they’re all just really big waves.”
Billabong XXL Big Wave Awards Nominees
RIDE OF THE YEAR
Surfer prize $50,000; Video prize $5,000
- Nathan Fletcher, San Juan Capistrano: Teahupoo, Tahiti on Aug. 27, 2011 (Video by Simon Saffigna)
- Ryan Hipwood, Australia: Cloudbreak, Fiji on July 12, 2011 (Video by Nimai Strickland)
- Greg Long, San Clemente: Puerto Escondido, Mexico on May 19, 2011 (Video by Alejandro Berger)
- Garrett McNamara, Haleiwa, Hawaii: Praia do Norte, Nazar , Portugal on Nov. 1, 2011 (Video by Jorge Leal)
- Jeff Rowley, Australia: Jaws, Maui, Hawaii on Jan 30 (Video by Wangdu Hovey)
MONSTER PADDLE
Surfer prize $15,000; Photo/video prize $4,000
- Ken “Skindog” Collins, Santa Cruz: Maverick’s on Feb. 8 (photos by Robert Brown and Frank Quirarte; video by The Go Big Project)
- Danilo Couto, Brazil: Jaws, Maui, Hawaii on Jan. 4 (photo by Fred Pompermayer; video by Greg Browning)
- Shane Dorian, Kona, Hawaii: Jaws, Hawaii, on Jan. 4 (photos by Bidu, Tracy Kraft, Bruno Lemos, Jason Murray and Fred Pompermayer; video by Elliot Leboe)
- Jamie Mitchell, Australia: Todos Santos, Mexico on Jan. 6 (photo by Jason Murray, video by Graham Nash)
- Dave Wassel, Haleiwa, Hawaii: Jaws, Maui, Hawaii on Jan. 4 (photos by Eric Aeder, Frank Berthuot, Bruno Lemos, Mike Neal and Fred Pompermayer, video by Bruno Lemos)
BIGGEST WAVE
Surfer prize $15,000; photo/video prize $4,000
- Andrew Cotton, United Kingdom: Mullaghmore Head, Ireland, on March 8 (photos by Andrew Kilfeather, Conn Osbourne and David Olsthoorn; video by Jamie Russell)
- Garrett McNamara, Haleiwa, Hawaii: Priaia do Norte, Nazar , Portugal on Nov. 1, 2011. (photo by Wilson Ribeiro; video by Jorge Leal)
- Axi Muniain, Spain: Agiti, Spain on Dec. 15, 2011. (photo by Eric Chauche; video by Walter Lang)
- Ollie O’Flaherty, Ireland: Mullaghmore Head, Ireland, on March 8 (photos by Christian McLeod and Matt Strathern; video by Mark Waters)
- Damien “Taco” Warr, Western Australia: Cow Bombie, Western Australia on Oct 16, 2011 (photo by Jamie Scott; video by Rick Jakovich)
MONSTER TUBE
Surfer prize $5,000; still photography prize $2,000
- Kohl Christensen, Haleiwa, Hawaii: Cloudbreak, Fiji on July 12, 2011 (photos by Brian Bielmann and Bruno Lemos)
- Nathan Fletcher, San Juan Capistrano: Teahupoo, Tahiti on Aug. 27, 2011. (photos by Brian Bielmann, Pete Frieden, Bruno Lemos, Tim McKenna and Benjamin Thouard)
- Tyler Hollmer-Cross, Australia: Shipstern Bluff, Tasmania, on May 17, 2011. (photo by Andrew Chisholm)
- Bruce Irons, Hanalei, Hawaii: Teahupoo, Tahiti on Aug. 27, 2011 (photos by Brian Bielmann, Tim McKenna, Fred Pompermayer, Pat Stacy and Benjamin Thouard)
- Everaldo “Pato” Teixeira, Brazil: Teahupoo, Tahiti on Aug. 27, 2011. (photos by Tim McKenna, Fred Pompermayer and Benjamin Thouard)
Watch it: Collins’ ride
A gallery on the West Side swelled with locals, film producers, and two Miami-based celebs to screen a surfing documentary and support Grind Out Hunger.
Famous surfers, tattoo artists, filmmakers and hunger fighters got together Saturday night in Santa Cruz for what is the start of a new nationwide reality show featuring local nonprofit, Grind Out Hunger.
Grind Out Hunger and The Go Big Project raised 4,000 meals for hungry children in an event that spotlighted the screening of the acclaimed surf documentary Danger from the series Maverick Moments, by Award Winning Filmmaker Rocky Romano.
Around 200 people packed the warehouse space of the R. Blitzer Gallery, which featured huge oil and resin-painted works by local artist, Robert Hyatt.
Danny Keith, founder of Grind Out Hunger, said he co-created the event “to raise awareness about kids going hungry in Santa Cruz County, and to use surfing to bring attention to it. And hopefully get some donations and feed some kids.”
“Surfing is a lifestyle, and the people that live it care about the community and making sure kids do not go hungry, we are here tonight to proclaim a war on childhood hunger and malnutrition,” he said, introducing the film.
His objective was more than successful, and he told Patch on Sunday morning that it is just the beginning of something really good for Grind Out Hunger: An influential conglomeration of artists coming together to combat childhood hunger locally and nationally.
Special guests at the event included Chris Nuñez of Miami Ink and Ink Master, and Joey Hernandez, CEO of Empire Entertainment, who came to kick off their upcoming projects with Rocky Romano ofThe Go Big Project, as well as show their support for Grind Out Hunger.
“We’re friends with Rocky and Ken “Skindog” Collins and we’re working with them on some projects and we wanted to come down and show our support and start building on our working relationship as well,” said Hernandez, who says he hopes the new relationship brings them back to Santa Cruz often to “put the spotlight on the map, with a new wave of surfers out there, young guys, it’s time to get them showcased and build some more brands.”
The collaboration of Empire Entertainment and The Go Big Project seeks to meld the world of action sports and tattoos with a reality film and TV series. It will also have a clothing line and an action sports management company, according to Romano.
The connection between tattoos and extreme sports may not be immediately obvious, but the guys say they have a vision.
“Basically guys that’ve been getting tattoos have been pretty much extreme athletes and people associated for as long as I’ve been tattooing,” said Nuñez.
“You know, it always kind of went back to skaters, dudes that built ramps, surfers, snowboarders, it was always those kinds of kids that were just kind of thinking outside the box, that were the first kids to come home and really piss their parents off all tattooed, you know?”
It’s a certain demographic– tattooed or not tattooed – that the partnership is looking to base their art around, and Romano has a knack for tapping into Action Sports culture.
“They’re both niche markets that work well together so we just want to join forces and blow it up,” said Romano who also hinted that there is a Big Wave surfing TV series with two-time Emmy award winning Doug Stanley of The Deadliest Catch and Big Wave Surfer Ken “Skindog” Collins in the works.
But the artists said they were also thrilled to be supporting the Grind Out Hunger cause.
“We really believe in a double-edge sword business approach where we’re making money but also doing the right thing,” said Romano, who has been known to produce documentaries for free for Ride a Wave and other non profits and has been active with Grind Out Hunger since meeting Keith years ago while filming.
Nuñez, who traveled across the country from his Miami base, explained the other side of his sword, saying:
“It’s also about what Grind Out Hunger does for the community, giving back, feeding the community and really setting the action sports world as a pioneer leading into humanitarian services, it’s incredible, a great thing to be at.”
The night couldn’t have not gotten any better but it did when Volcom Stone donated hundreds of dollars in product to be given away to the crowd. Ken “Skindog” Collins and Grind Out Hunger’s newest addition to it’s Surf Division summed it up.
“I cannot believe we have 1 in 4 kids going hungry in Santa Cruz County…I have kids…that just makes me mad”
Despite the torrential downpour, the star studded attendance for the evening included Chris Nuñez of Miami Ink/Ink Master; Joey Hernandez, CEO of Empire Entertainment; Brian Laing, CEO Hive Media; Eric Oejten of Empire Entertainment; Elizabeth Gummere, President of the Santa Cruz Film Festival; Robert Blitzer of R. Blitzer Gallery; Jason “J-Willz” Williams of Ribsys Nickel; DJ Rudy B; Shawn Hatjes Photography and surf shooter Ryan “Chachi” Craig.
There were also professional big wave surfers; Shawn Dollar, Nic Lamb, Tyler Fox, Anthony Tashnick, Andres Flores and the hosts for the evening Rocky Romano CEO of The Go Big Project and Danny Keith Founder of Grind Out Hunger.
On March 31 Grind Out Hunger will be attending the first Mavericks Invitational in Half Moon Bay with skate ramps and the cast and crew listed above.
Visit http://www.mavericksinvitational.com for more information and advance ticket purchases.
Grind Out Hunger is an Action Sports Based Charity with the mission statement “Empowering the youth by utilizing the passion of skateboarding, surfing and snowboarding to recognize the importance of community and food literacy.”
To get involved with Grind Out Hunger please visit http://www.grindouthunger.org in partnership with Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz County.
Related Topics: Empire Entertainment, Go Big Project, and Grind Out Hunger
Maverick Moments: The danger and beauty of big wave surfing
Posted Mar 18th, 2012 at 3:59 PM and seen 305 times
Two miles off the coast of northern California, an unusual underwater rock formation creates waves so massive, only a select group of surfers dares challenge the water’s power. Described as “one of the heaviest waves in the world,” Mavericks attracts the world’s most talented big wave surfers for an annual competition filled with big rides and big falls.
The Go Big Project brings the Mavericks into the spotlight with a short film featuring incredible ocean footage and interviews with some of the surfers who brave the wave.
Via The Go Big Project.
View the Entire Clip here on the Billabong XXL 2012 You Tube Page
Muligan Monday from Elijah Crowell on Vimeo.
Short surf edit of a day in Santa Cruz C.A. A production for Santa Cruz Waves.
http://www.santacruzwaves.com
http://www.santacruzphotos.com
Maverick Moments “Danger” from The Go Big Project on Vimeo.
The Go Big Projects "Danger" is a short film in the doc-series titled "Maverick Moments" produced in conjunction with Chasing Monsters. The series highlights the athletes, sport, culture, and realities of Big Wave Surfing in Half Moon Bay, California at the legendary "Mavericks" wave.
Ken Skindog Collins XXl 2012 Ride of the Year Award Entry
https://www.youtube.com/user/BillabongXXL/featured
Filmed By Elijah Crowell
Santa Cruz Photos (The Go Big Project)
Here are some Highlights from the Feb 8th 2012 Epic Mavericks Swell.
http://vimeo.com/37003064
Maverick Moments: Episode 1 from The Go Big Project on Vimeo.
Water Cinemetogrpahy by Elijah Crowell
Land Cinemetography by Rocky Romano and Skim Shady
Editing by iTVbranding.com
ChasingMonsters
Feb 5th 2011 saw clear skies and pumping waves for the for the final stop in the Volcom Great White Surf Series at 26th Ave in Santa Cruz, California.
Here is few Photos and highlights from the day
