By Andrea Swayne
San Clemente-based professional big wave surfer Greg Long is among this year’s nominees for the Surfline Best Overall Performance and Pure Scot Barrel of the Year awards at the upcoming World Surf League Big Wave Awards, set for Saturday, April 23, at the Grove Theater in Anaheim.
As the 2015/2016 WSL Big Wave World Tour champion, Long is considered on the “short list” for a win at the 16th annual WSL Big Wave Awards.
The Best Overall Performance Award is given to the male surfer with the most outstanding performances in the most venues, who also “demonstrates a high level of excellence in water safety leadership.” The award is voted on by a panel of judges and carries a prize purse of $15,000 for first place, $5,000 for second and $2,000 for third.
The Barrel of the Year Award carries a $10,000 prize for the winner and $4,000 to the photographer who captured the shot. Long is nominated for a massive barrel ride in December at the Pe’ahi Challenge in Hawaii. Shots of Long taken by four photographers—Erik Aeder, Kelly Cestari, Richard Hallman, Paul Karaolides and Sofie Louca—are in contention
Other categories include, the Ride of the Year, Paddle Award, Biggest Wave Award, Women’s Overall Performance and Wipeout of the Year.
Long was the Ride of the Year award winner in 2014, at the then Billabong XXL Big Wave Awards.
For more information, including a full list of nominees, visit www.worldsurfleague.com.
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