HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif., Nov. 6, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Surfline/Wavetrak is pleased to announce the commencement of the fourth-annual Wave of the Winter freesurf event. Now boasting Oakley as the title sponsor, as well as an inaugural GoPro division, Surfline's Wave of the Winter event is quickly reaching new heights.
November 1st marked the opening of the 2013/2014 event and would-be competitors have their work cut out for them, with previous winners having set the bar very high. Kalani Chapman won in 2010 for his AI tribute at Pipeline, Reef McIntosh claimed the 2011-2012 event with a massive Off-the-Wall bomb, and Ricardo Dos Santos led the international charge at Pipe in 2012-2013.
As for the prizing, Oakley is offering $25,0000 to the winning surfer and $5,000 to the accompanying filmer. Clif Bar will once again plunk down $20,000 for the Overall Performance Award-- $10,000 to the surfer with an additional $10,000 donation made in his or her name to a non-profit that benefits the local community and/or environment. And new for 2013/2014, GoPro will be awarding $20,000 for the best GoPro video clip of the season. Finally, $1000 will be available each month for the "people's choice" wave for each of the four months of the event. In total, $74,000 is up for grabs.
Wave of the Winter November 1, 2013 through February 28, 2014. After each month, the field of entrants will be narrowed and the top rides will be highlighted in a Surfline feature. In early March, an esteemed panel of judges, led by Gerry Lopez, will select the ultimate winning wave as well as the season's Overall Performance Award. A separate judging panel will select the GoPro of the Winter.
To submit entries, upload here.
OVERVIEW:
Oakley Wave of the Winter, powered by Surfline, will be won by the surfer who catches and successfully rides the single best wave of the contest period on the North Shore. The judging panel will select each month's top rides and they will collectively be deemed the finalists for the grand prize. The GoPro of the Winter will be awarded to the person who successfully films the premier GoPro video clip of the contest period. A special Clif Bar Overall Performance Award will also be given for the season's consistent standout.
PRIZE MONEY:
Oakley Wave of the Winter, powered by Surfline:
Surfer: $25,000; videographer: $5,000
GoPro of the Winter: $20,000
Clif Bar Overall Performance: $10,000 with a $10,000 charitable donation and a year's supply of Clif Bar products
DATES:
November 1, 2013 – February 28, 2014
LOCATION:
North Shore, Oahu, Hawaii
JUDGING CRITERIA:
Oakley Wave of the Winter:
- Wave Size (25%)
- Degree of Difficulty of Maneuvers (25%)
- Style (25%)
- Overall "Heaviness" Factor (25%).
Rides must be documented in video. (Photos or sequential photos are not eligible.) Judging criteria is purely subjective.
GoPro of the Winter:
- Cinematography (25%)
- Degree of Difficulty of Shooting (25%)
- Perspective (25%)
- Overall Beauty, Lighting and Wave Quality(25%)
All submissions must be filmed with a GoPro camera. (Photos are not eligible.) Judging criteria is purely subjective.
Clif Bar Overall Performance Award:
Given to the surfer who demonstrates, more than any other, outstanding skill, commitment (to both the sport and community), courage and style while consistently riding the most challenging waves available on the North Shore throughout the entire Wave of the Winter contest period.
JUDGES:
Wave of the Winter/Overall Performance Award three-man panel: Head Judge Gerry Lopez, Pancho Sullivan and Ross Williams.
GoPro of the Winter: Taylor Steele, Pete Hodgson and Mike Prickett.
ABOUT SURFLINE/WAVETRAK, INC.
Headquartered in Huntington Beach, California, Surfline/Wavetrak, Inc.("the company") specializes in providing live and predicted ocean weather information, editorial content, and consulting services on web and mobile platforms to consumers, businesses, and government agencies worldwide through its three websites: Surfline.com, Buoyweather.com, and Fishtrack.com.
The company's online properties are visited by an average of 175,000 unique people per day and an average of 2,000,000 per month.
The Company offers paid premium subscription services. In addition to paid subscriptions, the Company also offers advertising and provides a range of marketing services designed to reach and connect with its users.
Follow @surfline on Instagram and Twitter and become a fan of our Facebook pages at: facebook.com/Surfline, facebook.com/Buoyweather, and facebook.com/FishTrack.