(As seen in USA Today) - Tomorrow the 10th Annual Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Awards will recognize the world's elite big wave riders in Anaheim, California at the Grove. Considered the Oscars of big wave surfing, the XXL's offer an over $130,000 prize purse across multiple categories including Biggest Wave ridden, Performance of the Year and Worst Wipeout.

The 2010 event will honor some of the biggest surf ever ridden due to the past year's exceptional level of swell activity. "A combination of a moderate El Nino (a cyclical phenomenon of warmer than average ocean temperatures) and weak blocking high pressure throughout the North Pacific produced a continuous stream of strong storms," says Surfline.com Chief Forecaster, Sean Collins. "That generated consistent, very large surf."

Big wave surfing is not for the faint of heart. The waves, sometimes up to 60+ feet in height, mostly break in deep water locations accessibly by boats and personal watercraft and often require surfers be towed-in due to the waves' sheer size and speed.
Photo: Fred Pompermayer / Billabong XXL
Shane Dorian in Teahupoo
Originally the XXL's simply awarded a single athlete who rode the largest wave of the year; the event has since evolved to represent the various aspects of big wave surfing.

"For the first few years it was the biggest wave and it was really exciting and dramatic, says pro surfer and award nominee Shane Dorian. Now it's more about the performances and the best rides."

The Man Vs. Nature mystique of big wave surfing is a spirit that even casual enthusiasts can relate to.

Nothing gets the attention of a surfer than the biggest wave of the day, or the biggest wave of the year, says event creator Bill Sharp. "And even if we don't want to ride it, we certainly want to see it.

For more visit http://billabongxxl.com