Biggest Wave Winners

Damien "Taco" Warr and his winning Biggest Wave at Cow Bombie, WA. Video:Rick Jakovich

The best day in five years at Western Australia’s Cow Bombie has given Damien “Taco” Warr the big cheque in Surfing Life’s Oakley Big Wave Awards.

At a typically raucous presentation last night in Sydney, Warr accepted $20,000 for the biggest wave ridden in Australasian waters for the past year and immediately paid tribute to other riders – in particular Queensland’s Jamie Mitchell, who won the biggest paddle-in ride on the same day.

Big waves = big cheques! And Taco Warr picked up the biggest. iPhone photo: Chris Binns.

“That was the first time guys had really taken it on by paddling, and it was amazing to watch,” said Warr, who after getting his own mind boggling wave, sat in deep water to watch Mitchell and the other paddler nominees charge into the bombs. “The day was just right, it was clean, not much wind, the sort of day we haven’t had there since 2006.”

Jamie Mitchell's Biggest Paddle-In at Cow Bombie. Video: Rick Jakovich

Taco himself almost didn’t make it out that day after miscalculating and driving to nearby Margaret River instead. “It was way too big, so I got back in my car and drove up to the bay near Cow,” he recalled. “I had the wrong board, no tow partner, I was freaking out. Luckily I ran into a mate, Roger Melville, who had a jetski. Then my wife drove my tow-board to the ramp to save time.”

No prizes for guessing where Taco will be spending some of the $20,000.

This year’s Awards broke all records for entries with over 50 rides submitted across all categories, from locations in West Oz, Victoria, NSW and epically, Tasmania. A huge day at Shipstern Bluff gave Tassie local Tyler Hollmer-Cross the winner in the Biggest Slab Award – a prize designed for waves thicker than even they are high.

Tyler Hollmer-Cross' Biggest Slab at Shipstern Bluff. Video: Dave Otto

Shooter Awards went to filmmakers Rick Jakovich, Tim Bonython, Dave Otto and Jamin McLean and stills lensman Andrew Chisolm who provided evidence of the winning rides.

The Awards now head into their tenth anniversary year, with a new season beginning this morning – or given the nature of the presentation night, maybe this afternoon would be more accurate.

Event planners are working on a few special things for the anniversary year, with the paddle-in division sure to get a kick in the pants of some sort after this year’s effort. The unique judging system, in which the riders themselves get a chance to vote on their peers’ efforts, will definitely be retained according to event co-ordinator Nick Carroll. “It worked really well this year,” says Carroll, “and we’re planning on continuing the surfer involvement in judging for sure in 12/13.”

To see all the photos and video of the finalists head to: www.bigwaveawards.com.au

Surfing Life's Oakley Big Wave Award Winners:

BIGGEST WAVE

Damien Warr, The Right                                                                   

BIGGEST SLAB
Tyler Hollmer-Cross, Shipstern Bluff                                                                                                                          
BIGGEST PADDLE-IN
Jamie Mitchell, Cow Bombie   

Tyler Hollmer-Cross underneath 2011's Biggest Slab at Shipstern Bluff. Photo: Andrew Chisholm.

Winner ... and grinners. Taco Warr with his $20,000 Biggest Wave cheque and the hosts, Bruce Irons and Glen Moriaty. iPhone photo: Chris Binns.