Shane Dorian Cleans House; Savannah Shaughnessy Awarded with Female Performance Award
HALF MOON BAY, CA (April 13, 2012) –The 2011/2012 Mavericks Awards honored the fearless big wave surfers who charged the massive liquid mountains at the infamous Mavericks break throughout this past season. The awards recognized their achievements by showcasing those surfers who not only challenged Mavericks, but also, their contributions to the sport of big wave surfing. The daring men and women were honored for their intrepid performances and triumphs during this year’s Mavericks Festival; the first event to bring together the Mavericks surfing community, and its fans for a day of celebration and fun.
The judging panel for the Mavericks Awards was hosted by Contest Director Jeff Clark and included author Bruce Jenkins, surfer/shaper Matt Ambrose, surfer/filmmaker Grant Washburn, and surfing legend Dick Keating, all of whom poured over hours upon hours of video footage and hundreds of still photos taken during the 2011 – 2012 season at Mavericks, but most of the award-winning rides came from two swells, one on January 4th – 5th and February 8th- 9th. The group unanimously agreed on all the on the top award candidates and winners.
The stand-out and big winner of the awards was Hawaii’s Shane Dorian, taking three of the seven awards, including: Mavericks Barrel of the Year, Mavericks Bomb of the Year, and Mavericks Male Performance of the Year. Dorian first surfed Maverick’s in 2010 but has yet to compete in the contest.
Clark stated, “This is a guy who came in here and was a man on a mission and just upped the bar for everybody”. Clark continued, “He set a new bar.”
Though not many females charge the swell, some do have the courage it takes, and Santa Cruz’s Savannah Shaughnessy is one of them. She rightfully took home the Mavericks Female Performance of the Year award.
Shaughnessy stated, “I surfed five days at Maverick’s, and that was the only clean day”. She went on to say, “But it made all the other days of having to work and not getting many good waves worth it.”
Frank Quirarte of Pacifica won the Mavericks Photo of the Year, taken of Santa Cruz’s Ken “Skindog” Collins.
“Every year amazing things happen in the water, and it’s overdue to reward that,” said Collins, who was nominated for a 45-foot “glassy monster” he rode Feb. 8.
Quirarte dedicated his award to a fellow surf photographer and hero, Mike Prickett, who recently suffered from Decompression saving the life of a diver while filming a commercial video in Tahiti.
The only three time Mavericks champion, Darryl “Flea” Virostko, was honored with the Mavericks Legend award.
In his acceptance speech, Virostko said, “Mavericks made me, and it broke me. Thank you, it’s been fun.”
Complete list of 2011/2012 Mavericks Awards winners:
- Mavericks Wipeout of the Year – Carlos Burle, Brazil
- Mavericks Barrel of the Year – Shane Dorian, Hawaii
- Mavericks Bomb of the Year – Shane Dorian, Hawaii
- Mavericks Photo of the Year – Photographer Frank Quirarte, Pacifica; Surfer: Ken “Skindog” Collins, Santa Cruz
- Mavericks Male Performance of the Year – Shane Dorian, Hawaii
- Mavericks Female Performance of the Year – Savannah Shaughnessy, Santa Cruz
- Mavericks Legend/Lifetime Achievement Award – Darryl “Flea” Virostko, Santa Cruz
The Mavericks Awards were given at the Mavericks Festival on March 31, 2012; sponsors include: The Oceano Hotel & Spa, Mavericks Surf Shop, GoPro, Red Bull, Half Moon Bay Brewing Company, Green Planet Water, Recology of the Coast, PowerBar, Sam’s Chowder Mobile, Nesquik, Kinesys Performance Sunscreen, Crab Landing, Coastside Net and EZ-ATM.
About Mavericks Invitational:
Mavericks Invitational is the world’s premier, high adrenaline, big wave surfing event. This one-day, invitation-only surfing competition is held at the legendary Mavericks surf break located 1⁄2 mile offshore at Pillar Point Harbor, just 20 minutes south of San Francisco. The 24 most daring big-wave surfers in the world will attempt to tame the massive swells on the biggest and best day of the 2011 / 2012 winter season. For additional details, visit: http://mavericksinvitational.com/.
###
MEDIA CONTACT:
Jessica Banks
jessicabanks@mavericksinvitational.com
(650) 279 – 1872