Hopefully more juicy, winter swells follow this current down pour of the wet stuff, just in time for this year’s South Bay Big Wave Challenge, which is happening right now. The contest, put on by the South Bay Boardriders Club, and other sponsors requires authentic documentation of a surfer successfully tackling the mightiest curl in photo or video format. The window of opportunity to chase down the big one ends March 31st, 2019. Big wave enthusiasts and fellow photographers must abide by wave riding boundaries that begin in the south at Indicators (Palos Verdes) and stretch all the way north to Dockweiler Beach. Most likely venues for a big wave in the South Bay are Redondo Beach’s Breakwall in front of the Chart House, the deep canyon swells off El Porto in Manhattan Beach, and the aforementioned point break at Indicators that operates along Bluff Cove in Palos Verdes. The winning photographer and surfer will be awarded cash and prizes for the biggest wave ridden in the South Bay.
A big swell during the winter of 2016 created some overhead surf at Redondo Beach Breakwall (Photo by South Bay Events).
Over the years additional categories have been added to keep the spirit of stoke and competition alive:
Biggest Wave Award: Awarded to the surfer who rides the biggest wave of the winter. Prize for Surfer: $1,000 and a New Surfboard; Prize for Photographer $500.
Ride of the Year Award (VIDEO): Awarded to the surfer who surfs at a highest performance level while riding a big wave. Prize for Surfer: $1,000 and a New Surfboard; Prize for Videographer: $500.
Wipeout of the Year Award: Honoring the most committed, yet unsuccessful, wave of the winter. Prize for Surfer: A New Surfboard; Prize for Photographer/Videographer: $250
Grom Hardest Charger Award: Awarded to the Surfer, under 18 years old, who rides the biggest wave of the year. Prize for Surfer: A New Surfboard; Prize for Photographer/Videographer: $250
All photos, videos and sequence shots must be submitted by March 31, 2019 to SBBC’s website. This year’s Big Wave Awards party is April 26, 2019 at Hermosa Beach Community Center.
By Scott Hayes | scott@southbayevents.com | www.southbayevents.com
Updated Thursday, February 21, 2019 at 12:02 p.m.