Australian Surfing Awards - Hall of Fame

Hi from Gold Coast,

Stephanie Gilmore being inducted into the Hall of Fame. Photo: joliphotos.com

It’s been a busy couple of weeks with two big awards ceremonies and the hype surrounding the first WCT events of the year, the Quiksilver Pro and Roxy Pro’s here on the Gold Coast.

This gallery is all about the  50 year Anniversary of Surfing Australia and the Australian Surfing Awards which incorporate the Hall of Fame Awards It was a black tie function held in the Darling Harbor region of Sydney attended by Australia's surfing royalty, politicians and leading industry figures.

Mark Richards and Deputy Prime Minister Wayne Swan. Photo joliphotos.com

Four times World Champion Mark Richards was named Australia’s Most Influential Surfer 1963-2013. The  Top 10, in order of votes received from the public and the Hall of Fame members, was: Mark Richards, Simon Anderson, Nat Young, Michael ‘MP’ Peterson, Midget Farrelly, Tom Carroll, Layne Beachley, Wayne ‘Rabbit’ Bartholomew, Mark Occhilupo and Bob McTavish.

Five times Women’s World Surfing Champion, Stephanie Gilmore was inducted into the Hall of Fame as well as receiving the award as Female Surfer if the Year while 2012 World Surfing Champion Joel Parkinson was the Male Surfer of the Year.

I was honored to take out the Nikon Surf Photo of the Year award with a shot of Mark Healey’s surfboard stuck in the lip of the a Cloudbreak monster shot during that massive swell last June. It’s the second time in four years that I’ve received the Award and I can tell you I was stoked.

Peter 'Joli Wilson-The proud owner of a new Nikon D4. Photo by mrsjoli

Here’s the list of awards handed out during the night:

2013 AUSTRALIAN SURFING AWARDS WINNERS

Australian Surfing Hall of Fame Inductee: Stephanie Gilmore
Australia’s Most Influential Surfer 1963-2013: Mark Richards
Male Surfer of the Year: Joel Parkinson
Female Surfer of the Year: Stephanie Gilmore
Rising Star: Jack Freestone
Waterman of the Year: Jamie Mitchell
ASB Surfing Spirit Award: Misfit Aid
Peter Troy Lifestyle Award: Bob Smith
Surf Culture Award: The Reef - by the Australian Chamber Orchestra and Tura New Music
Simon Anderson Club Award: Kirra Surfriders Club
Nikon Surf Movie of the Year: Storm Surfers 3D
Nikon Surf Photo of the Year: Peter ‘Joli’ Wilson

John John Florence signs with Hurley

John John's  multi million dollar deal with Hurley:

John John Florence with a million dollar smile after signing a five year deal with Hurley

The rumour mill had been grinding for months, starting as far back as September, that there were going to be big changes in the O'Neill surf team for 2013. The base of the rumors was that both Jordy Smith's and John John Florence's contracts were up for renewal and the $ figures were resembling phone numbers that included the area codes.

One of the rumors was that Kelly Slater, looking for an heir apparent at Quiksilver, was pushing for John John to join Quik, another was that Vans were going to step up and sign a 100% deal while a late comer to the rumor mill was Hurley. On the Jordy Smith front his name was being linked to Oakley with talk of a 100% deal but that could have slowed when they signed Bruce Irons and a yet to be confirmed World Championship Tour event in Bali around mid June of this year.

Florence, who had been riding for his former sponsor, O'Neill, since he was six years old, rode Jaws on the last day of 2012 on a sticker-less board and just over a week later put an end to the rumors when Hurley announced he'd joined their team.

Maybe the writing was on the wall back in November during the Reef Hawaiian Pro at Hale'iwa when Hurley management, Senior Vice President of Marketing, Evan Slater and former pro surfer and current VP of Sports Marketing Pat O'Connell were set up in the stands with the Florence camp. A group that included Florence's Mum Alex, brothers Nathan and Ivan and his longtime shaper Jon Pyzel.

Jon Pyzel, Evan Slater, Alex Florence, Nathan Florence, Pat O'Connell and Sunny Garcia share a joke while watching John John in the final of the Reef Hawaiian Pro at Haleiwa, November 2012

2012 was Florence's first full year on the ASP World Tour. He defeated Parko in the final of the Billabong Pro Brazil to become the first Hawaiian to win a WCT event since Andy Irons and was in the running for a world title until the O'Neill Cold Water Classic, the second last event of the year, before finally finishing fourth in the world.

John John Florence smacking the top off one during the Reef Hawaiian Pro

Florence turned 20 in October 2012 and as a teenager he had already racked up a Vans Triple Crown of Surfing title, three wins at Pipe that included a Backdoor Shootout win and two Volcom Pro wins, an ASP world tour victory, a runner-up at the Surfer Poll awards and invites to two of the world's most prestigious big-wave events; the Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau and the Redbull Jaws, Paddle at Pe'ahi on Maui.

The dollar value of his new sponsorship package with Hurley was not announced with his signing, but solid rumors puts it's worth around 3.5 million dollars annually, which would put him in the top one percent of earners in surf and a deal worth somewhere in the $18 million range over five years. Pretty cool for a 20-year-old.

Bruce Irons joins the Fox Team

Bruce Irons goes to Fox.
When Bruce Irons dropped off the pro tour a couple of years ago Volcom told him all he had to do was surf Pipeline whenever it was good. He had a room set up in the Volcom Pipe house and just had to hang around during the winter or fly back from Kauai whenever  Pipe looked like breaking. He kept his end of the sponsorship deal for a year or so but seemed to be on hand less and less recently. 
Whenever Bruce did surf over the past two years it was always recorded in spectacular fashion, huge Mexico barrels or his tow in session at massive Teahupoo in 2011 spring to mind but over the last year Bruce has not been in the surfing limelight.
Like his brother Andy, Bruce has been dealing with some demons of his own which put his sponsorship and relationship with Volcom on a rocky course. There were rumors floating around the surfing industry that Irons was on the verge of signing a 100% deal with Oakley but in early December they changed to Fox.

Bruce Irons all decked out in Fox clothing.

At the opening ceremony of the Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau on November 29th, Irons was one of the last Invitees to enter the circle. He came in with a sticker-less board but decked out in Fox clothing. During the speeches he proceeded to sticker out his board with Fox decals making a very public display of his new sponsor. Unlike the John John Florence rumors, there has been no $ amount put on the deal between Fox and Irons.

Makua Rothman, Bruce Irons and Kala Alexandra at the Opening Ceremony of the Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau.