Jamie O'Brien yesterday became the first surfer in history to win two winter waves, according to the panel of judges formed by Gerry Lopez, Pancho Sullivan, Shawn Briley and Shane Dorian.

That late drop followed by a long, open barrel that he came out of after the spit was what gave him the win. According to Surfline, the other wave that came close was also his, another barrel on the same day that he came out of incredibly late, after the spit.

O'Brien left the laurels of the night there because he also won the award for the best overall performance of the season.

The panel chose Brazilian Joao Chumbo Chianca as the best athlete of the year, Moana Jones as the best female performance and, in a controversial decision, Reef McIntosh's tube was chosen as the best of the decade.