Australian big rider and slab hunter Laurie Towner has lashed out at the WSL, Surfing Magazine and their choice of finalist waves for the WSL Big Wave Awards and Tube of the Year with a long, harsh and controversial message.

Towner said that tow waves should not be in the selection, nor should waves that were not completed (two of the waves are tow and two are not completed).

The Australian explained that a wave he surfed at Cloudbreak on the big day deserved to be there and that he feels it is better than any of the others. Based on this and other conclusions he decided to never submit one of his waves for the awards again.

“I feel sorry for the surfers who have to keep the industry idiots happy. I’m a little sad, but happy in a way, that this wave didn’t make it into the top 5 of the World Surf League (WSL) Big Wave Awards nominations. After Surfer Magazine didn’t put this wave in their top 5 barrels of the year after it was beaten by 5-footers at Skeleton Bay and a few others (if I had the chance, I wouldn’t trade all XNUMX Surfer Award nominees for this one, haha), I knew there was no way this wave was going to make it into the top XNUMX of the big wave awards nominations because of all the industry lies!” said Towner.

The Australian added that it is “a senseless award, chosen by lunatics with no idea who is playing the cards in the surfers’ careers.”

“Winning prizes will be in some of the big wave surfers’ contracts, it used to be in mine and it’s not cool for surfers to try and make a career out of surfing big waves, luckily for me it doesn’t mean anything now. Even though the money would be nice if I made it to the top five, it’s reassuring to know that I don’t want anything to do with winning prizes, I’ll never get on a wave again if I try to surf another bomb, which I will,” he said.

Towner said his is his wave of the year and addressed big wave surfers saying: “Fuck the big wave award, do it for yourself and no one else!”

“Honestly, WSL, take tow waves off the list for wave of the year! You shouldn’t be helped by a jet ski, it’s also hard to think that an uncompleted wave can be wave of the year. Well, Grant Twiggy Baker’s wave may be an exception, haha. Sorry for the soap opera,” he said.

 

 

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I feel for the surfers who have to keep the corporate wankers happy. I'm a bit bummed but in some way happy this wave didn't make the top 5 nominees for @wsl @wslbigwave awards. After surfer mag didn't put this wave in their top 5 for barrels of the year beaten by 3 foot skeleton bay waves and a few others (if I had the chance I wouldn't swap all 5 waves chosen in surfer awards for this one haha ) I knew there was no way this wave would make the top 5 big wave award nominations because of corporate bull shit! Whats the surf industry going to get out of Laurie Towner. The reason I'm some what happy is because all my life I though it would be amazing to have a ride of the year next to my name. I now know it's a meaningless award chosen by kooks with no idea who play the cards of surfers careers. Winning awards would be in some big wave surfers contracts, it used to be in mine and it truly sucks for the surfers trying to make a career out of riding big waves, lucky for me it means nothing now. Although the money would be nice if I made the top 5 it reassures me I want nothing to do with winning awards, I will never enter a wave again if I'm to ride another bomb, which I will. This wave is MY ride of the year, maybe my ride of my life and no one can take that from me. Maybe I'm being biased you tell me? I wouldn't change this wave for anyone else's wave this year if I had the chance even if you were to give me 50g on top, there is no better feeling than to successfully paddle a big scary draining wave safely to the channel. To all the up and coming big wave surfers Fuck the big wave awards, do it for yourself no one else! Sorry If I'm being negative Im not the only one who feels a little hard done by in this years nomination there is a hand full of terrible decisions. I just want what's best for the future of young big wave surfers and this needs to be fixed! honestly @wsl get tow waves out of ride of the year! You shouldn't be helped by a jet ski it's also hard to think an unmade wave can be ride of the year. Well @granttwigbaker wave might be an exception haha ​​Also sorry for the novel 😬

A publication shared by Laurie Towner (@laurietowner) the 15 2019 3 02: XNUMX PDT