BeachLife Festival To Host Big Wave Surfing Awards

REDONDO BEACH, CA – The BeachLife Festival, LA’s first oceanfront music and lifestyle festival, announced a partnership Monday with World Surf League (WSL) to host the 19th annual 2019 Big Wave Awards.

On May 2, big wave surfers and surf enthusiasts will gather at the BeachLife Festival for the Big Wave Awards, the annual awards show that celebrates the big wave surfing community and honors the most remarkable big wave surfing accomplishments of the year, the press release said.

The ceremony will serve as a kick-off event to the three-day festival happening May 3-5 in Redondo Beach. All BeachLife attendees who have purchased a Founders Pass or Captains Pass will receive entry to the Big Wave Awards. Tickets are available for the public to purchase starting on Monday, March 18 for $20 while supplies last. All Big Wave Award ticket proceeds will go to Surfrider, Life Rolls On, Five Gyres and the Redondo Beach Police Foundation, the press release said.

“The BeachLife Festival is the premier Southern California beach experience — live music, food, craft beverages, and sports inspired by California culture, are all authentic to our everyday lifestyle and we’re excited to create this immersive festival event for our guests,” BeachLife co-founder Allen Sanford said. “There is no better professional sport than surfing to compliment our festival and we couldn’t be more excited to host professional surfers from around the world that are being recognized during the Big Wave Awards.”

The 19th annual Big Wave Awards will present awards across eight categories: Ride of the Year, Women's XXL Biggest Wave Award, Women's Paddle Award, Men's Paddle Award, Men's XXL Biggest Wave Award, Men's Best Overall Performance Award and Wipeout of the Year Award.

The competition window concluded on March 20, 2019 and spanned the previous year of big wave surfing action. A panel of judges will determine the best rides in each of the categories based on photographic and video evidence, the press release said.

“We are pleased to host the 2019 Big Wave Awards alongside the BeachLife Festival,” said Sophie Goldschmidt, WSL CEO. “This partnership allows surfing fans an opportunity to engage with our big wave stars and experience the show in a whole new way. We are also excited to announce that this year’s awards will present two new categories, the Women’s Paddle Award and the Women’s XXL Biggest Wave Award. As the Women’s Paddle Award is brand new, the Big Wave Awards night will announce the World Record holder for the Largest Wave Surfed (Paddle) - Female. We were honored to celebrate Maya Gabeira’s World Record last October with the opening of the Big Wave season, and now we will award the next female Big Wave World Record holder in the new paddle-in category.”

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.beachlifefestival.com. The BeachLife Festival will be located at 137 N. Harbor Drive, Redondo Beach, CA 90277.