Dragon's Shane Dorian Takes Out Ride of The Year at XXL Big Wave Awards

Carlsbad, CA- Dragon legend and big wave charger Shane Dorian has won Ride of the Year at this years XXL Awards held at Anaheim's Grove Theatre.

Shane Dorian, 35, of Kona Hawaii, blew minds and ran away with top honors by winning the $50,000 Ride Of The Year Award for a wave conquered at Teahupoo, Tahiti during the swell of the year on November 1st 2007. After being towed into what shaped up as one of the rides of the session, Dorian dropped to the base of the heaving slab and caught a slight rail, putting him in a near impossible position.

After correcting his mistake in the tube, the natural footer went into a full layback, coming from behind the foam ball to be cartwheeled into the safety of the channel.

"Usually at Teahupoo, you pick your line, set your rail and you normally make it, but that wave was really unique," said Dorian. "I nearly fell at the start, I nearly fell in the middle and then it clipped me at the end. "It was difficult because I was almost eating it the whole time."

"To think that I got the Ride of the Year is a huge honor for me, I'm really psyched that the surfing fraternity throw a big deal for it and support all the guys who go out and ride these waves," he said. "But really, at the end of the day the ride itself is the biggest reward and it's one that I will remember forever.

- Surfeyes.com