ASP BALL

The QT Hotel in Surfers Paradise was the location for the 2013 ASP World Surfing Awards. Two days prior to the official start to the tour year and it didn’t feel like a room full of fierce competitive rivals. If you didn’t know where you were you might have thought you had just walked into a meet for the Super Best Friends Club. The presentation was served up with a slickness new to surfing and spirits were high. Slater, who speaks as well as he surfs, had his peers and the media erupting with laughter many times throughout the night. A flawless night climaxed with Joel’s emotional outpour as he navigated his way through a speech that will be regarded as one of best in the history of professional surfing.

Waves contributor James Southey noted these moments:
1. Y’just wanna give Parko a hug, a handshake and a high-five (in any order).
2. Sally Fitzgibbons is lithe, but her accent is thick.
3. Y’think Slater’s speech went for a little too long? Y’think he could feel the limelight fading around him? Y’think it lit a fire in his soul?
4. Fanning and Slater got some banter.
5. Y’see that shot of Slater handing Parko the trophy – he held onto it a second too long, for sure. Y’see the lightning in his eyes?

Here’s a list of the award recipients:

2012 ASP World Champion: Joel Parkinson (AUS)
2012 ASP World Runner-Up: Kelly Slater (USA)
2012 ASP Rookie of the Year: John John Florence (HAW)

 

2012 ASP Women’s World Champion: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS)
2012 ASP Women’s World Runner-up: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS)
2012 ASP Women’s Rookie of the Year: Malia Manuel (HAW)

 

2012 ASP Breakthrough Performer: Sebastian Zietz (HAW)
2012 ASP Women’s Breakthrough Performer: Lakey Peterson (USA)

 

2012 ASP World Longboard Champion: Taylor Jensen (USA)
2012 ASP Women’s World Longboard Champion: Kelia Moniz (HAW)

 

2012 ASP World Junior Champion: Jack Freestone (AUS)
2012 ASP Women’s World Junior Champion: Nikki Van Dijk (AUS)

 

ASP Life Member/Chairman Emeritus: Richard Grellman
ASP Service to the Sport: Randy Rarick
Peter Whittaker Award: Adrian Buchan

 

2012 ASP Men’s Heat of the Year (Fan Vote): Mick Fanning (AUS) vs. Kelly Slater (USA) – Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach
2012 ASP Women’s Heat of the Year (Fan Vote): Laura Enever (AUS) vs. Tyler Wright (AUS) – Roxy Pro Gold Coast

 

2012 ASP Maneuver of the Year (Peer Vote): Kelly Slater (USA) and Carissa Moore (HAW)
2012 ASP Wave of the Year (Peer Vote): Gabriel Medina (BRA) and Stephanie Gilmore (AUS)
2012 ASP Surfers’ Surfers (Peer Vote): Sage Erickson (USA) and Taylor Knox (USA)

 

To view the awards in full click here: www.aspworldsurfingawards.com