The Surfer Poll trophy is a veritable timeline of our sport’s modern era. The names inscribed: Phil Edwards, Nat Young, Mark Richards, Tom Curren, Kelly Slater and Andy Irons, to name a few, are emblematic of the larger themes present during each of their respective reigns. Like powerful ground swells, each name on that trophy signifies the culmination of a new movement, and a turning point in the sport. To win the Surfer Poll one must first capture the hearts and minds of the entire surfing world, not just ratings points. Many a world champion has never been close to winning the Surfer Poll. The title of Surfer Poll Champion is the most prestigious in all of surfing, specifically because it is the hardest to win.

Beginning in 1963, SURFER Magazine asked its readers to take part in this process, the ordeal of selecting names of the world’s best. For decades those readers have continually answered that call, and the Surfer Poll continues to be a yearly celebration driven by your voice. Back then, the winners were announced at a semiformal banquet at a small restaurant in Capistrano Beach. Today, the party may be bigger, and a bit more lavish, but the awards remain the essence of the Poll, and the party is to connect the readers to the surfers.

In 1996, the Surfer Poll party took on added significance, as SURFER augmented the evening’s festivities with the Surfer Video Awards. By celebrating the achievements of directors, cinematographers, and the world’s best surfers, the Surfer Poll and Video Awards night represents the pinnacle of surf culture. Today, with added awards like the Breakthrough Performer of the Year and Lifetime Achievement, the Surfer Poll and Video Awards Show is unquestionably the surf world’s biggest night out.

But while much has changed, the spirit of the event remains the same. You, the reader, are the driving force behind it all, and as we prepare for another round, we’d again like to ask for your guiding hand. Please click below to vote. If you need some inspiration before choosing, visit the Winners Gallery for a reminder of who and what you and your fellow readers have found most influential in the past. Thanks so much for your help in perpetuating this legacy; we’re looking forward to seeing where your voice will guide us in 2006.