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SURFER POLL 2008: The People's Champ, Kelly Slater, Wins Again At Surfing's Biggest Night

by Zach Weisberg
Online Editor
Click here to view photos from the night!
Read the post-party story.
Watch SURFER Poll Movie of The Year Highlight Clip: Bustin' Down The Door.

Another term has passed - another election decided. Votes have been tallied, and after a long year of smear campaigns, pandering, and promises of a brighter future, a leader has been chosen. Most will recognize him.

Click here to view photos from the night!

While SURFER Poll 2008 represents the only election that really matters this year, it's clear that a familiar slogan - "more of the same" has set a new benchmark in the surf world. With the people's champion, Kelly Slater, winning an unprecedented 14th SURFER Poll and the forefathers of professional surfing taking home top honors with Bustin' Down The Door in the fim division, we can rest assured that we're in good hands.

Until next year - here are the final results of 2008 SURFER Poll and Video Awards Presented by Suzuki Automotive.

- advertisement -

Men
1. Kelly Slater
2. Mick Fanning
3. Dane Reynolds
4. Joel Parkinson
5. Andy Irons
6. Taj Burrow
7. Bruce Irons
8. Rob Machado
9. Bobby Martinez
10. CJ Hobgood

Women
1. Sofia Mulanovich
2. Stephanie Gilmore
3. Carissa Moore
4. Layne Beachley
5. Coco Ho

Coors Heavy Water Award
• Ian Walsh / The Life (WINNER)
• Garrett McNamara / Out There
• Mark Mathews / Sessions
• Shane Dorian / Out There

Worst Wipeout
• Mark Healey / The Life (WINNER)
• Raimana Van Bastolaer / Out There
• Garrett McNamara / Out There
• Maya Gabeira / Second To None
• Andrew Mooney / Sessions

Best Tube Ride
• Kalani Chapman / Second To None (WINNER)
• Yadin Nicol / Life As A Movie
• Ricky Basnett / The Pursuit
• Cory Lopez / The Life
• Timmy Reyes / The Life

Best Female Performance
• Stephanie Gilmore / Somewhere (WINNER)
• Bethany Hamilton / Walking On Water
• Jessi Miley-Dyer / Somewhere
• Sarah Gerhardt / One Winter Story
• Maya Gabeira / Out There

Best Male Performance
• Clay Marzo / Just Add Water (WINNER)
• Dane Reynolds / Dude Cruise
• Bruce Irons / Dude Cruise
• Jordy Smith / The Life
• Mick Fanning / Lightning Strikes

Best Maneuver
• Dane Reynolds / Dude Cruise (WINNER)
• Dion Agius / Behind The Black Curtain
• Dane Reynolds / Dude Cruise
• Pat Gudauskas / The Pursuit
• Clay Marzo / Just Add Water

Breakthrough Filmmaker
• Matt Beauchesne / Dude Cruise

Breakthrough Performer
• Nathaniel Curran

Best Cinematography
• Waterman (WINNER)
• Just Add Water
• Out There
• Under The Sun
• Walking On Water

Best Documentary
• Bustin' Down The Door (WINNER)
• Surfwise
• Between The Lines
• Under The Sun
• Archy

Agent Of Change
David Rastovich

Movie Of The Year
• Bustin' Down The Door (WINNER)
• Dude Cruise
• Just Add Water
• Surfwise
• Out There

Reader Comments

Posted Wed Sep10, 2008, 4:31 PM — By Andrew

Next year you should have a best 'surfing' website too! ...You've got movies in there, why not websites too...

Posted Wed Sep10, 2008, 4:42 PM — By Bitter Bob

I didn't mind so much that Out There didn't win film of the year - after all, there were so many great films this year. What sucks is that Surfer didn't even include them in the nominee montage or announce their name during the poll itself. Lame...

Posted Wed Sep10, 2008, 5:02 PM — By Pollack

Gudauskas should have taken best maneuver. and Sal sounded like Will Farrell having gay man sex with Jack Black. i seriously wanted to dropkick that dude in the dreads. "Out There" was left out? That's weak, Surfrider killed it with that movie!

Posted Wed Sep10, 2008, 8:27 PM — By Scott Posner

kelly and dane are gay lovers, read about it in Star magazine. Brazilians just plain suck and Floridians Rule.

Posted Thu Sep11, 2008, 8:21 AM — By Steve Wimer

Laird Hamilton didn't make the top ten? Maybe he's riding too deep, and nobody sees him.

Posted Fri Sep12, 2008, 11:56 PM — By Orloff

Easy Steve.....Laird gets enough notice....and 'f' him for the stand up thing!

Posted Sat Sep13, 2008, 1:41 PM — By f.u.

laird gets enough notice? compared to what? there are fvcktards on the qs who get more play than laird, dipshit.

Posted Sat Sep13, 2008, 6:51 PM — By typical

wanna know why i don't hang out with guys that surf...read the comments above, these comments are consistent with the cry-baby, me-1st attitude of most surfers these days.. ever since surfer opened a comment section, team trucker hat douche-wad has taken over...

Posted Sat Sep13, 2008, 7:05 PM — By ryan

Does anyone know the URL for the rest of the pictures taken that night?

Posted Mon Sep15, 2008, 2:07 PM — By Logan

ya were are the rest of the pictures from this night at????

Posted Tue Sep16, 2008, 10:15 AM — By Surferkevman

Ya Give it up for Old Man Slater ! Laird Just has Huge Balls ! Bustin Down the Door is a Dam good Film, I took a Baller from the Bronx and now he wants to Surf YA !

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