FOUR South Coast talents will be hoping Sunday is their night, as Surfing Australia hosts its 36th annual awards night, which also incorporates the Hall of Fame.
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Due to the coronavirus pandemic, this year marks an exciting new digital format of the evening, which will be hosted by surf icons Ronnie and Vaughan Blakey on Channel Nine, as part of a special episode of 'The Hold Down'.
The evening will celebrate the achievements of all the nominees and winners, across 13 categories, from the past 12 months, including Ulladulla pair Russell Bierke and Kurt Nyholm, Culburra Beach's Owen Wright and Gerroa's Sally Fitzgibbons.
"The awards are a hugely important event on our calendar because they give the Australian surfing community a chance to honour our best, whether it be in the water competing or behind a lens or administration desk," Surfing Australia CEO Chris Mater said.
"And of course, inducting our latest Hall of Fame member is always a massive moment we cherish."
Wright will be up against Jack Robinson and Julian Wilson for the Male Surfer of the Year award, while Kiama High School alumna Fitzgibbons is in the running for the women's gong against Stephanie Gilmore and Isabella Nichols.
Bierke, who recently took out Surf Video of the Year for his work in Andrew Kaineder's Flow State, will look to defend his Heavy Water Award against Ollie Dousset and Felicity Palmateer.
Finally, Nyholm has been shortlisted for the ASB Greater Good Award for his Surfers United to Fight Suicide initiative, will go toe-to-toe with Peter Owens (Fight For The Bight Alliance) and Andrew McKinnon (GWC2020).
Also of note is the nomination of Mirco Surf Academy's Glenn Hall, who's been a mentor for Tyler and Owen Wright as well as Fitzgibbons, for Coach of the Year - where he is up against Jake Paterson and Richard Marsh.
Other awards to be presented on the night will be Female (Molly Picklum, Zahli Kelly and Piper Harrison) and Male Rising Star (Dakoda Walters, Xavier Huxtable and Joel Vaughan), Peter Troy Lifestyle Award (Rob Bain, Doug Lees and Matt Grainger), Innovation Award (Chris Friend - LiveHeats, Shapers Co -Spine Tek and Aaron Trevis - Surf Lakes), Surf Culture Award (Jed Smith and Vaughan Blakey - 'Ain't That Swell' podcast series, Shane Stedman - The Shane Gang and Andrew Kidman and Jon Frank - Beyond Litmus) and Simon Anderson Club Award (North Shore Boardriders Club, Merewether Surfboard Club and Coffs Harbour Boardriders Club).
The Surf Photo of the Year has already been awarded to Ren McGann's 'The Right'.
The World Surf League has currently postponed all events, at all levels of competition, through the end of June.