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The History Past Recipients Ian Cairns Award Jodie Cooper Award Murray Smith Award Mike McAuliffe Award Photo Gallery Pro Surfing At Margaret RiverBY
THE HISTORY
The Western Australian Surfers of the Year Awards (WASA) is an annual celebration of outstanding performances by West Australian professional surfers over a calendar year. It pays tribute to our rich history of surfing achievement as current outstanding performances are recognized, in the endeavour of encouraging the next generation of West Australian surfers.
The four specific award categories are named in honour of four of Western Australia's finest surfers - Ian Cairns, Jodie Cooper, Murray Smith and Mike McAuliffe. Not only did the competitive careers of this quartet set standards for others to follow but over the years each has contributed to the development of surfing either in Western Australia, nationally or internationally.
The concept of the awards was established by sports broadcaster Brad Cecins in 1999. Through the support of Margaret River winery Evans and Tate, Wilson's Sign Solutions, Creatures of Leisure, Star Surf, West Surfing Products, srosurf.com and the Margaret River Hotel, the awards were first presented on Thursday 18th April, 2002.
The inaugural award winners were selected by a panel representative of the Western Australia surf industry. The initial panel of Brad Cecins (BTC Sport), Dave Kennedy (Star Surf), Patrick Leahy (West Surfing Products), John Malloy (Creatures of Leisure), Mike McAuliffe, Murray Smith and Jodie Cooper endorsed the recipients for the 1999, 2000 and 2001 awards.
Former professional surfer Mitch Thorson (Oakley Surf Sports) along with local surfing identity Mario "Marz" Vassallo (srosurf.com) joined the existing panel in 2002 to help select surfers for the award winners.
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