<div style="text-align: justify;">The 2014/2015 BWWT season is divided into two parts, the Southern Hemisphere and Northern Hemisphere components, each hosting three potential events in line with optimum swell windows at some of the planet’s most renowned big wave sites. The Southern Hemisphere window, which is now complete, ran from April 15 to August 31, 2014 with event options in Chile, Peru and South Africa. The Northern Hemisphere window begins on October 15, 2014 and runs through February 28, 2015 with event options in Mexico, the Basque Region of Spain, and Maui, Hawaii. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Southern Hemisphere season saw the BWWT team track several exciting swells with the possibility of running all three events. One swell went on to produce waves that met the required size for a Big Wave event and the 2014/2015 season got off to a thrilling start, with the first event complete and the World Title race underway.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Most recently, a system that was traveling toward South Africa in mid-August prompted event organizers put the Dungeons Challenge on Yellow Alert. The storm system moving toward Cape Town appeared to be promising, however, it didn’t produce the necessary conditions and the event was returned to standby.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In late June a significant swell headed for South America, and the events in Chile and Peru were both placed on Yellow Alert. With the positive developments closer to Pico Alto, the BWWT team put the Quiksilver Ceremonial Chile back on standby, and gave the go-ahead for the event in Peru.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Billabong Pico Alto became the first event of the 2014/2015 ASP BWWT season, running on Thursday, July 3, 2014 and saw the best big wave surfers on the planet travel to Peru to showcase their skills on the 40 foot waves. Hawaiian Makua Rothman (HAW) claimed his first ASP BWWT victory after winning the final heat with a breathtaking late drop over a terrifying ledge. The ASP wildcard defeated reigning World Champion, Grant ‘Twiggy’ Baker (ZAF) on route to victory, announcing himself as a major threat on the BWWT. With one event complete Rothman sits atop the BWWT rankings with 12,500 points, closely followed by Americans Anthony Tashnick and Shawn Dollar.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Northern Hemisphere season begins on October 15, 2014 and is comprised of three events: Todos Santos Pro, Mexico; Punta Galea Challenge, Basque Country, Spain; and Pe’Ahi Pro, Maui, Hawaii. A team of experts will track swell systems all over the world waiting for those that will produce waves of 30 feet or bigger at one of the remaining three world-class big wave venues.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“We are anxiously awaiting the first ever paddle in event at Pe’Ahi,” said ASP BWWT Vice President, Gary Linden. “It's perhaps the most challenging Big Wave on the planet and it’s known for the extremely heavy offshore winds, that require a late drop, and a subsequent barrel section that is unparalleled.”</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Although the Dungeons Challenge in South Africa and the Quiksilver Ceremonial in Chile did not experience sufficiently large enough surf to complete the events, the BWWT is committed to supporting the world's best big wave surfers and will be rolling over the $100,000 in prize money for those events to the upcoming contests. Both the Punta Galea Challenge and the Todos Santos Pro will be upgraded to $75,000 prize purses and the Pe’Ahi Pro will see its prize money pushed up to $100,000. Should any of the three remaining BWWT events not be held the prize money will be distributed among the Top Ten finishers at the end of the 2014/2015 season and awarded when the 2014/2015 ASP Big Wave World Champion is crowned at the XXL BWWT Awards next spring.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“We’re really pleased to be able to roll over the Southern Hemisphere prize money into the upcoming contests,” said ASP BWWT Commissioner, Peter Mel. “With the prospect of three world-class events, some really positive swell predictions and increased prize money the Northern Hemisphere window looks set to be one of the most exciting seasons yet.”</div>