The winners of the video submission portion of the Thriller at Killers Big-Wave Contest have been revealed, securing their spots in the highly anticipated competition set to take place at Isla Todos Santos in January 2025.
Gary Linden, the mastermind behind the event, created the Thriller at Killers to bring a big-wave contest back to Mexico while testing a new competitive format. A former architect of the Big Wave World Tour, Linden’s goal was to streamline big-wave contests, reducing the time required for events from an entire day to just a few hours. Central to this innovation was the use of video submissions, allowing the top surfers to be invited to compete in the live event.
Linden and the event’s organizing committee have now selected four surfers based on their video entries: Tom Lowe, Sean McGonigle, Jojo Whelan, and Wilem Banks. These athletes will be seeded into the main event, with Matt Diamond, Jamie Mitchell, and Rodger Eales named as alternates.
Unfortunately, no video submissions were received from female surfers during the submission window, meaning that the women’s division will feature four wildcard spots. The wildcards will be announced on December 1, and the event organizers have emphasized their commitment to showcasing the talents of women in big-wave surfing.
“We remain committed to showcasing the extraordinary talent of women in big-wave surfing and look forward to celebrating their achievements at Isla Todos Santos,” said the event’s statement.
In addition to the wildcard spots, the women’s division will feature last year’s winners: Katie McConnell, who recently earned a win at the Big Wave Challenge in Nazare, and Cody Purcell. They will be joined by top names in the sport, including Greg Long, Paige Alms, and Nic Lamb.
With the cancellation of the World Surf League’s event at Jaws and the absence of a contest at Mavericks, the Thriller at Killers contest stands as the premier big-wave event in the Pacific this winter. Gary Linden’s dedication to preserving the spirit of big-wave surfing has earned him widespread respect, and the event’s organizers are grateful for the ongoing support of Punta Brava Golf and Surf Club.
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