Surfer Magazine has opened voting for the 2009 SURFER Poll. The annual SURFER Poll and Video Awards presented by American Suzuki & Ultimate Wave Tahiti, now in its 37th year, give SURFER readers a voice in proclaiming the top 10 male and top five female surfers in the world. The Polls will be open until August 15th, and the awards presented at a special event in September.
Each year, the SURFER Polls are considered a barometer of the most relevant and exciting surfers. With only 13 surfers in history ever attaining the pinnacle men’s honor, the award continues to be an exclusive right that is highly coveted among the world’s best.
Recent years have seen Kelly Slater dominate the top spot. The nine-time World Champion has also racked up an astounding 14 SURFER Polls (1993-2001, 2004-2008). Other men’s winners include iconic surfers such as Phil Edwards (1963), Shaun Tomson (1978), Tom Curren (1985-1992) and Andy Irons (2002, 2003). Irons is the only surfer to have ousted Slater from his reign, and has continued giving him a run for the money in subsequent years… Details