Darling Harbour, Sydney. (20th February, 2013): Peter 'Joli' Wilson accepting his award for the Nikon Surf Photo of the Year.  Australian surfing celebrated its champions tonight with Mark Richards and Stephanie Gilmore honoured at the Australian Surfing Awards in Sydney...The Awards marked a significant milestone in Surfing Australia's history as it celebrated its 50th Anniversary following its formation in 1963 as the Australian Surfriders Association and over 500 guests celebrated at the gala event. It was an unprecedented gathering of Australian surfing legends from the past 50 years...Four-times World Champion Mark Richards was named Australia's Most Influential Surfer 1963-2013, while five-times World Champion Stephanie Gilmore was inducted as the 35th member of the Australian Surfing Hall of Fame...The campaign to find Australia's 10 Most Influential Surfers 1963-2013 was conducted through a public vote and through votes provided by the members of the Australian Surfing Hall of Fame...The 10, in order of votes received, was: Mark Richards, Simon Anderson, Nat Young, Michael Peterson, Midget Farrelly, Tom Carroll, Layne Beachley, Wayne Bartholomew, Mark Occhilupo and Bob McTavish...Peter 'Joli' Wilson's photo of the wave Cloudbreak off Fiji during the enormous run of swell in June won the Nikon Surf Photo of the Year and Storm Surfers 3D featuring Ross Clarke-Jones and Tom Carroll was named the Nikon Surf Movie of the Year...2013 AUSTRALIAN SURFING AWARDS WINNERS..Australian Surfing Hall of Fame Inductee: Stephanie Gilmore.Australia's Most Influential Surfer 1963-2013: Mark Richards.Male Surfer of the Year: Joel Parkinson.Female Surfer of the Year: Stephanie Gilmore.Rising Star: Jack Freestone.Waterman of the Year: Jamie Mitchell.ASB Surfing Spirit Award: Misfit Aid.Peter Troy Lifestyle Award: Bob Smith.Surf Culture Award: The Reef - by the Australian Chamber Orchestra and Tura New Music.Simon Anderson Club Award: Kirra Surfriders Club.Nikon Surf Movie of the
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