2009 Surfer Poll & Video Awards: Sponsor Me Breakthrough Performer of the Year

Winner: Brett Simpson wins Sponsor Me Breakthrough Performer of the Year
Description: After much heated and divisive debate in the SURFER office, dissecting the accomplishments of several young surfers this year, one name stuck on the wall: Brett Simpson. While this may have been the most contentious category of the entire award show (at least for us), Brett's accomplishments this year speak for themselves. Simpson has trudged through the WQS with soldier-like determination, maintaining a top-ten ranking, has developed an equally impressive freesurfing resume, has become a mascot for worldwide powerhouse Hurley, and to top it off, won the US Open of Surfing with all the eyeballs and pressure in the world bearing down on the hometown hero. Did we mention that his win gave him the largest professional surfing purse ever awarded in a surf contest? At the same event, Simpson also won the Hurley Pro at Lowers Trials, earning himself the wildcard. There, he kicked things off with a bang—knocking off perennial title-contender Taj Burrow in the first round. Congratulations to Brett Simpson. We're expecting big things from this kid.
For more info: www.surferpoll.com

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• Surfer Poll & Video Awards
• Surfer Magazine
• Surfing
• Surf
• 2009
• Brett Simpson
• breakthrough performer