n March 2005, young Anthony Tashnick announced himself as a major new player in the surf world by winning the Maverick's Surf Contest. The 20 year-old wild man from the Westside of Santa Cruz blew past a host of big-wave legends, taking and making super steep and deep Mav's mackers on his way to grabbing the 1st place check for $25,000. Tazzy might not be long as long in the tooth as most hellmen but he makes up for it with sheer talent and guts. He's been sacking up at Maverick's since he was 16 and he's been tutored in his progression to the top of that apex predator lineup by the best, Peter Mel and Flea. Tazzy doesn't just go for cold-water steamrollers, though. He's also a fearless barrel hunter who has been getting deeply shacked at Backdoor and Puerto Escondido lately. He also scored an insane inside the tube Surfing mag cover shot in 2006 at Teahupo'o and another cover for Transworld Surf in 2007.