The next Surfer Poll category we will be discussing is "Breakthrough Performer". This category awards the surfer who has made the biggest leap into the spotlight in this past year. The nominees are: Jadson Andre, Owen Wright, Craig Anderson, and Chippa Wilson.

Jadson Andre: He's brazilian. He does frontside air reverses really really well. Jadson has taken what Adriano De Souza has done for Brazilian surfing and added the wow factor. He's a competitive machine, able to employ heat strategy, but also has the repertoire to get scores on one massive maneuver, which to this point has been the frontside air-reverse.

Owen Wright: On tour his nickname is "Avatar" for his height and athletic physique. He's looking good to claim rookie of the year honors over fellow nominee Jadson Andre, despite the fact that Jadson won the Brazil event this year. Owen has been far more consistent though, sitting at 7th in the world, avoiding early elimination in every single event, placing in the quarterfinals twice, and making the semis in Brazil. The kid has the power carves, the airs, and the striaght-edge, level-headed focus to be a fierce competitor. Owen represents Australia's new hope for world tour domination.

Craig Anderson: Another aussie on the list, but Craig Anderson is cut from a much different cloth than his compatriot Owen Wright. Ando has left the confines of competitive surfing far behind, and after a cameo in Modern Collective, has begun to make quite a name for himself. He is truly a remarkable combination of incredibly technical aerials, dripping with old skool style and poise. Ando will be gracing the glossy pages of surf mags for years to come. Oh, and watch the last air he does in the clip below...

Chippa Wilson: Chris 'Chippa' Wilson is the cinderella story of the bunch, rocketing from relative obscurity, flipping burgers in his hometown, to having a full blown surf career, complete with his own biopic movie, NOW. Stab mag's "Little Weeds" competition was designed specifically for this purpose, and Chippa should be kissing their bean-bags because he is now a household name. His skate-inspired technical tricks, coupled with a Clay Marzo-esque bag of tail whips, has Chippa on the forefront of progressive surfing. One things for sure, Chippa has paid his dues and he's here to make blow minds.