For pro surfers who don't spend their year chasing points on the WQS or WCT, securing good video parts is basically their job. And for these free-surfers, winning best performance may as well be the world title. This year's nominees for best performance are: Julian Wilson - Scratching the Surface, Jordy Smith - Modern Collective, Jamie O'brien - Who is JOB, Andy Irons - High 5, Dane Reynolds for Seen/Unseen.



Julian Wilson's biopic Scratching the Surface was a much hyped and much anticipated film this year. With huge financial backing from Red Bull and Quiksilver, exotic locations and incredible photography were on display throughout the film. This being Julian's first film about himself, and with million dollar cameras rolling, one could expect some jitters, but Julian truly shows his bag of tricks in this movie, from slabs to jaws, power hacks and the most technical aerial trickery.



Few would argue that Kai Neville's Modern Collective set the bar for performance this past year. The cast was hand picked to be the most progressive and stylish aerial pilots in the sea, the likes of Dusty Payne, Yadin Nicol, Dane Reynolds, Mitch Coleborn all showed up in front of Neville's lens to stomp some of the biggest and most technical airs ever caught on film. And Jordy Smith steals the movie. His amplitude, style, and consistency is absolutely mind blowing.



Who is J.O.B.? Well more than any of his other videos about himself, that question is answered in this film. Up to this point most would consider Jamie's previous work as "videos", but with Red Bull's backing, Dayton Likeness editing, and Stab's Charlie Smith directing, this project certainly makes the leap into the "film" category. More than anything else, this film shows how dominant Jamie is in big scary tubes. toying with them like nobody else. Someone needs to put a tube second counter on this thing, he seriously spends half the movie hidden from view in a giant barrel.



Andy Iron High 5 Part 2 from Blake Kueny on Vimeo.

Andy Irons earned himself the closing section in Transworlds newest surf video release High-5, which was no easy feat considering the star studded cast. Sadly it would turn out to be his final curtain call. AI will be remebered for his critical approach and a style that oozed confidence in the heaviest waves. His part in this video is a fitting finale to his final year with us, laden with explosive hacks and some of the longest deepest tubes ever seen.



Seen Unseen - The best of Marine Layer from STAB on Vimeo.

Dane Reynolds in typical Dane Reynolds fashion, has put forth a minimalist, seemingly effortless compilation labeled Seen/Unseen. His personal filmer mini edits the shorts for their blog, Marinelayerproductions, and they decided to compile their favorites and viola! Its refreshing that Dane, who gets his leg humped by the surf media 24 hours a day, always leaves in the waves that he totally kooks. What is startling is what he is able to do on the waves he doesnt blow. His consistency with landing enormous maneuvers on generally crummy waves is absurd. His shuvit to switch-stance top turn almost made me quit surfing forever.