Jamie O'Brien of O'ahu's North Shore won more than $14,000 for scoring the best two waves in the inaugural Billabong Freewave Challenge.

O'Brien captured both first and second place for two separate waves in the "Best Performance Ride" category.

His first-place wave featured an aerial maneuver called a "rodeo flip" at the Off the Wall break on the North Shore. The first-place prize was $9,999.99.

His second-place wave — a "freak-out turn" at Backdoor Pipeline — was worth $4,444.44.

The Freewave Challenge is an Internet-based contest. Video clips were submitted to the www.freewavechallenge.com Web site from October through December.

The videos could be of any surfer, from any surf session, contest or not.

"Free surfing is one of the most important things about the North Shore," O'Brien said. "This year, the waves were not the best for a lot of the regular contests, but the winter goes on for months, so there will always be epic moments in an event like the Freewave Challenge."

The winners were determined by a panel of surfers, videographers and media members.

More than 120 video clips were submitted.

"I think the Freewave Challenge can be the future for free surfing as more and more surfers get into it and post more and more video clips," O'Brien said. "I think it could be a monster ... it can inspire surfers to go to the next level."

Videographers of the top waves also received monetary rewards. Pete Frieden and Graham Nash split $1,500 for capturing O'Brien's winning wave.

Jordy Smith of South Africa placed third in the "Best Performance Ride" and received $3,333.33.

Timmy Reyes of California won the "Best Tube Ride" category. He received $5,555.55 for a long ride at Backdoor Pipeline.

Garrett McNamara of Sunset Beach placed second in the Best Tube Ride category for riding a Pipeline wave on a stand-up paddle board. He received $3,333.33.

Video clips of the finalists can be viewed at www.freewavechallenge.com.

BODYSURFING CONTEST SET TO RUN AT WAIMEA

The inaugural Da Hui Waimea Bay Shorebreak Shootout bodysurfing contest will run on the weekend of either March 8 and 9 or March 15 and 16 at Waimea Bay.

Contest officials would like to run on a weekend when waves are in the 2- to 4-foot range at the Waimea Bay shorebreak.

"Waimea Bay shorebreak does pack a punch, and is nothing to take for granted," contest director Mahina Chillingworth said. "So surf heights for this event will be held in surf less than four feet, Hawaiian scale. This will allow competitors both young and old to obtain the ultimate wave riding experience."

Age divisions for men are 18-younger, 19-25, 26-34, 35-49 and 50-older. There will be just one division for women (all ages).

There will also be an open division for "kanaka-style handboard." In that division, competitors can use a rubber slipper on their hands to help ride waves.

Early entry fee is $20, and includes a contest T-shirt. The early deadline is Feb. 29.

Late entry fee is $25, and will be accepted until the first day of the contest.

For entry forms, visit www.dahui.com. For more information, send an e-mail to mahinachillingworth@yahoo.com.