EXHIBIT A 2018/2019 WSL BIG WAVE AWARDS • OFFICIAL RULES PACKAGE PART A: GENERAL RULES For a surfer to be considered for an award within the Big Wave Awards, they must be invited. Once a surfer is invited, This Part A of these Big Wave Awards rules will apply to each they are encouraged to coordinate with any photographers/ Category (as defined below) in addition to the rules that are videographers who have captured images of a Ride. A surfer defined within the specific description of the Category in Part will only be considered for an award within the Big Wave B. Part A and Part B as described herein will be referred to Awards if they satisfy the following (each individual then herein as the “BWA Rules”, and may be changed from time to referred to as an “Invited Surfer” until they provide an Opt time effective from the time of delivery of such updated BWA Out Notice in accordance with section 5): Rules to the individual named in the relevant Surfer Entry Form and Release. Where there is a conflict between an Entry a) They are qualified watermen (and women) who have Form (as defined below) and these BWA Rules, the terms of earned the respect of their peers by demonstrating the ability the Entry Form will apply. to Ride extremely large waves without unnecessarily endangering themselves or others in the discretion of WSL; 1. Introduction b) They are invited by WSL and have signed the relevant terms The following describes the rules governing the Big Wave and conditions as delivered by WSL (an “Entry Form”); Awards, where surfers riding big waves and videographers and photographers capturing the surfers doing so, are invited to c) They are 18 years of age, unless approved specifically by be nominated or submit their content in the hope they are WSL; and selected by the Association of Surfing Professionals LLC d/b/a World Surf League (“WSL”) as described herein as a nominee d) They have been featured in a Submission that complies finalist and winner of cash, prizes and possible notoriety with these Big Wave Awards Rules. within the big wave surfing community in accordance with A surfer’s status as an Invited Surfer may be revoked at any these rules and regulations (“Big Wave Awards”). time by WSL if, in their sole discretion, the Invited Surfer acts (or evidence is made available to WSL that they acted) in a 2. Successful Ride way that impugns their own image or WSL’s image to the public by written notice from WSL. For a ride to be deemed successful and eligible to be considered as a Submission (as defined below) to the Big 5. Opt Out Notice Wave Awards, a surfer must be standing only on their feet on a board and complete the meaningful portion of the wave An Invited Surfer remains an Invited Surfer, until such time while in control and under the power of only the wave and that the individual notifies the BWA Director (as defined gravity (“Ride”). For the Men’s and Women’s Paddle Award below) in writing they are no longer participating by “opting and the Wipeout of the Year awards, there are further terms out” of the Big Wave Awards (“Opt Out Notice”). The Opt Out relating to what is a successful Ride (see the Category specifics Notice must be sent to BWA Director by email stating that the in Part B). The ruling of the judges relevant to each Category surfer is to be no longer considered for the Big Wave Awards, (as defined below) will always have final say on what is a taking effect from that date of the Opt Out Notice. The Opt successful Ride. Out Notice will have the effect that the Invited Surfer is no longer an “Invited Surfer” for the purposes of the Big Wave 3. Categories Rules. The following awards are available through the Big Wave 6. Request for Invitation Awards (each a “Category”): Individuals who wish to request that someone (including a) Ride of the Year – paddle or tow; themselves) be considered as an Invited Surfer or specific b) Men's Paddle Award; audiovisual content be considered as a Submission may do so c) Men's Biggest Wave; by email requesting the same to the BWA Director, at the d) Men's Best Overall Performance; details provided below. e) Women's Biggest Paddle Wave; f) Women's Biggest Wave; 7. Submission Window g) Women's Best Overall Performance; and h) Wipeout of the Year. Unless otherwise stated within Part B, WSL will consider Submissions from videographers or photographers depicting a 4. Surfers who may be considered for the Big Wave Awards Ride occurring between dawn (US Pacific Standard Time) March 21, 2018 and 7:00PM (US Pacific Standard Time) March 20, 2019 (“Submission Window”). The Submission Window may be extended when a potential swell is prominent, Winning surfers and videographers/photographers (as determined at the discretion of WSL upon notice by WSL on applicable) must be present at this ceremony in order to the WSL website. WSL reserves the right to request further receive certain prizes at the discretion of WSL. information relating to a Submission and the Ride involved so that WSL is satisfied that the Ride occurred within the 11. Judges Viewing Submissions Submission Window. All submissions within the window are still subject to the 10-day requirement within Rule 8 below. Following the closing date of the Submission Window, the judging academy members will be contacted by WSL and given 8. Submissions details on how to view the finalist Rides via the Big Wave Awards website or other technically sufficient manner of Photo or video content will only be considered for a Big Wave content delivery. Judges will be expected to use their best Awards Category, and therefore a “Submission” if: efforts to fully review available materials and participate according to the rules and spirit of the Big Wave Awards. Judges who may have personally witnessed candidate Rides a) The content (image or video) was emailed and is of an may draw on those experiences in addition to the Submission Invited Surfer acknowledged by Bill Sharp available in formulating their opinions. Judges should refrain ([email protected]) (“BWA Director”) in writing; from contacting other judges relating to a Big Wave Awards Submission or otherwise making their opinion of any Submission public without WSL approval. b) Such content must be submitted in accordance with WSL discretion; 12. Safety c) The content owner has signed (or agreed to via the online Safety of all surfers, photographers, videographers and other form) the relevant terms and conditions required by WSL (an individuals in the ocean is of the highest priority to WSL. Any “Entry Form”); attempts that are deemed extraordinarily dangerous, discourteous or unsportsmanlike will not be considered as a d) Is at least 18 years of age; and Submission. All individuals involved are expected to demonstrate the same high level of dedication to safety that has defined the top level of big wave surfing in recent years. e) The content submitted complies with specifications for a These awards honor and reward those individuals who have specific Category described in Part B of these BWA Rules. demonstrated great surfing skill for years and will not acknowledge any instances of reckless bravado. The Big Wave In order to allow timely authentication of Submissions, actual Awards does not encourage unqualified surfers to take risks images or video of the Ride along with completed Submission for which they are unprepared by ensuring that only the best requirements should be completed within ten (10) days of the surfers, photographers and videographers are invited to be date the Ride occurs. considered in the Big Wave Awards. Leniency in relation to the requirement above will be given to 13. Use of Personal Water Craft (“PWC”)/Jet Skis Submissions in the first half of the Submission Window in the discretion of WSL, especially in the case where Submissions All users of PWC are expected to observe all applicable are awaiting significant release in certain forms of media, but regulations. Use of PWCs in close proximity to paddle-surfers adherence will be strictly enforced beginning on December 15 is dangerous and if an Invited Surfer is determined to be of each year. WSL reserves the right to disqualify a Submission acting in a dangerous or discourteous manner on or in if, in WSL’s sole discretion, the photographer or videographer association with a PWC driver, they may be disqualified from responsible for the Submission acts (or evidence is made the Big Wave Awards. Such discipline will be at the discretion available to WSL that they acted) in a way that impugns the of WSL. individual’s own image or WSL’s image to the public by written notice from WSL. 14. Multiple Surfers on one Wave 9. Ownership of Big Wave Awards Occasionally in big-wave surfing, multiple surfers may Ride the same wave. To encourage safety of surfers, drop-ins are WSL owns and conducts the Big Wave Awards. Sharp Media discouraged when considering a Submission for the Big Wave Inc. conducted all prior versions of the Big Wave Awards. The Awards. In the case of multiple surfers on a wave worthy of rules, name and format of the Big Wave Awards are owned by consideration for a Category, only the surfer closest to the WSL and are protected by copyright and other forms of breaking part of the wave will be eligible. intellectual property whether able to be registered or not (e.g.