Kustom Airstrike, the eight-month global quest to identify and reward the world’s most innovative aerial surfing manoeuvre, has entered its final three-week countdown.

Kustom and Filmmaker Kai Neville are preparing to launch the first in a four-part webisode series documenting Kai’s efforts to capture the winning ride in the global Kustom Airstrike aerial surfing competition.

Well, in recognition of the unbelievable wave of aerial assaults being launched in both freesurfing sessions and competitions, Kustom is now planning a series of monthly awards in the countdown to the final judging. The best entry submitted to the Airstrike website each month will pocket $500 and earn bragging rights that they are firming as one of the judges’ favourites.

The US$50,000 winner-take-all event, the world’s richest single-trick surfing contest, is open to all surfers globally—whether they be professionals or just the un-sponsored young kid on the local beachbreak.

Last year the event was won by the Hawaiian teenage prodigy Dusty Payne, who overcame entries from many of the world’s greatest aerial surfers, including Jay Davies, Mitch Colborne, Ry Craike, Clay Marzo and Chris Chippa Wilson, to claim the winner-take-all US$50,000 prize.