Official Competition Window for TUDOR Nazaré Big Wave Challenge Opens Today

NAZARÉ, Portugal (Friday, November 1, 2024) - The competition window for the World Surf League (WSL) 2024/2025 TUDOR Nazaré Big Wave Challenge officially opens today and will run through March 31, 2025. With the window now open, the best big wave surfers in the world are on standby to activate at a moment's notice for this exciting one-day, tow-in competition. 

Fans and extreme sports enthusiasts worldwide can catch every heart-pounding moment LIVE on Red Bull TV, with the broadcast also available on WorldSurfLeague.com. 

World’s Best Big Wave Surfers on Standby to Take on Praia do Norte

The WSL Commissioner’s Office will closely monitor the swells and conditions needed to run the TUDOR Nazaré Big Wave Challenge. Consistent surf with a minimum of 25 feet on the face of the wave throughout the competition and other conditions, such as wind and tide, will be assessed in the decision to run the competitions. 

If a large swell tracks toward the contest location with favorable weather conditions, the WSL will issue a “TUDOR Big Wave Yellow Alert” as far as 72 hours out from the potential event run date. If the conditions continue to track favorably, the “TUDOR Big Wave Green Alert” will be issued, meaning the competition will be ON, and fans can prepare to watch surfers push the limits of what is possible on one of the world’s craziest waves in the next 24 hours. 

TUDOR Nazaré Big Wave Challenge Tow-In Format Explained

The TUDOR Nazaré Big Wave Challenge will showcase the best of big wave surfing in the tow-in discipline at Praia do Norte in Nazaré, Portugal. Praia do Norte is home to some of the biggest waves in the world, including the current Big Wave World Records, held by Maya Gabeira (BRA) and Sebastian Steudtner (GER). This one-day event will feature nine teams made up of two competitors in each team. The teams will be divided into three groups with three teams in each group. The competition will have a total of six 40-minute heats, where each group will participate in two heats, and each team will alternate between surfing and driving the team’s jet ski.

A surfer’s best two waves after both heats will count toward an individual total score, with the best wave counting as double points. In total, a surfer’s maximum individual score will be 30 points, as each wave is scored from 0.1-10 points. Surfers will be awarded across the following categories: 

Men’s Best Performance: Male surfer with the highest 2 scoring waves

Women’s Best Performance: Female surfer with the highest 2 scoring waves

Best Team Performance: Total of best two scoring rides of both team riders

TUDOR Nazaré Big Wave Challenge Invitees

Team 1: Maya Gabeira (BRA) and Antonio Laureano (POR)

Team 2: Michelle des Bouillons (BRA) and Ian Cosenza (BRA)

Team 3: Justine Dupont (FRA) and Éric Rebière (BRA)

Team 4: Lucas ‘Chumbo’ Chianca (BRA) and Pedro ‘Scooby’ Vianna (BRA)

Team 5: Clement Roseyro (FRA) and Nic von Rupp (POR)

Team 6: Rodrigo Koxa (BRA) and Vitor Faria (BRA)

Team 7: Rafael Tapia (CHL) and Pierre Rollet (FRA)

Team 8: Kai Lenny (HAW) and Ian Walsh (HAW)

Team 9: Andrew Cotton (GBR) and Garrett McNamara (HAW)

The TUDOR Nazaré Big Wave Challenge Invitees include the best male and female big wave surfers who have put in the time to prove themselves in the lineup at Praia do Norte. Current Big Wave World Record holder Maya Gabeira (BRA) has dedicated her life to surfing Nazaré and claimed her first win in 2022, and backed it up in 2023 when she won the Women’s Best Performance award. Gabeira teams up with Nazaré local António Laureano (POR) for the 2024/2025 edition.

Returning to Nazaré since 2022, but this time competing as a mother, Justine Dupont (FRA) has been training hard to be ready when the event is called on. Dupont will partner with Brazilian waterman Éric Rebière.

Lucas ‘Chumbo’ Chianca (BRA) and Pedro ‘Scooby’ Vianna (BRA) are reunited for the 2024/2025 Nazaré Big Wave Challenge after taking out the Best Team Performance last year. Known for pushing the limits and his progressive surfing in big waves, Kai Lenny (HAW) will partner with Ian Walsh (HAW). Nazaré pioneers Garret McNamara (HAW) and Andrew Cotton (GBR) team up once more, bringing their years of experience to the table.