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Pe'ahi Challenge Now Set for Friday; Heat Draws Announced
WSL
The next call for the Pe'ahi Challenge has been updated as of Wednesday, November 9.
The Pe'ahi Challenge in Haiku, Hawaii, is now on Green Alert, and could potentially run starting at 7 a.m. local time Friday, November 11, with a massive swell heading toward the region. The event's previous first call was for Thursday afternoon, but has since been pushed back.
"We have been tracking a storm from the Pacific Northwest and anticipate a promising swell to deliver for our first BWT event of the Northern Hemisphere season," said Peter Mel, WSL BWT Commissioner, when the Thursday call was first announced. "We are calling the Pe'ahi Challenge on, for a possible start Thursday afternoon, with swell expected to hold through Friday. We expect 30-foot-plus waves with favorable winds and tides."
The Pe'ahi Challenge will be contested by 24 men, led by current rankings leader Grant Baker, from South Africa, reigning BWT Champion Greg Long, from California, and defending event winner Billy Kemper, from Hawaii.
In addition, for the first time in WSL Big Wave Tour history, 12 of the world's best female big-wave surfers will compete at Pe'ahi for the first-ever women's title there.
"We're incredibly proud to be introducing a women's event this season," Mel continued. "These ladies as some of the most dedicated, passionate and talented big-wave surfers on the planet. It will be phenomenal to witness them tackle Pe'ahi."
Also known as "Jaws," Pe'ahi is on the northern coastline of Maui and can produce waves that are upwards of 60 feet. The first-ever edition of the event premiered on the Big Wave Tour last winter with exceptional performances in epic conditions. All eyes will be on Pe'ahi this year to see the top-ranked BWT surfers take on the giant conditions.
Surfline, official forecasters for the 2016/17 WSL BWT season are calling for the following:
Another strong winter storm is currently sliding across the Bering Sea/Aleutians, packing a good fetch for Hawaii with wind speeds up to 35-50kts. Meanwhile, the same storm that pushed out the current NNW pulse is still holding a fetch aimed at the Islands, but now located up in the Gulf of Alaska.
The 2016/17 BWT season is divided into Southern Hemisphere and Northern Hemisphere components hosting three possible events within each. The Southern Hemisphere window ran from April 27 to August 31, 2016 with event options in Mexico, Chile and Peru. The Puerto Escondido Challenge was the only event to run and saw Baker claim victory. The Northern Hemisphere window runs from October 15, 2016 to February 28, 2017 with event options in Portugal, Hawaii and Mexico.
Pe'ahi Challenge Men's Field:
Performer of the year BWA Invites:
WSL Wildcards:
Pe'ahi Event Wildcards:
Pe'ahi Challenge, Finalized Men's Round 1 Matchups:
Heat 1: Greg Long (USA), Josh Kerr (AUS), Cristian Merello (CHL), Jamie Mitchell (AUS), Gabriel Villaran (PER), Tyler Larronde (HAW)
Heat 2: Billy Kemper (HAW), Carlos Burle (BRA), Grant Baker (ZAF), Kai Lenny (HAW), Ian Walsh (HAW), Dege O'Connell (HAW)
Heat 3: Makuakai Rothman (HAW), Albee Layer (HAW), Mark Healey (HAW), Aaron Gold (HAW), Will Skudin (USA), Yuri Soledade (HAW)
Heat 4: Nic Lamb (USA), Damien Hobgood (USA), Shane Dorian (HAW), Pedro Calado (BRA), Shaun Walsh (HAW), Francisco Porcella (HAW)
Pe'ahi Challenge Women's Round 1 Matchups:
Heat 1: Keala Kennelly (HAW), Andrea Moller (BRA), Emily Erickson (HAW), Justine Dupont (FRA), Silvia Nabuco (BRA), Polly Ralda (GTM)
Heat 2: Paige Alms (HAW), Bianca Valenti (USA), Jamilah Star (USA), Laura Enever (AUS), Felicity Palmateer (AUS), Tammy-Lee Smith (ZAF)
If the events run, catch the men's and women's Pe'ahi Challenge contests live on the WSL website and app starting Friday, Nov. 11.
Pe'ahi Women's Challenge
The Kauai native has achieved a lot of firsts. But this winter, she can claim another.
After winning the first-ever women's Big Wave Tour contest, the Maui local reflects on her triumph, her team and what's next.
Jaws delivers again for the WSL's Big Wave Tour event on Maui.
Locals still rule the renowned big-wave arena of Pe'ahi.
For the first time ever, the women of big-wave surfing got Pe'ahi to themselves.
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