The best big wave surfers prepare, plus two new locations join the prestigious WSL Big Wave Tour schedule.
Makuakai Rothman (HAW), defending World Surf League (WSL) Big Wave Champion, once again leads the world's best big wave surfers in the overall rankings heading into the second half of the season.
Rothman, who claimed the Quiksilver Ceremonial at Punta Lobos will look to hold onto his early-season lead when the Northern Hemisphere half of the season kicks off October 15, opening up the waiting periods for the Oregon Challenge at Nelscott Reef, the Punta Galea Challenge in Spain, the Todos Santos Challenge in Baja California and the Pe'ahi Challenge in Maui.
"It's unfortunate that we were not able to run the Billabong Pico Alto, Peru or Puerto Escondido Challenge in Mexico, but the appropriate swell systems never materialized within the competition waiting period," said WSL Big Wave Commissioner Peter Mel. "That said, we're incredibly excited regarding early forecasts for what could be a tremendous El Nino season and the beginning of competition windows for Oregon Challenge, Punta Galea, Spain, Todos Santos Challenge, Baja California and Peahi Challenge in Maui. Good luck to all our competitors this season and get those big boards ordered."
Highlights from the opening event of the 2015/2016 Big Wave Tour season.
Surfline, official forecasters for the World Surf League (WSL), are calling for the following with regards to the upcoming El Niño season:
The Surfline Forecast as well as NOAA's Climate Prediction Center favors a significant event developing. Further, the likelihood we will see El Niño conditions persist through the Northern Hemisphere winter exceeds 90 percent; with the likelihood we will see El Nino conditions continue heading into spring dipping slightly to around 80 percent.
Check out the full Big Wave Tour schedule here.
Rothman Leads BWT as Southern Hemisphere Window Closes
WSL
Makuakai Rothman (HAW), defending World Surf League (WSL) Big Wave Champion, once again leads the world's best big wave surfers in the overall rankings heading into the second half of the season.
Rothman, who claimed the Quiksilver Ceremonial at Punta Lobos will look to hold onto his early-season lead when the Northern Hemisphere half of the season kicks off October 15, opening up the waiting periods for the Oregon Challenge at Nelscott Reef, the Punta Galea Challenge in Spain, the Todos Santos Challenge in Baja California and the Pe'ahi Challenge in Maui.
"It's unfortunate that we were not able to run the Billabong Pico Alto, Peru or Puerto Escondido Challenge in Mexico, but the appropriate swell systems never materialized within the competition waiting period," said WSL Big Wave Commissioner Peter Mel. "That said, we're incredibly excited regarding early forecasts for what could be a tremendous El Nino season and the beginning of competition windows for Oregon Challenge, Punta Galea, Spain, Todos Santos Challenge, Baja California and Peahi Challenge in Maui. Good luck to all our competitors this season and get those big boards ordered."
Surfline, official forecasters for the World Surf League (WSL), are calling for the following with regards to the upcoming El Niño season:
The Surfline Forecast as well as NOAA's Climate Prediction Center favors a significant event developing. Further, the likelihood we will see El Niño conditions persist through the Northern Hemisphere winter exceeds 90 percent; with the likelihood we will see El Nino conditions continue heading into spring dipping slightly to around 80 percent.
Check out the full Big Wave Tour schedule here.
Makuakai Rothman
2020 Ride of the Year Entry: Makua Rothman at Jaws, Maui, Hawaii on December 12, 2019. Angle 2. Video by WSL VIdeo Team
2020 Ride of the Year Entry: Makua Rothman at Jaws, Maui, Hawaii on December 12, 2019. Angle 1. Video by WSL VIdeo Team
2020 Ride of the Year Entry: Makua Rothman at Jaws, Maui, Hawaii on December 12, 2019. Video by Marcus Rodrigues
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