NAZARÉ, Portugal (Saturday, January 20, 2024) - The World Surf League (WSL) TUDOR Nazaré Big Wave Challenge is preparing to start the competition on Monday, January 22 at Praia do Norte in Nazaré, Portugal. The Green Alert was issued, meaning the event will plan to run the competition on Monday. Event organizers will share the next competition update on Monday, January 22, at 8:45 a.m. GMT. The teams made up of some of the best big wave surfers have been notified and most have already set up camp in Portugal for what could be an epic day of high performance, tow surfing at one of the most iconic big wave breaks on the planet.
"We're really excited about the conditions lining up for Monday," Rob Gunning, WSL Europe Tour Manager, stated. "It's been a slow winter so far in terms of major swells, and this time it looks like everything is trending in the right direction. We hope the waves show up and with the light winds expected. The best big wave surfers in the world are ready to put on a show."
Team and Individual Efforts Rewarded Across Four Categories
18 surfers grouped in teams of two will take on the large Nazaré wedges on Monday and try to push the boundaries of big wave surfing, in six 40-minute heats. Each team will participate in two heats, with both surfers alternating between surfing and driving the team's ski.
Each surfer keeps their best two scoring rides and the highest number counts double, meaning a surfer's highest possible total score is 30 points. At the end of the day, four awards will be distributed:
- Men's Best Performance: Male surfer with the highest two scoring waves
- Women's Best Performance: Female surfer with the highest two scoring waves
- Best Team Performance: Total of best two scoring rides of both team riders
- Jogos Santa Casa Most Committed Award: Awarded to the surfer who shows the most commitment throughout the day
TUDOR Nazaré Big Wave Challenge Confirmed Teams
Team 1: Lucas Chianca (BRA) & Pedro Scooby (BRA)
Team 2: Nic Von Rupp (POR) & Clement Roseyro (FRA)
Team 3: Andrew Cotton (GBR) & Will Skudin (USA)
Team 4: Rodrigo Koxa (POR) & Vitor Faria (BRA)
Team 5: Joao De Macedo (POR) & Antonio Silva (POR)
Team 6: Sebastian Steudtner (GER) & Eric Rebiere (FRA)
Team 7: Maya Gabeira (BRA) & Antonio Laureano (PRT)
Team 8: Michelle Des Bouillons (BRA) & Ian Cosenza (BRA)
Team 9: Pierre Rollet (FRA) & Rafael Tapia (CHL)
In case a surfer or full team is unable to compete come Monday, an alternate team is standing by for a chance to enter the prestigious competition:
Benjamin Sanchis (FRA) & Jerome Sayhoun (MAR)
Surfline Forecast for the TUDOR Nazaré Big Wave Challenge
Monday morning will start relatively slow, with our main swell expected to come on during the afternoon and evening hours. We can expect wave face size at Nazare in the 35-45' range by the mid to late afternoon, with max sets up to 50' by the end of the day. Surf size should be close early Tuesday before likely fading through the day.
While it's not the biggest swell at Nazare - and is more west than we ideally like to see - we have good to excellent conditions lining up. Light offshore south to southeast wind is expected through the first half of Monday. Wind will probably trend weakly onshore in the afternoon out of the SW, although clean to glassy conditions are expected. Similar wind conditions are expected Tuesday.
Watch LIVE
The TUDOR Nazaré Big Wave Challenge is on Green Alert to run on Monday, January 22, 2024. Once called ON, the competition will be broadcast LIVE on Red Bull TV, WorldSurfLeague.com, and the free WSL app. Also, check local listings for coverage from the WSL's broadcast partners.
The 2023/2024 TUDOR Nazaré Big Wave Challenge is proudly supported by TUDOR and Red Bull.