With a 25-foot swell forecasted to hit, the Tudor Nazaré Big Wave Challenge is on yellow alert and could be set to run on Tuesday, February 18. As the winter season nears its end, the Atlantic Ocean is poised to deliver one final surge of big-wave action, making for an exciting finish to the big-wave season.
The competition, which follows a team format, will see 18 surfers (nine teams of two) battling it out in a one-day event. Among the frontrunners are five-time Nazaré winner Lucas “Chumbo” Chianca and his teammate Pedro Scooby. Chianca, a dominant force at Nazaré, has won the event five times, including both paddle and tow-in competitions. However, he will face tough competition from Nazaré pioneer and 100-Foot Wave star Garrett McNamara, who is teamed up with Andrew Cotton.
The event features a unique format where each team has two 40-minute heats. The surfers’ final scores are determined by the two highest-scoring rides from either heat. Unlike the Championship Tour, where a perfect score is 10 points, the maximum score for a wave at Nazaré is 30 points, reflecting the massive size of the waves.
At the end of the day, winners will be crowned in both the male and female categories, and the best team will also be awarded. The Maui duo of Kai Lenny and Ian Walsh are among the top teams to watch.
Should the swell and conditions align, the event will move to Green Alert, allowing competitors 24 hours to reach Nazaré. The final decision will be made on Monday, February 17, at 10:00 a.m. GMT, for a possible start on Tuesday, February 18, at 10:00 a.m. GMT.
TUDOR Nazaré Big Wave Challenge Teams:
- Team 1: Lucas ‘Chumbo’ Chianca (BRA) and Pedro ‘Scooby’ Vianna (BRA)
- Team 2: Nic von Rupp (POR) and Clement Roseyro (FRA)
- Team 3: Rodrigo Koxa (BRA) and Vitor Faria (BRA)
- Team 4: Rafael Tapia (CHL) and Pierre Rollet (FRA)
- Team 5: Andrew Cotton (GBR) and Garrett McNamara (HAW)
- Team 6: Kai Lenny (HAW) and Ian Walsh (HAW)
- Team 7: Michelle des Bouillons (BRA) and Ian Cosenza (BRA)
- Team 8: Justine Dupont (FRA) and Éric Rebière (BRA)
- Team 9: Laura Crane (GBR) and Antonio Laureano (POR)
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