50 Foot Waves Incoming for Nazaré Big Wave Tow Surfing Challenge on Monday

Dashel Pierson
·3 min read

The TUDOR Nazaré Big Wave Challenge is a go.

With a strong swell projected to hit Portugal on Monday, January 22nd – the forecast is calling for 35-to-45-foot waves and 50 footers on the sets – the event has received the official Green Alert from the World Surf League event organizers.

All systems go; this is not a drill.

“We’re really excited about the conditions lining up for Monday,” Rob Gunning, WSL Europe Tour Manager, said in a press release. “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.”

Compared to other surf competitions, the Nazaré Big Wave Challenge operates a little differently. First of all, it’s a tow surfing event. Second, it’s a team event. 18 surfers in teams of two will have two heats of 40 minutes, with surfers alternating between driving and surfing. Individual awards for the event will include:

  • 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

Green light go for the Nazaré Big Wave Challenge on Monday, January 22nd<p>Photo by Antoine Justes/World Surf League</p>
Green light go for the Nazaré Big Wave Challenge on Monday, January 22nd

Photo by Antoine Justes/World Surf League

And here's the 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)

And here’s the forecast from Surfline:

“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.”

Stay tuned.

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