'Revolutionary' Big Wave Surfing

Professional surfer Bianca Valenti reveals how female big wave surfers are changing the tides.

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Behind The Scenes At The 2023 Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational With Mark Healey - Heat 1

Mark Healey's experience at XXL Waimea Bay at The 2023 Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational on January 22, 2023! 

Yesterday, dramatic moment in Nazaré

Yesterday, you already know that Nazare got wild, big seas and high winds, just about anything can happen. A ski piloted by Alemao de Maresias, with Andrew Cotton on the back, got clipped near the cliffs of gigantic Nazare, which ended up bucking both of these legends into a pretty dire situation.

The tension was maximum, but both managed to be rescued. What a scare this was.

Video by Tim Bonythons - Swell Chasers

Video by Tim Bonythons - Swell Chasers

WSL Big Wave Awards Nominees are in!

See it live on May 2.

The 2019 WSL Big Wave Awards Nominees are in!

The names have been chosen by a panel of judges based on video and photographic evidence, and compete across eight divisions.

The winners of Ride of the Year, Men's XXL Biggest Wave, Women's XXL Biggest Wave, Women's Biggest Paddle, Men's Biggest Paddle, Wipeout of the Year, Men's Best Overall Performance of the Year, and Women's Best Overall Performance of the Year titles will be revealed on May 2, in Redondo Beach, California.

The Hawaiian contingent dominates the list of nominees for this year's Big Wave Awards, but there are also riders from Brazil, France, South Africa, Australia, Chile, England, Germany, Spain, and Portugal featured in the official sheet.

The nominees for the men's and women's best overall performances of the year are still being scrutinized as they are considered the most important and prestigious awards of the event.

The winners of these divisions will be seeded into all events of the upcoming Big Wave Tour season.

2019 WSL Big Wave Awards | Nominees
Ride of the Year
Grant Baker (RSA) at Jaws, Maui, Hawaii, on November 26, 2018
Naxto Gonzalez (ESP) at Nazaré, Portugal, on November 16, 2018
Billy Kemper (HAW) at Jaws, Maui, Hawaii on November 26, 2018
Kai Lenny (HAW) at Jaws, Maui, Hawaii on November 26, 2018
Ramon Navarro (CHI) at Cloudbreak on May 22, 2018

Men's XXL Biggest Wave
Carlos Burle (BRA) at Jaws, Maui, Hawaii on November 26, 2018
Tom Butler (UK) at Nazaré, Portugal, on December 14, 2018
Kai Lenny (HAW) at Jaws, Maui, Hawaii on November 26, 2018
Sebastian Steudtner (GER) at Nazaré, Portugal on February 7, 2019
Anthony Tashnick (USA) at Mavericks, California, on December 17, 2018

Women's XXL Biggest Wave
Justine Dupont (FRA) at Nazaré, Portugal, on November 9, 2018
Justine Dupont (FRA) at Nazaré, Portugal on November 18, 2018
Nicole Pacelli (BRA) at Jaws, Maui, Hawaii, on January 12, 2019

Men's Biggest Paddle
Grant Baker (RSA) at Jaws, Maui, Hawaii, on November 26, 2018
Grant Baker (RSA) at Mavericks, California, on December 17, 2018
Pedro Calado (BRA) at Nazaré, Portugal, on November 18, 2018
Nathan Florence (HAW) at Mavericks, California, on December 17, 2018
Billy Kemper (HAW) at Jaws, Maui, Hawaii, on November 26, 2018

Women's Biggest Paddle
Paige Alms (HAW) at Jaws, Maui, Hawaii on October 9, 2012
Justine Dupont (HAW) at Jaws, Maui, Hawaii on November 26, 2018
Andrea Moller (HAW) at Jaws, Maui, Hawaii on January 16, 2016

Wipeout of the Year
Russell Bierke (AUS) at Nazaré, Portugal, on January 26, 2019
Alex Botelho (POR) at Jaws, Maui, Hawaii, on November 26, 2018
Trevor Carlson (HAW) at Jaws, Maui, Hawaii on November 27, 2018
Lucas Chianca (BRA) at Jaws, Maui, Hawaii on November 26, 2018
Makua Rothman (HAW) at Cloudbreak, Fiji on May 22, 2018

Men's Best Overall Performance of the Year
TBA

Women's Best Overall Performance of the Year
TBA

The winners will be crowned at the Big Wave Awards on May 2 starting at 7:45pm PT. Watch live on worldsurfleague.com.

It’s time for Naza!

Green Alert: Nazaré Challenge Called ON

"We've officially issued a Green Alert to run the Nazaré Challenge on Friday, November 16," said Mike Parsons, WSL Big Wave Tour Commissioner. "The conditions we've been closely tracking still look favorable for Friday. We hope to see epic waves for the surfers to paddle into in the 25-35-foot face range. The swell and the winds are expected to all come together and be very clean to kick off the Big Wave Tour season."

Surfline, forecast partner of the WSL, is calling for:

A developing storm near Greenland is expected to produce a strong WNW swell for Friday. Confidence is medium to high for a swell to provide good surf throughout the day. We expect to see wave face size in the 20-30' range through the day on Friday, with the very largest sets of the morning up to 35'.

While this isn't a giant swell, especially by Nazare standards, local wind and conditions look about as good as it gets on Friday: light+ offshore ESE wind through the morning, trending more SE (still offshore) for the early afternoon hours, generally below 10 knots. Furthermore, the two previous days (Wednesday-Thursday) are also expected to see light offshore wind and small swell, which should mean conditions are extra clean on Friday.

Nazaré Challenge Competitor List:

WSL Big Wave Tour Top Ten Seeds: Billy Kemper, Kai Lenny, Ian Walsh, Makuakai Rothman, Lucas Chianca, Jamie Mitchell, Tom Lowe, Alex Botelho, Greg Long, Natxo Gonzalez

Injury Wildcard: Will Skudin

BWA Performer of the Year Qualifiers: Grant Baker, Nathan Florence, Jojo Roper, Russell Bierke

Nazaré Event Invitees: João De Macedo, Rodrigo Koxa, Antonio Silva, Hugo Vau, Nic von Rupp, João Guedes

WSL Big Wave Tour Invitees: Three to be selected on Green Light

Alternates:

BWA Performer of the Year Alternate: Ryan Hipwood

Nazaré Event Invitee Alternates: Andrew Cotton, Tom Butler, Axier Muniain

If called on, the WSL Nazaré Challenge will broadcast LIVE on Facebook and worldsurfleague.com (no Facebook login required for desktop viewing).

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Round 1

Heat 1: Billy Kemper | Lucas Chianca | Greg Long | Nathan Florence | Francisco Porcella | Antonio Silva

Heat 2: Ian Walsh | Tom Lowe | Will Skudin | Russell Bierke | João De Macedo | Rodrigo Koxa

Heat 3: Kai Lenny | Jamie Mitchell | Natxo Gonzalez | Jojo Roper | Pedro Calado | Hugo Vau

Heat 4: Makuakai Rothman | Alex Botelho | Grant Baker | Nic Lamb | Nic von Rupp | João Guedes

Stay tuned!

Way of Life

~ Way of Life ~ from Blaze Hunter

What defines the greatness of Men? Is it just the results you get? Or the commitment to pursuit your dreams? Why some people are afraid of the ocean while others can't live without dropping 40 feet waves?

This short documentary follows the story of João de Macedo, an underdog big wave surfer who tries to run the world tour without a major sponsor. Filmed over the last 6 months in some of the most iconic big wave surf spots around the world.