Chianca, Scooby and Gabeira Crowned at TUDOR Nazaré Big Wave Challenge

Chianca’s Relentless Approach Wins It All Again

Gabeira Secures Second Title At Nazaré

Scooby Eventually Finds His Own Pace, Brings Team to Top of the Podium

Pictured front page: A 100% Brazilian podium at this year’s TUDOR Nazaré Big Wave Challenge. Credit: © WSL / Poullenot 
NAZARÉ, Portugal (Monday, January 22, 2024) – The TUDOR Nazaré Big Wave Challenge unfolded today in epic, 30-to-40 foot waves at the world-famous Praia do Norte in Nazaré, Portugal. Surfers woke up to a glorious day of high-performance, tow surfing with light winds and very clean wedges across the various peaks of the Nazaré lineup.

While the bigger sets were a little slow in the morning, forcing competition to go on hold for a couple of hours, the action got underway just after noon as massive crowds assembled on the headland and around the iconic lighthouse.

A little under five hours later, competition wrapped in fantastic fashion in massive waves and with enthusiastic crowds cheering on the world’s best big wave surfers at the awards ceremony on the headland.

Chianca’s Relentless Approach Wins It All Again

The defending event winner Lucas Chianca (BRA) put on an incredible show all day and could not be denied a second, back-to-back Men’s Best Performance Award in Nazaré. Despite a last-minute partner change due to Kai Lenny pulling out injured, Chianca wasted no time to find his rhythm with fellow Brazilian Pedro Scooby (BRA).

The pair were on point to identify the best waves in the ever-moving lineup and Chianca with his progressive approach to riding the massive peaks scored the event’s best two waves, one in each session. The goofy foot basically surfed these huge waves like they were your typical local beachbreak and laid back into big powerful turns, staying close to the wave’s power source despite the obvious risk factor.

“This is a dream for me, I never expected to win so many times here,” Chianca said. “This place is magical, Nazaré has given me everything in my life. This win is probably the most special to me because we were a 100% Brazilian team. It was such a pleasure to tow with Scooby, one of the guys who pushed me, helped me and inspired me when I started surfing big waves. I’m really happy to give him back a little bit with our performance today.”

Chianca is now a five-time winner in Nazaré, four times towing and he also won the event paddling a few years back. The crowd craze was never-ending when the Brazilian stood up proud on the podium in front of thousands of fans chanting his name.

Behind him, Clement Roseyro (FRA) and Sebastian Steudtner (GER) complete the podium in the individual men’s category with really intense rides of their own and a fantastic performance to rival with undeniably the best surfer out at Nazaré for the past few years.

Pictured: Maya Gabeira remains undefeated in Nazaré. Credit: © WSL / Poullenot 
Gabeira Secures Second Title At Nazaré 

Brazil’s Maya Gabeira (BRA) successfully defended her title at Nazaré, a break she has dedicated most of her life to. Gabeira teamed up with local rising star Antonio Laureano (POR), and used the first session to fine tune their strategy.

“We realized that the judges were rewarding turns because the size is not that big, so we have to look for those smoother walls in our second session,” Gabeira reflected after their first heat.

Michelle des Bouillons (BRA) was right behind her after a busy first session with her tow partner Ian Cosenza (BRA). Despite focusing their efforts on Des Bouillons catching the best waves in the second heat, she couldn’t improve on her scores from the first session.

The energy and swell intensified in the second session and Laureano had one job, and that was to get Gabeira on the best waves. The start was a bit shaky, and Gabeira had to deal with a big wipeout on her first ride. Laureano scooped her up and she took a moment to reset, before swinging for the next set on the third peak. With a decent score on the board, she stayed patient and finally found the smooth gem she was looking for. It stretched out ahead of her as she made a committed cutback before going down the line and riding out safely, getting her best score and the Women’s Best Performance Award.

“I’ve been injured for what seems like forever now so it was great to compete again and to get the win is a great way to come back,” Gabeira added. “Teaming up with Tony, the youngest one, was special. Even after getting injured he continued to drive me and stayed focused and drove me into the waves I needed. Today was a very difficult day to surf and especially to perform rail surfing. And to do that under a time pressure is tough, normally in the free surf when you’re tired you rest, here you have to go and you tend to take more risk than you probably should. It’s very difficult but so very rewarding in the end.”

Pictured: Pedro Scooby races against a giant section to post his best score. Credit: © WSL / Poullenot 
Scooby Eventually Finds His Own Pace, Brings Team to Top of the Podium

For a long time it looked like a first-timer in this event, France’s Clement Roseyro (FRA) teamed up with local Nic Von Rupp (POR), were going to deny the Brazilian number one seed of the team’s award.

But towards the end of the second session, Chianca managed to tow his partner Pedro Scooby (BRA) into a huge ride which changed the situation and moved the pair into the lead with only one more heat left to compete. Eventually no other team could quite match the Brazilian duo’s flair and they took top honors in the Team’s Best Performance Award.

“I can’t believe two days ago I was super sick on my couch in Rio De Janeiro,” Scooby said. “My mom took care of me and Lucas encouraged me and I decided to come. I put all my energy into this and our team worked really well to take the win. Lucas is so talented, we’ve been surfing since his first big swells and we talk a lot about everything and we have a great connection so to win with him today is super special.”

Much like in the individual category, Roseyro and Von Rupp placed runner-up, and Steudtner and his partner Eric Rebiere (FRA) took the third podium spot.

Replay All the Action From Nazaré

The TUDOR Nazaré Big Wave Challenge ran today and was broadcast LIVE on Red Bull TV, WorldSurfLeague.com, and the free WSL app. Watch highlights and replay all the action on worldsurfleague.com.

The 2023/2024 TUDOR Nazaré Big Wave Challenge is proudly supported by TUDOR and Red Bull.

About the WSL 
The World Surf League (WSL) is the global home of competitive surfing, crowning World Champions since 1976 and showcasing the world’s best surfing. The WSL oversees surfing’s global competitive landscape and sets the standard for elite performance in the most dynamic playing field in all of sports. With a firm commitment to its values, the WSL prioritizes the protection of the ocean, equality, and the sport’s rich heritage, while championing progression and innovation.

 

EARLIER UPDATES…

Competition Called ON at TUDOR Nazaré Big Wave Challenge

Competition Starts at 12:15 p.m (GMT) (215am HI Time)

Watch LIVE at WorldSurfLeague.com

Pictured: The TUDOR Nazaré Big Wave Challenge will launch in epic conditions. Credit: © WSL / Poullenot 
NAZARÉ, Portugal (Monday, January 22, 2024) – Competition has been called ON at the TUDOR Nazaré Big Wave Challenge with the first heat hitting the lineup at 12:15 p.m. GMT in building clean 30-to-40-foot bombs at Nazaré’s infamous Praia do Norte.

“It’s super exciting and a little nerve-wracking at the same time,” said Garrett McNamara, WSL Tours and Competition Big Wave Consultant. “It’s been building all day, the swell is here. The energy hasn’t fully filled in and the swell is supposed to turn a little bit more North which equals bigger and better waves. But it’s already perfectly contestable and the guys out there I guarantee will put on an amazing show!”

The defending event winner in the men’s, Lucas Chianca (BRA) will take it to the lineup in the second heat of the day with new partner and a former Jogos Santa Casa Most Committed Award recipient Pedro Scooby (BRA). Justine Dupont being absent this year, the women’s best performance will be contested between Michelle des Bouillons (BRA) and Maya Gabeira (BRA) surfing in Heats 1 and 2 respectively.

TUDOR Nazaré Big Wave Challenge Format Explained

Nine teams of two competitors will be split to surf twice during a day of six, 40-minute heats, with each team member alternating between surfing and driving the team’s jet ski.

Heat Draw
Heat 1, Group A

  • Team 2: Nic Von Rupp (POR), Clement Roseyro (FRA)
  • Team 6: Sebastian Steudtner (GER), Eric Rebiere (FRA)
  • Team 8: Michelle des Bouillons (BRA), Ian Cosenza (BRA)

Heat 2, Group B

  • Team 1: Lucas Chianca (BRA), Pedro Scooby (BRA)
  • Team 5: Joao De Macedo (POR), Antonio Silva (POR)
  • Team 7: Maya Gabeira (BRA), Antonio Laureano (PRT)

Heat 3, Group C

  • Team 3: Andrew Cotton (GBR), Will Skudin (USA)
  • Team 4: Rodrigo Koxa (BRA), Vitor Faria (BRA)
  • Team 9: Pierre Rollet (FRA), Rafael Tapia (CHL)

Heat 4, Group A

  • Team 2: Nic Von Rupp (POR), Clement Roseyro (FRA)
  • Team 6: Sebastian Steudtner (GER), Eric Rebiere (FRA)
  • Team 8: Michelle des Bouillons (BRA), Ian Cosenza (BRA)

Heat 5, Group B

  • Team 1: Lucas Chianca (BRA), Pedro Scooby (BRA)
  • Team 5: Joao De Macedo (POR), Antonio Silva (POR)
  • Team 7: Maya Gabeira (BRA), Antonio Laureano (PRT)

Heat 6, Group C

  • Team 3: Andrew Cotton (GBR), Will Skudin (USA)
  • Team 4: Rodrigo Koxa (BRA), Vitor Faria (BRA)
  • ​Team 9: Pierre Rollet (FRA), Rafael Tapia (CHL)

Four awards will be distributed at the end of the day:

  • Men’s Best Performance: Male surfer with the highest 2 scoring waves
  • Women’s Best Performance: Female surfer with the highest 2 scoring waves
  • Best Team Performance: Total of best two scoring rides of both team riders
  • Jogos Santa Casa Most Committed Award
Pictured: A solid swell is making its way towards the Portuguese shoes over the weekend. Credit: © Surfline 
Official Surfline Forecast: Swell model guidance is holding steady for offshore swell size, period and direction – slow Monday morning off mainly old WNW swell. Our swell of interest should start to show around midday with the largest waves coming on for the late afternoon/evening.

Again, swell direction is ~10 degrees more west than we ideally want to see but hopefully with the close storm and relatively broad direction we’ll get a mix of some of the classic teepees on the more northerly angled sets.

Wind looks good to excellent – we should see light southerly flow all day on Sunday, allowing for very settled/smooth conditions Monday. Wind on Monday should start off light from the SE-S (offshore) at 3-7 kts and then may trend weakly onshore for the afternoon from the SW, but below 10 kts (and probably 8 kts or less). Good chance for glassy conditions all day.

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 appAlso, 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.

 

 

Green Alert Countdown Called ON for TUDOR Nazaré Big Wave Challenge

Green Alert Called for Nazaré, Tow-in Teams Prepare for Event Start

First Call: Monday, January 22, 8:45am GMT

Pictured: The TUDOR Nazaré Challenge is on Green Alert for a probable run day on Monday, January 22, 2024. Credit: © WSL 
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)

Pictured: A solid swell is making its way towards the Portuguese shoes over the weekend. Credit: © Surfline 
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 appAlso, 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.

​For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.

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