Alex Botelho (PRT) and Jamie Mitchell (AUS) Nazare 2018 Masurel
The safety crew was not even safe. Nazare 2018 Masurel
Lucas Chianca (BR)-Nazare 2018 Masurel
Nathan Florence (HAW)-Nazare2018 Masurel
ROUND 1 WAS CALLED ON FOR 8 AM WET START (12 AM PST) & 10 PM HI TIME
SURF WAS WILD, 15-20’++ BUT BECAME ‘OUT OF CONTROL’ THO’ COMPETITORS DID WELL TO SURVIVE. MOSTLY LEFTS WERE RIDDEN IN THE 2 HEATS.
Nazaré Challenge Round 1 Match-Ups:
Heat 1: Billy Kemper (HAW), Pedro Calado (BRA), João de Macedo (PRT), Lucas Chianca (BRA), Nathan Florence (HAW), Hugo Vau (PRT)
Heat 2: Jamie Mitchell (AUS), Carlos Burle (BRA), Aaron Gold (HAW), Peter Mel (USA), Alex Botelho (PRT), Tom Butler (GBR)
Heat 3: Kai Lenny (HAW), Makuakai Rothman (HAW), Cristian Merello (CHL), Francisco Porcella (ITA), Natxo Gonzalez (EUK), Nic von Rupp (PRT)
Heat 4: Grant Baker (ZAF), Nic Lamb (USA), Tom Lowe (GBR), Ian Walsh (HAW), Antonio Silva (PRT), Kealii Mamala (HAW)
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NAZARÉ, Portugal (Saturday, February 10, 2018) – The World Surf League (WSL) Big Wave Tour (BWT) Nazaré Challenge was put on hold today after dangerous winds developed during the second heat of Round One. BWT officials decided to call the competition off to ensure the safety of the competitors. Event officials will make a call tomorrow morning at 7:00 a.m. WET for a possible 7:30 a.m. WET start (11:30 PM PST, 5:30 AM BRST, 7:30 AM GMT, 6:30 PM AEDT). “We saw the wind come up really strong out of the NW,” said Mike Parsons, WSL Big Wave Tour Commissioner. “The conditions were way too dangerous for the surfers. We went on hold to see what the conditions would do, but because we did not see a change, we have decided to pause the competition and look to finish the event tomorrow. There will still be solid swell and the forecast projects that there will be lighter winds. It was just too dangerous with the winds. The surfers could not get down the face. Their feedback was that it was way too hazardous out there.” Prior to the competition being called off for the day, Round One Heat 1 witnessed Lucas Chianca (BRA), Billy Kemper (HAW), and Nathan Florence (HAW) earn their places into the Semifinals with solid mid-range scores. Peter Mel (USA), Alex Botelho (PRT), and Jamie Mitchell (AUS), defending Nazaré Challenge winner, will also advance to the next round after earning the top three places in Round One Heat 2. The remaining 12 competitors in Heats 3 and 4 will anxiously monitor the conditions and prepare for their potential start first thing tomorrowmorning. XL to possibly XXL NW swell is developing for Nazaré on Saturday the 10th thanks to a strong, double-barreled area of low pressure now stretching over Greenland. Model guidance indicates that wind of 40-45 knots will develop in this fetch over the next 12-24 hours, with seas of 35-40 feet also expected to develop just east of Greenland. At this point we’ll look for building, longer period NW swell through the morning on Saturday, with 20-35’+ faces. The swell looks to peak from around mid-day and hold over the afternoon with solid 25-35’+ faces and occasional sets to 40’+ faces. There will also be some short period NW swell running in the morning, which will give the surf at least somewhat of a jumbled feel, but that short period swell will ease through the day. Wind, while not ideal, does look manageable. Offshore to side-offshore flow from the NE to NNE is currently expected in the morning in the 10-15 knot range, trending to sideshore north at 15 knots+ from late morning through the afternoon. Surfline If called back on tomorrow, the Nazaré Challenge will be broadcast LIVE on Facebook LIVE via the WSL’s Facebook page and on WorldSurfLeague.com and the WSL app. Also check local listings for coverage on CBS Sports Network in the U.S., Fox Sports in Australia, ESPN in Brazil, Sky NZ in New Zealand, SFR Sports in France and Portugal, and Sport TV in Portugal. Nazaré Challenge Round 1 Results (H1 – 2): Nazaré Challenge Remaining Round 1 Match-Ups (H2 – 3): The 2017/2018 Nazaré Challenge is presented Jogos Santa Casa, and proudly supported by Tourism of Portugal, West Tourism, and Nazaré City Council. The 2017/2018 WSL Big Wave Tour is proudly supported by Corona, the Official Beer of the Big Wave Tour (excluding North America), and Quiksilver Airlift, the Official Inflatable Vest of the 2017/2018 Big Wave Tour. |
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| Location: | Nazaré, Portugal |
| Holding period: | October 15, 2017 – February 28, 2018 |
| Call: | Called ON for 8AM WET Start (12AM PST, 6AM BRST, 8AM GMT) |
| Conditions: | 25′-40′ surf |
NAZARÉ, Portugal (Saturday, February 10, 2018) – The World Surf League (WSL) Big Wave Tour (BWT) Nazaré Challenge in Nazaré, Portugal has been called ON for an 8 AM WET start (12 AM PST, 6 AM BRST, 8AM GMT, 7AM AEDT). The competition will witness the world’s best male big wave surfers battle the infamous Praia do Norte (North Beach) break, a wave notorious for its powerful waves and dangerous whitewater speeds.
Men’s Round 1 will get underway in 25-to-35 foot waves, with sets in the 40-foot-plus range. Today’s highly-anticipated competition will host 45-minute heats for Round 1, followed by the Semifinals and Final.
“We are going to start the Nazaré Challenge at 8:00 a.m. local time,” said Mike Parsons, WSL Big Wave Tour Commissioner. “We are starting early to try to get ahead of the wind that is projected to come in through the afternoon. There are solid waves so far, and we expect to see the swell build throughout the morning. We will see surf in the 25-to-35-foot range, with sets in the 45-foot range. It will be an epic day of competition. Best of luck to all of our surfers out there today.”
The Nazaré Challenge will be broadcast LIVE on Facebook LIVE via the WSL’s Facebook page and on WorldSurfLeague.com and the WSL app. Also check local listings for coverage on CBS Sports Network in the U.S., Fox Sports in Australia, ESPN in Brazil, Sky NZ in New Zealand, SFR Sports in France and Portugal, and Sport TV in Portugal.The 2017/2018 Nazaré Challenge is presented Jogos Santa Casa, and proudly supported by Tourism of Portugal, West Tourism, and Nazaré City Council. The 2017/2018 WSL Big Wave Tour is proudly supported by Corona, the Official Beer of the Big Wave Tour (excluding North America), and Quiksilver Airlift, the Official Inflatable Vest of the 2017/2018 Big Wave Tour.
For more information, check out WorldSurfLeague.com.
