The first BWT event of the 2016/2017 season, the Puerto Escondido Challenge, has been called ON for a Friday start with a projected 30-foot-plus surf (face scale) heading toward the region.

Image: WSL / Danny Ecker   Will Skudin charges a monstrous wave at the legendary break in Mexico.

PUERTO ESCONDIDO, Mexico (Tuesday, June 21, 2016) – Today, the World Surf League (WSL) Big Wave Tour (BWT) is placing the Puerto Escondido Challenge in Puerto Escondido, Mexico on Green Alert to commence on Friday, June 24 and potentially run through Saturday, June 25, with a projected 30-foot-plus swell heading toward the region.

“The swell we’ve been tracking from the South Pacific has intensified and we’ve called the Puerto Escondido Challenge ‘on’ for a Friday start,” said Peter Mel, WSL BWT Commissioner. “We’re looking at 30-foot-plus waves projected for the day with favorable winds and tides.”

The Puerto Escondido Challenge will be contested by 24 of the world’s best big wave surfers, led by 2015/2016 BWT Champion, Greg Long (USA), and 2015/2016 runner-up on the BWT rankings, Makuakai Rothman (HAW). The field will also see big wave icons Grant Baker (ZAF), Carlos Burle (BRA) and Damien Hobgood (USA) battle for the first BWT event win of the 2016/2017 season.

This is the first world-class big wave event to ever be called on at this legendary break. Mainland Mexico’s Puerto Escondido is home to one of the most monstrous and unruly waves on earth. With a volatile sandbar bottom, the world-renowned beach break requires technical mastery, extreme physical endurance, and boundless courage from all who accept the challenge.

“We are very excited to the get the 2016/2017 BWT season underway,” continued Mel. “We have the best big wave surfers on the planet traveling to Mexico from all over the world in anticipation of the event. Puerto Escondido is a heavy and challenging break that will test the competitors and set the tone for this season. We’re excited. It’s on.”

A series of large, intense storms recently tracked across the South Pacific and have produced back-to-back-to-back long period SW/SSW swells for Central America, Mainland Mexico and beyond. The first of these swells will gradually build into the region today and peak on Wednesday. Swells two and three will arrive from Thursday afternoon through Saturday and will be a couple notches larger.

Southern Mexico: The timing of the respective swells will be very similar to Central America. Look for well exposed breaks to see overhead to double overhead surf, while good spots are in the triple overhead range on sets. Standout deepwater spots like Puerto Escondido and a couple other breaks will be up to 25-35’ faces on the larger/largest sets of the day during the respective swell peaks (Thur PM/Fri AM, Fri PM/Sat AM). Surfline.

The event is also being carried by the WSL’s LIVE broadcast partners Fox Sports Australia, CBS Sports in the United States, ESPN Brasil, Globosat, Edgesport, Sky NZ, Sport TV, Canal + Deportes, Channel Nine, MCS, Starhub, and Oceanic Time Warner Cable 250 & 1250 in Hawaii.

Puerto Escondido Challenge Invite List:
Greg Long (USA)
Makuakai Rothman (HAW)
Billy Kemper (HAW)
Nic Lamb (USA)
Albee Layer (HAW)
Carlos Burle (BRA)
Damien Hobgood (USA)
Cristian Merello (CHL)
Gabriel Villaran (PER)
Trevor Carlson (HAW)
Grant Baker (ZAF)
Jamie Mitchell (AUS)
Kai Lenny (HAW)
Pedro Calado (BRA)
Will Skudin (USA)
Rusty Long (USA)
Koa Rothman (HAW)
Tom Lowe (GRB)
Coco Nogales (MEX)
Oscar Moncada (MEX)
Jose Ramirez (MEX)
Angelo Lozano (MEX)
Rogercin Ramirez Jr. (MEX)
Jimel Corzo (MEX)