The documentary series 100 Foot Wave is back with the highly anticipated third season on Max The production follows the incredible journey of legendary surfer Garrett McNamara and other big riders who challenge the giant waves of Nazaré With stunning footage and intimate stories the new season continues to explore the relentless pursuit of giant waves revealing behind-the-scenes of one of the most iconic big wave surfing spots in the world The premiere is set for May 1, 2025, on the streaming service Max The Season 3 premiere promises new stories of overcoming challenges and the risks faced by those daring enough to surf the planet's biggest waves The award-winning series honored with the 2023 Emmy for Best Cinematography for a Nonfiction Program showcases breathtaking visuals of Nazaré's giant waves Note: This article is an update to the previously published article where we confirmed the production of the third season of "100 Foot Wave" Add the NazareWaves.com site to your phone's home screen as if it were an APP/application.You can also add a specific page Spot Guide: Rincon Queen, of the Coast 6 of the Heaviest Waves in the World Five Decades of Surfing, Travel and Narrative Collide in Sam George’s New Book NewsAll NewsEventsBig Wave NewsWorld Surf LeagueEnvironmentalIndustryWave PoolsPosts List Boat Get Totally Wrecked by Wave in Indonesia (Video) How To Surf Till You're 100, Brainwork: Mickey Munoz But a sizable swell – organizers calling it in the 25-to-35-foot range – hit the Portuguese heavy water arena on Thursday giving the green light to the Tudor Nazaré Big Wave Challenge the one-and-only stop on the 2025 World Surf League Big Wave Tour the tow team featuring Portuguese local Nic Von Rupp and Frenchman Clement Roseyro took home the top honors surfers compete in teams.) Clement won the Men’s Best Performance award with a total score of 21.83 out of a possible 30 (and a single high score of 7.50) perennial charger Justine Dupont won the top honors which came following the birth of her first child she said: “I used to have a lot of fear before and I’m really happy to be back here to perform I’m a bit sad that I couldn’t put Eric into a good wave It was a bit like riding a rodeo out there keep scrolling for a look at all the action that went down what you're looking for isn't here.. record-seeking surfers and spectators descend on the small Portuguese town of Nazaré for the "big wave" season when water can surge up to 100 feet (30 meters) tall Why it's incredible: The coastal town hosts the world's biggest surfable waves Nazaré is a hotspot for monster waves on the Portuguese coast "big-wave" surfers hit the small fishing town during an annual peak in wave size when the water regularly surges five stories high — and occasionally reaches twice as high Related: Gargantuan waves in Earth's mantle may make continents rise, new study finds The waves at Nazaré reach such giant proportions because they form inside the Nazaré Canyon — the largest submarine canyon in Europe which stretches 130 miles (210 kilometers) long and roughly 3 miles (4.8 km) deep in the Atlantic Ocean southwest of Nazaré Water inside the canyon travels faster than shallower water, forming large waves at depth that are "bent" in the direction of Nazaré, according to NASA's Earth Observatory these large waves run into waves coming from the northwest and this collision forms the truly supersize waves that surfers prize —Rainbow swamp: The flooded forest in Virginia that puts on a magical light show every winter —Gateway to the underworld: The enormous permafrost 'megaslump' in Siberia that keeps getting bigger —White Shark Café: The mysterious meeting spot for great whites in the middle of the Pacific Ocean Nazaré churns out some jumbo waves, but it's not the site of the biggest wave ever recorded That title belongs to Lituya Bay in Alaska which produced a frightening 1,719-foot-tall (524 m) wall of water after an earthquake triggered a landslide directly into the bay in July 1958 That wave killed five people and leveled trees on the slopes surrounding the bay Get the world’s most fascinating discoveries delivered straight to your inbox And while the Nazaré Canyon explains why massive crests form on this stretch of Portuguese coast, humongous waves can also occur seemingly from nowhere are waves that are at least twice as high as the surrounding sea state They are different from tsunamis in that they don't result from water being displaced by an earthquake researchers think rogue waves are born from smaller waves merging into larger ones either due to high surface winds or changes in ocean currents caused by storms Discover more incredible places where we highlight the fantastic history and science behind some of the most dramatic landscapes on Earth Sascha PareSocial Links NavigationStaff writer Sascha is a U.K.-based staff writer at Live Science She holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Southampton in England and a master’s degree in science communication from Imperial College London Her work has appeared in The Guardian and the health website Zoe bread-making and browsing second-hand shops for hidden gems Corryvreckan whirlpool: Scotland's 'raging cauldron' that is named after a Norse king and said to house a witch Atlantic ocean currents are weakening — and it could make the climate in some regions unrecognizable Space photo of the week: Record-breaking James Webb telescope image captures 1,678 galaxy groups at once Praia do Norte is a wonder of the world. The waves that break there are unique, their energy funneling through the Nazare Canyon before reaching up towards the Portuguese sky in immense proportions. Although I have been to Portugal in the past, the sleepy little fishing village turned big wave mecca has When the first real swell of the year popped up on the forecast during a quick vacation I figured I would be an idiot to miss seeing it break in person And although it didn’t produce the terrifyingly huge waves the place has become synonymous with My breath and the hundreds of others who gathered to see it had only a cursory understanding of the town of Nazare but the narrow cobblestone streets that sit in front of it are among the most charming I’ve ever had the pleasure of exploring My fiancé Stevie and I arrived mid-afternoon cheap and wonderful bottles of vinho tinto in our bags dimming the sun’s brightness like a gossamer shroud cable-pulled tram that takes visitors to the top of the cliff made its way up its steep track in the distance The town is mostly varying shades of blue and white punctuated by the bright orange of the rooftops that blend pleasantly with the wide stretch of sand that drops precipitously into the sea Rum-filled pineapples with gaudy straws in hand we shouldered our way to the edge of the cliff but torn to shreds by a stiff onshore wind that threw fat raindrops from the passing squalls above My phone dinged with severe weather alerts warning us of potentially devastating rains bobbing amid the unreadable waves that came from all directions I doubted that anyone would be able to put themselves in the position to catch one but after about half an hour and one rum-filled pineapple dressed in a green and black suit and with a shock of cropped blond hair it was hard to gauge the real height of the waves which was far smaller than the ones that grab the attention of the wider world outside of surfing was producing waves at least triple overhead The surfer kicked out to a raucous applause that was ripped away by the wind The small tram that takes viewers to the top of the cliff (left) and the beautiful streets of Nazare (right) Mason talking himself down as I talked him up then agreed to catch up the next day for a quick chat one of my favorite places on Earth in the morning but Mason was determined to stay and see what the swell would do and despite a nightmare flight – flights delayed then cancelled board lost then found –  and the inherent jet-lag that comes with crossing the Atlantic Barnes has been kind of winging things when it comes to surfing Nazare and try and show up for the swell of the year and I just start reaching out to people and just kind of finagling something That’s only worth doing when it’s the best day of the year It would be nice to surf these medium sized days I finally had the opportunity to hire Eric Rebiere full time.” Rebiere is one of the best Jet Ski drivers at Nazare and Barnes could not be happier to have the opportunity “We’ve had this plan that we’re working together for a couple months now so we’ve been kind of waiting just for the first swell of the season to come out here,” Barnes explained “We were going to work together and just see how it goes He was pretty much saying that no one’s going to be here and the waves would be super giant Let’s do this.’ It’s not normally a swell that I would fly over here for but the fact was that it was the first swell of the season and there was potential for it to be huge In the lineup with Barnes and Rebiere were Justine Dupont “We were the only people out,” Barnes said Sebastian and Eric kind of opened the door with surfing on these onshore days you could potentially ride the biggest wave ever if the wind’s onshore it doesn’t matter how windy or how bumpy it is the conditions looked completely unsurfable It’s days like these that make surfing the giant days possible but they’re so capable of driving on those days,” Barnes explained find some waves and see what happens.’ And sure enough we got out there – and what I saw from the beach earlier It was crazy bumpy and there was too much going on ‘grab the rope!’ and he just put me in a perfect little wave Surfing a place like Nazare isn’t the same as surfing a normal wave because the risk versus reward is incredibly high There were only about six waves ridden all day before the crew decided to head in because there were still some really big waves coming through and the water was pushing into the cliff.” Barnes said I’m good.’ Sebastian caught two waves and then we kind of called it and just headed back to harbor the higher the odds are of something happening how many more times do you want to chance that There’s always that part of you that wants another one I wondered then if the cheering crowds would have any influence on decisions like that was quick to dispel the notion that the influence of the masses would push people much further than they’d push themselves “if I was in the lineup yesterday and Eric didn’t truly think it was safe and a good idea to ride waves people being on the cliff wouldn’t change his decision if they are on the cliff and you do ride a wave and you hear them screaming on top of their lungs it’s one of the best feelings in the world But I would never let that persuade my decision to surf or not.” When it comes to the surfer/driver relationship Riding waves that could easily kill a person requires a deep-seated belief that the person entrusted with your safety will come to your rescue of the people who surf Nazare share that understanding you know that they’re there because they’re ready to be there and they’re not second guessing anything that’s going on,” he said “I think all the safety and precaution that’s going into being here is so top tier nowadays that everyone understands how important it is that if you’re in the lineup So it’s kind of just that like underlying trust that we all have for one another Now that the first swell of the season is under his belt he’ll have one eye on the forecast at all times it’s likely that he’ll stun the world again within a few months I’ll be on the cliff cheering him on with the rest of the spectators All gallery photos by Max Tardio. Clement Roseyro Wins Men’s Best Performance Award Clement Roseyro (FRA) earned the Men’s Best Performance award with an individual score of 21.83 (out of a possible 30) Roseyro earned his highest score of the day in Heat 1 with a 7.50 (out of a possible 10) In his second appearance at the TUDOR Nazaré Big Wave Challenge Roseyro was able to raise the bar with his unique approach to big wave surfing and secure the Men’s Best Performance Award Justine Dupont Dominates for Women’s Best Performance Award Back in action after the birth of her first child drawing beautiful lines on the monstrous walls of Praia do Norte The former winner looked comfortable in the conditions staying busy and catching eight waves to build on her score Dupont’s teammate Eric Rebiere (FRA) only managed to get one wave on the board but it was enough for a solid start to the day “I used to have a lot of fear before,” Dupont said Nic Von Rupp and Clement Roseyro Win Best Team Performance Award  Nic von Rupp (POR) and Clement Roseyro (FRA) took the lead from the get-go with a strong start in the first heat of the day Von Rupp did exceptionally well to tow his partner into some of the biggest waves but it was Roseyro’s good read of the waves allowing him to open up and unleash massive carves into the critical part of the wave and riding out safely that earned him the best score in the morning which saw him take a few heavy wipeouts in the first session Roseyro improved on his score with a great backup ride pushing the team to the top of the leaderboard but I pushed really hard,” Von Rupp reflected We’re stoked Clement got two good scores today to get on top of the leaderboard,” Von Rupp said Runner-ups Lucas Chianca (BRA) and Pedro Vianna (BRA) last year’s team winners put up a valiant effort to try to take the lead away from Von Rupp and Roseyro but despite a strong showing in their second heat The TUDOR Nazaré Big Wave Challenge will kick off with the first group in Heat 1 with Nic Von Rupp (POR) and Clement Roseyro (FRA) who had a solid run in last year’s event and is a real threat for the Best Team Performance award They’ll be up against highly decorated watermen Kai Lenny (HAW) and Ian Walsh (HAW) and former Women’s Best Performance winner Justine Dupont (FRA) and Eric Rebiere (FRA) back-to-back Best Men’s Performance winner Lucas “Chumbo” Chianca (BRA) returns with his 2024 Best Team Performance partner Pedro “Scooby” Vianna (BRA) With the late withdrawal of giant-slayer Garret McNamara (HAW) he will be replaced by Ben Larg (SCO) teaming up with Andrew Cotton (GBR) The experienced Brazilian duo of Michelle des Bouillons (BRA) and Ian Cosenza (BRA) completes the second group Heat 3 will feature Laura Crane (GBR) in her TUDOR Nazaré Big Wave Challenge debut partnering with Nazaré local António Laureano (POR) Crane was announced as the replacement surfer for Maya Gabeira (BRA) who announced her retirement last month Bringing their vast experience to the lineup Brazil’s Rodrigo Koxa (BRA) and Vitor Faria (BRA) team up once again and Chile’s Rafael Tapia (CHL) and Pierre Rollet (FRA) will round out the third group the nine two-person teams will alternate between surfing and driving their jet ski The competition is structured into three groups with each group participating in two 45-minute heats A surfer’s total score is based on their two best waves across both heats with their highest-scoring wave counting for double points making the maximum individual score 30 points surfers will be recognized across the following award categories: Most of the invited surfers are already in Portugal The nine teams feature some of the best big wave surfers who have been preparing for months for a day of high-performance tow-in surfing at one of the most iconic big wave breaks in the world Back-to-back Best Men’s Performance winner Former Best Women’s Performance winner Justine Dupont (FRA) will also return to Nazaré The TUDOR Nazaré Big Wave Challenge is a one-day specialty team that features nine two-person teams Each team member specializes in tow-in big wave surfing and will alternate between surfing and driving their jet ski The teams will be divided into three groups with each group participating in two 40-minute heats The total score of each surfer is based on their two best waves across both heats Surfline Forecast for the TUDOR Nazaré Big Wave Challenge You must be logged in to post a comment Visual kei band NAZARE have just announced their disbandment The band made the announcement earlier today across social media along with individual statements across each member’s socials A translation of the collective statement reads: Notice of NAZARE’s DisbandmentThank you very much for your continued support of NAZARE.Following our final live performance in January of this year the members have held numerous discussions and we have ultimately reached the conclusion that we have fulfilled everything we set out to express as NAZARE we are bringing all activities to a close and officially disbanding.We deeply apologize for having to deliver such disappointing news.Although our journey as NAZARE ends here we would be sincerely grateful for your continued support of each member’s future endeavors.To all the fans and everyone involved who supported us over these six years—thank you truly from the bottom of our hearts.NAZARE NAZARE were formed in 2018 by ex-DIMLIM drummer Issei Mio and Yoh previously had no experience being in a visual kei band while Uta and Issei already had several projects under their belts After a steady start, the band released their first album ‘Jingai’ in January 2019. In 2020, they dropped a split single with DEXCORE The vocalists of each band guested on the other’s track; Mio performed on DEXCORE’s ‘Collapse’ while Kagami provided vocals on NAZARE’s ‘Break it down’ the band would announce their disbandment just a few months later The band cited Mio’s mental disorders and family issues as the catalyst for the breakup Their album ‘Common Era’ dropped on August 9th They would continue to release singles through 2022 and 2023 NAZARE released what would become their final single ‘Gensou ni sakarete wa’ (‘If Bloomed in Illusion’) They would then make their overseas debut with their first tour across Latin America in October 2024 followed by the tour finale held in San Diego NAZARE officially announced their second disbandment on April 30th 2025 It remains to be seen if this is truly the end for the band There is currently no news on what the members will be pursuing from here Read on for each band member’s individual statements: NAZARE will be disbanding.We’ve done everything we could express as NAZARE and we’ve accomplished everything we wanted to do.Of course that’s thanks to the members— but above all I was able to live these six years as Mio of NAZARE.Truly each of us will walk our own path at our own pace I hope we’ll meet again someday.Wishing you happiness.Mio To everyone who supported NAZARE—As announced NAZARE has decided to disband.Thank you for supporting us over these six and a bit years.That feeling of “thank you” is mixed with“I’m sorry” for not being able to protect the place we all shared.I loved seeing your expressions and hearing your voices during our lives.You all gave me energy every time.Although we’re now going our separate ways I’d be happy if you continued to support Mio and myself.Thank you for meeting NAZAREYoh I was able to witness so many beautiful sights for not being able to protect this place.It’s not about who was at fault—Through our activities in NAZARE and what we wanted to pursue became bigger.From now on I’m sure our paths will cross again in some way.Let’s meet again I’m sorry that things ended up this way.We spent a long time thinking about what we wanted to do with NAZARE moving forward but we couldn’t come up with an answer.Without being able to find that answer we couldn’t continue doing shows or writing music I’m feeling positive and looking ahead.I think each member will now move towards their own goals I’ll also be working towards something new.To everyone who supported NAZARE— Thank you.Issei Release Date: 12/01/2024Label: unknown wordsStream: Spotify | Apple Music and website in this browser for the next time I comment Try finding what you're looking for in our search box ...or hit the homepage for the latest news updates Tell us which broken link brought you here if you really think the page you were looking for should be here © 2025 SurferToday.com | All Rights Reserved Skip to ContentEnergy Drinks All Red Bull Energy Drinks Discover Clement Roseryo and Nic von Rupp win big in Portugal Justine Dupont going large on her way to a 4th Nazare trophy Clement Roseryo on his way to victory at the Nazaré Big Wave Challenge Clement Roseyro and Nic von Rupp celebrated their shared success The pride and passion of Nic von Rupp at Nazaré could power Portugal Lucas Chianca wins Best Male Performance at TUDOR Nazaré Big Wave Challenge © World Surf League/Red Bull Content Pool Lucas Chianca, Pedro Scooby and Maya Gabeira sweep the field TUDOR Nazaré Big Wave Challenge liveWatch in awe as the world’s best big wave surfers tackle the biggest waves in the world in Nazaré, Portugal. is charging well beyond his years…and he’s gaining experience with wipeouts “The youth is starting to change,” sings the seminal mid-aughts indie stoner dorm room electronica duo if you’re not killing it by the time you hit your teens perhaps a big-wave paddle or tow session here or there at least by the time you hit double-digits you can kiss that sweet life of a pro surfing career goodbye a Belgium native residing on Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands but also getting some firsthand experience with the vicious wipeouts that come with a life of big-wave surfing We’re unable to load this content right now View directly on Instagram During the recent run of swell at Naz – which is ongoing by the way; stay tuned for more – Deraeve wiped out on a wave they motored towards shore as fast as possible but the lingering chop sent the young gun flying off the ski and back into the Portuguese washing machine and I had an amazing session,” Deraeve recounted I’m glad it happened because now I’m more confident and I know I’m more capable of surfing those big waves.” Brazilian Carlos Burle announced his retirement Here's a look at where his career is heading next Kai Lenny tows Lucas 'Chumbo' Chianca into a Nazaré bomb An extra bit from Red Bull's This Has Nothing Else series on XXL Mavericks Natxo González and his quiver of big wave weapons Enjoy big-wave surfers taking on the monstrous slabs at Nazaré. Kai Lenny competing in The Eddie Aikau Invitational at Waimea Bay in Hawaii Portugal."},"thumbnailUrl":"https://www.surfer.com/.image/c_fill,w_1538,h_974,g_faces:center/MjowMDAwMDAwMDAwMTE3NDcz/screen-shot-2024-11-29-at-7-05-30-am.png"},{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://www.surfer.com/.image/c_fill,w_1538,h_974,g_faces:center/MjowMDAwMDAwMDAwMTE3NDcz/screen-shot-2024-11-29-at-7-05-30-am.png","width":1538,"height":974,"caption":"Nic Von Rupp collides with another surfer at Nazaré Portugal."},{"@type":"ItemList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"url":""},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"url":""},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"url":""}]},{"@type":"ItemList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"url":""},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"url":""},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"url":""}]}]}Nov 29 and thinks: “I could do that.” And it looks like all those overzealous amigos recently landed in Nazaré During the kickoff swell to the season at Nazaré, Portugal – the world’s biggest gradual slope wave – which went down in the last week or so of November, the lineup was unnaturally crowded making things even more dangerous for the surfers and safety crews involved Nic Von Rupp is calling it the “most crowded Nazaré ever.” If you’ll recall, during that session, NVR and another surfer violently collided sending them both over the falls and down into the depths it perfect visual to show just how hectic things are getting at everyone’s favorite XXL mushburger “Highlights?” NVR said following the session I don’t know if I can call it a positive or negative probably the most crowded swell I’ve ever seen here at Nazaré The guy comes flying down like a bowling ball.” Hopefully next month we’re going to see some huge waves.” Stay tuned; things are just getting started at Naz a jet ski can become it’s own risk–as we see here in this gnarly clip from the impact zone at Nazaré Absolute carnage thanks the Nazaré impact zone View directly on Instagram Luckily the Brazilian duo of Daniel Rangel, aka @foamballunicorn, and Willyam Santana survived this harrowing moment at Nazaré the two were caught inside and taken by a giant foam monster as they were attempting to flee the impact zone the impact zone at Nazaré is not somewhere you want to be when the waves are massive your hope is that a ski is on the way to pull you to safety While jet skis have undoubtedly saved countless lives from heavy water they also add another risk factor seeing as how they weigh (on average) about 850 pounds Getting caught in the soup as an 850 pound object is being thrashed around just next to you is what big wave nightmares are made of it's amazing that both surfers escaped unharmed The famous Portuguese big wave spot had a quiet spell after the beginning of the season but has come roaring back to life as of the last week. Some surfers, like Tikanui Smith scored incredible waves while others may have very well received the beatings of a lifetime We'll be keeping our eyes out for more glory and carnage from Nazaré To celebrate the wave, surfers, history, and legacy, the Nazaré Alternative Sports Club is hosting the town’s first surf film festival on December 28. It’s all going down in Cine Teatro host interactive filming workshops and have public forums with noted surfers and filmers The entries are open to anyone from anywhere in the world—so long as they center around heavy water or waves of board-breaking magnitude. Filmmakers take note: the entry window closes on December 5, so upload your clips here.  we’re looking for films that showcase the raw power and beauty of these waves,” the organizers wrote in a release Here’s a brief rundown of the schedule: workshops and lectures will run from 4-9 p.m. at which point the big screen will turn on Moviegoers can expect to see five short films (up to 10 minutes long) and two medium-length movies (up to 30 minutes) Best Medium-Length Film and a work that captures the Spirit of Nazaré ​​“The festival goes beyond the waves,” the release continued. “We aim to create a platform that unites surf cinematography with local art offering an immersion into the culture of Nazaré through inspiring talks and art exhibitions that reflect the passion and spirit of our community.” Lucas “Chumbo” Chianca at the 2024 Tudor Nazare Big Wave Challenge The Tudor Nazare Big Wave Challenge has officially been given the green light to potentially run on Tuesday The final call will be made  tomorrow at 9:30 a.m Surfline reports that “a WNW swell will build through Tuesday from a strong but not ideally located storm in the North Atlantic over the past couple of days the surf will build mid to late morning and be strongest during the afternoon.” “Wave face size should hit 25-40 feet through the afternoon with a mix of walls and occasional peaks thanks to the more westerly swell direction,” continues the forecast “Offshore S to SE wind is expected through the day.” the Nazare Big Wave Challenge will feature 18 surfers in the draw (nine teams of two) For those not in Europe they have 24 hours to load up the board bag and hop a flight to Portgual The format allows for each team to get two 40-minute heats A surfer’s final scoreline is decided by the two highest scoring rides from either heat And because this is big-wave surfing and everything’s bigger instead of a perfect score being a 10-point ride like on the Championship Tour the max score possible per wave at Nazare is 30 points Five-time Nazare winner Lucas “Chumbo” Chianca and teammate Pedro Scooby might be considered the headliners but there's plenty of talent in the draw including Nazare pioneer and “100-Foot Wave” star Garrett McNamara who’s currently in the draw with teammate Andrew Cotton Stay tuned as things develop from the world's biggest rideable wave chaotic session; Nic Von Rupp surfs monsters But Nazaré, Portugal’s premier heavy-water gauntlet, has been slightly MIA – aside from a season-opener session, which was bursting with crowds that brought to mind the 1995 film, Waterworld which was utterly humungous and accompanied by gale force winds tempted fate in search of glory and motored out to have a crack at what Rupp called the “biggest swell in years.” Check out his video recap below “Some of the roughest seas I’ve ever seen,” NVR says post session It’s not a guarantee to survive these conditions A couple more storms are heading for western Europe and these have the potential to produce longer period check out the raw footage from the most recent session below Kurtz shares just what it’s like to put your life on the line doing something you love Florida’s Oliver Kurtz isn’t one to hold back So, while it’s no surprise to see Kurtz charging heavy waves, it was still a shock when a clip surfaced last week of Kurtz flying down the face of a 50+ foot monster at Nazaré. Scary slabs are one thing on the heels of the worst winter of waves in recent memory for the entire east coast and straight off the plane after a week of socializing in London View directly on Instagram SURFER: From surfing in flat Florida to towing at XXL Nazaré: How did that all happen?Oliver Kurtz: I was actually in London visiting a friend. I thought maybe I’d surf in Newquay while I was there, so I brought a wetsuit with me, and I was planning to pick up some JS boards from Down The Line perfect swell for Nazaré.” My friend Max Doucet lives in Portugal so I just flew into Lisbon and he picked me up and just showed up at the harbor without ever seeing the waves Buying booties from a local surf shop on your way to surf 50-foot Nazaré without ever looking at it and when I showed up Eric had changed my time slot so basically I suited up straightaway and headed out there with him I had too much adrenaline to even notice them I know it sounds crazy but I don't think I really thought about it much I didn't even call my Mom to let her know I was in Portugal [laughs] It’s interesting because I’m in this place where I’m not surfing professionally so it was more about exploration and just pushing myself Coming around the corner from the harbor and seeing the waves for the first time but that’s why I train every day — it’s the reason that I try to stay healthy and all of that it’s honestly so scary that it's not even scary it’s so scary that you can’t even think anymore It’s more just survival instincts taking over I’m not sure if anything in the world can compare to it The bummer about it all is that I kind of blacked out for most of the session I think I was just operating on pure adrenaline and when you’re in that state you can’t really remember anything So you don’t remember how that 60-footer you caught looked or felt The only thing I remember from that wave is kicking out out of it at the end looking back and seeing Eric on the ski coming to get me and before I whipped in I was starting to feel super exhausted So I do remember thinking that if I fell I was going to drown [laughs] the possibility of drowning in that situation is actually really View directly on Instagram It took me a couple of days to process everything I think I just had that crazy serotonin depletion A couple of days I ago I was flying out here [California], and on my flight over there was a guy sitting next to me watching the 100 Foot Wave doc on HBO and he was just so intrigued by it It's funny because I didn't say anything I just surfed that wave a couple of weeks ago [laughs] Any sketch moments that day?After my third or fourth wave, I was getting back onto the ski in the impact zone. It was one of those very precise times that if you made a mistake or didn't get on the ski at that exact right time, Eric and myself were getting cleaned up. Just like what happened in that clip all over Instagram today.   and I hit my face pretty bad on my board and it went through my chin So I was just gushing blood out my face for most of the session The adrenaline was pumping so much I didn't even know how bad it was or is more Nazaré in your future?Last year California got that really good swell in San Diego That was the first time in a while that I wanted to push myself as hard as I possibly could I've had this… death wish is the wrong word but I just want to see how hard I can push things Something on my agenda this year is I really want to get to Fiji and surf a really Tikanui Smith was talking about how Nazaré is scarier than surfing Code Red Teahupo’o The world of big wave surfing – particularly when it comes to competition – has undergone a tectonic shift (read: an Orwellian disappearance) over the last few years and seasons What has filled the heavy water void – aside from one BWT event at Nazaré for the 2024/2025 season, the (potential) running of the Rip Curl Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational, and other specialty events like the recent SURFER Big Wave Challenge – is a hodgepodge of individual The latest being the Big Wave Grand Prix (BWGP), which, per a press release “An innovative live streaming platform dedicated to big wave surfing launching in Nazaré for the 2024/2025 season the BWGP will follow the daily achievements of the world’s top big wave surfers throughout the entire season “With the participation of 30 surfers from 13 countries the BWGP offers a unique experience through blogs Fans will get an up-close look at the daily action of the surfers and the photographers and videographers who capture it These professionals are key to promoting big wave surfing and the BWGP recognizes their importance.” Just recently, the WSL announced the cancelation of the Jaws Challenge for the 2024/2025 season Maui big wave surfer and oceanic multi-hyphenate It has been five years since it has run so I’ve gotten used to not doing it It’s too bad that Big Wave Surfing no longer has a tour or multiple big events During the ‘Tour’ era [it] was so much fun.” the WSL’s Big Wave Tour is still planning an event in Portugal for the BWT with a contest window spanning from November 1st through March 31st be the future of big wave surfing competition 2024 4:14 PM ESTLooks like things are getting a li’l busy It’s the start of the season in the North Atlantic and particularly at the current belle of big-wave surfing’s ball – Nazaré Portugal – and word on the street is that this year could be a banger And the anxious anticipation of what will go down in the months to come has begun View directly on Instagram Like the above, showing Nazaré mainstay, Nic Von Rupp, along with an underground charger by the name of Gabriel and colliding before being jammed into Neptune’s fists of fury both being pitched over the lip in synchronized “Traffic was hectic at Nazare this afternoon, i wasn’t sure if it was the @allblacks tackling me or @biel__z12 paddling from 3rd reef nazare Glad both of us came out of this without a scratch [prayer hands emojis].” View directly on Instagram Showing a different angle via drone, courtesy of Baptiste Chazelle Here’s what went down: NVR was whipped into the wave first paddling in further on the outside and a little bit down the shoulder Perhaps Gabriel gets tripped up by NVR’s tow rope “Wipeout of the year,” speculated big-wave surf filmer extraordinaire, Tim Bonython Last year, during the SURFER Big Wave Challenge, the Wipeout of the Year honor went to Trevor Carlson for skipping like a stone down the face of a Maverick’s bomb Is this year’s winner already decided with this coordinated chaos Check the official results table on the WSL website The team of Nic Von Rupp (PRT), the renowned Portuguese big wave surfer, won the "Best Team Performance" category, securing a home victory after dedicating himself to intense training throughout this big wave season in Nazaré. His French teammate Clement Roseyro (FRA) also delivered an outstanding performance winning the "Best Male Performance" category The Brazilian duo Lucas Chianca "Chumbo" (BRA) and Pedro Scooby (BRA) secured second place in the "Best Team Performance" category Lucas "Chumbo" was somewhat disappointed with the second-place finish as he is always a strong contender for the top spot and knows Nazaré’s waves exceptionally well In the women's division, Justine Dupont (FRA) won the "Best Female Performance" category This event was more than just a competition; it was a celebration of the human spirit in the face of the ocean’s immense power Nazaré’s cliffs and the iconic lighthouse became the stage for an unforgettable showcase of courage and skill Watch the WSL post-event and awards ceremony video: Watch the high-definition RAW video with a view identical to that of the audience at the event The Tudor Nazaré Big Wave Challenge 2024/2025 reaffirmed Nazaré’s status as one of the most challenging and breathtaking stages in the world of surfing. The organization reported that more than 50,000 people attended the event The competition provided intense adrenaline-filled moments leaving behind a legacy of inspiring stories and strengthening the deep connection between surfers and Nazaré’s majestic waves This event undoubtedly enters history as one of the most memorable episodes in big wave surfing While the waves weren’t always giant they reached impressive heights several times who erupted in unison as surfers raced down towering walls of water Their cheers echoed all the way to the surfers out at sea The Tudor Nazaré Big Wave Challenge is expected to return in the winter season 2025/2026 (from October to March). Follow nazarewaves.com for future updates and subscribe to email alerts to be the first to know Find out more about the annual surfing competition in Nazaré and its history Check out some panoramic photos from the event below Nic Von Rupp Surfs Possible 98-Footer.The debate for “largest wave ever surfed” rages on it’s an absolute behemoth from (where else?) Nazaré especially amongst those of the big wave persuasion feels a little something like this: A gaggle of prepubescent boys huddled together in the middle school bathroom and passing around a measuring tape to compare size could care less about the current craze of big wave world records others are determined to accurately calculate these liquid mountains…and to crown a new champion Now, Nic Von Rupp has entered the chat with a recent ride during Storm Herminia, which unleashed massive, chaotic seas upon Nazaré, Portugal and, according to his team, it was the biggest wave of the Portuguese surfer’s life – and potentially the biggest wave ever surfed View directly on Instagram “Did Nic von Rupp just quietly break the world record for biggest wave surfed?” the press release from Tudor Watches begins “Nic Von Rupp just surfed the biggest wave of his career—and quite possibly the biggest wave anywhere “Last week waves reached their absolute peak—some clocking in at 30 meters [98 feet] at the Hermínia swell in particular… Two multi-parametric buoys provide real-time data transmission to the Instituto Hidrográfico of Portugal and that day they measured the biggest waves ever The data is still being processed; two swells that Nic surfed could very well be among the biggest ever surfed at Nazaré—or even in the world The sheer size of the swell made this a pivotal moment for Nic Von Rupp Years and years of facing massive swells and mental preparation led to this very moment when he had the opportunity to ride the biggest wave of his life.” including Lucas “Chumbo” Chianca – have potentially smashed that the debate for biggest wave rages on – for better or worse and add his name to the list of greats who've surfed the 11 biggest waves ever.More TUDOR Nazaré Big Wave Challenge content Kai Lenny tackles a monster wave in Nazaré Justine Dupont surfs the greatest wave of her life in Nazaré Carlos Burle and Rodrigo Koxa at Praia do Norte Garrett McNamara recalls the email that preempted his first trip to Nazaré and altered the course of his life © Peter Hamblin/Red Bull Content Pool © Frank Quirarte/Red Bull Content Pool After two years Maya Gabeira overcomes her pains Justine Dupont surfs the greatest wave of her life in Nazaré, Portugal © Rafael G. Riancho / Red Bull Content Pool Aaron Gold rides the biggest wave ever paddled, at Peahi, Maui Laura Enever and her 44ft Outer Reef record breaker Donavon Frankenreiter Cranks Up the Volume on Surf History Watch: Psycho Slab Cape Solander Goes Bonkers (Video) Humble Hawaiian Charger Wins $10K & Wave of the Winter on Surreal Pipeline Chamber  Former World Title Threat Wins Burleigh Trials, Will Surf in Gold Coast Pro The Gnarliest Bodyboarder You’ve Never Heard of (Video) three's a crowd...opening day at Nazaré."},"thumbnailUrl":"https://www.surfer.com/.image/c_fill,w_2000,h_1334,g_faces:center/MjowMDAwMDAwMDAwMTE3ODA5/4-nazare_rcc02758_ryanchachicraig_241126.jpg"},{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://www.surfer.com/.image/c_fill,w_2000,h_1334,g_faces:center/MjowMDAwMDAwMDAwMTE3ODA5/4-nazare_rcc02758_ryanchachicraig_241126.jpg","width":2000,"height":1334,"caption":"Two's a party 2024 6:05 PM ESTThere’s a scene in Waterworld in which Dennis Hopper and his marauding goons unleash an attack on the anti-hero searing the scene collectively in the brains of anyone who’s seen it “looks like Waterworld!” has entered the lexicon “I parked a couple miles away and weaved my way through the crowded streets. People from all over the world were chatting in their native languages, enthusiasm radiating in the air the closer I walked to the sea. The onshore morning winds had ripped apart the otherwise clean swell but that didn’t stop the lineup from being an absolute zoo I was truly taken aback at first glance – scenes from the movie Waterworld flashed in my memory as I counted 40 jet skis in the lineup “Unlike other big wave breaks like Jaws or Maverick’s where there is a defined channel and therefore a bit of order amongst the PWCs Nazaré was some form of organized chaos with people weaving around each other while trying to hunt down the tallest peaks Crowds of people with iPhones in hand lined the dramatic cliff edge which creates a unique vantage point for such powerful waves The sheer magnitude and dangers of the swells dwindle when you’re this high up my curiosity led me more towards shooting the crowds and photographing with my drone then focusing in on the individual rides themselves.” For more visuals from the hectic season-opener at Naz All photos and captions courtesy of Ryan “Chachi” Craig Kamiel Deraeve took the heaviest beating of his life at Nazaré but he’s got a lot of life left to top it but a recent session at massive Nazaré has opinions divided who is from Belgium but lives in Fuerteventura (part of the Canary Islands) learned a valuable lesson about Mother Nature’s strength a man who has seen far more than his fair share of heavy water wipeouts was on the scene when Deraeve ran into trouble “What a crazy situation it was,” Bonython wrote. “@kamielderaeve fell on a wave right in front of us Antonio Cardoso went to pick him up after getting the biggest flogging.” the first pickup didn’t work out so well “Kamiel missed the pick up (not quite gabbing the sled) and then went on to get five bombs on the head,” Bonython went on “and he tells us he’s glad he went through it… as Garrett [McNamara] says then maybe you need to pack it in and do something else.'” tow teams were in the water and safety was top of mind no amount of preparation can prepare you for every situation Deraeve hasn’t had enough time to prepare for everything — let alone a massive beating at massive Nazaré The only way to truly experience something like that “I had an amazing session,” Deraeve said after he was safely back on solid ground “I got one of my biggest waves and also one of my biggest poundings I had a huge wave on the head and the pounding was insane because now I’m more confident and I know I’m capable of surfing those big waves.” In a moment reminiscent of the time Maya Gabeira nearly died at Nazaré the internet is divided over whether he should have been out there in the first place “Until the day he doesn’t make it,” wrote Francisco Froes “What happens if the kid doesn’t make the next pick up I’m sorry but a 12-year-old out there in these conditions What happens to the parents if this kid dies out there?” (Note that Deraeve’s Instagram pages says he’s 13.) He was far from the only one voicing concern somebody thought that was a good idea?” wrote another The skill of the ski pilots is impressive in the clip “Forget the grom who missed the sled twice The ski driver’s skill is outrageous Some of the most calculated shit you will ever see.” Whether or not Deraeve should have been out there is not for me to say or not It’s clear that he’s got the bug and I have no doubt that we will see him out there again… and soon “Today, he charged some of the biggest waves of his life — and took the heaviest beating yet,” Above Creators wrote on Instagram alongside an interview with the Deraeve “The next generation of big wave surfers is here A post shared by Tim Bonython’s SwellChasers (@tim_bonython_swellchasers) surfing in the Swatch Nines event and taking Women’s Surfer of the Year honors at the SURFER Big Wave Challenge Of all the moments that garnered applause and whistles from the peanut gallery at Waco Surf during the Swatch Nines event in October none made quite the impression as what Laura Enever tried one hot afternoon Laura successfully leaped off her surfboard on a right and dove headfirst into a massive inflatable floating ball The sound of her body slamming the plastic could be heard across the facility “Please show me the clip of that,” she asked a filmer her vlog above compiled three consecutive trips in one it’s off to Las Vegas to party with friends (which include the now world-famous Paul Fisher) Then she went to Waco Surf for the inaugural Swatch Nines event in the United States which essentially let the surfers try countless airs with a few pool toys and flares thrown in the mix Laura left Texas ahead of schedule so she could get to another party a few thousand miles away: the 2024 SURFER Big Wave Challenge awards in Nazaré She had two nominations for women’s ride of the year (both tow-in bombs at Teahupo’o and Shipsern Bluff) and a surfer of the year crown up for grabs panic-buying heels and makeup and driving through those narrow streets only Europe has Laura deservedly was awarded the Women’s Surfer of the Year and far out it’s an epic place,” Laura said on stage “I feel like if someone told me there was a party on the cliff I would have come way sooner than this.” Storm Éowyn delivered incredible waves to the legendary coast of Nazaré When winter in Portugal rolls around, all eyes turn to Nazaré. Portugal, as you know, has plenty of other amazing waves — for my money, it’s one of the best surf trips a person can do — but Nazaré has a certain something that all those other waves don’t It’s so big when the outside is working that it’s more akin to snowboarding than it is to surfing “Storm Éowyn delivered incredible waves to the legendary coast of Nazaré, Portugal, and I was lucky enough to capture it all from above,” wrote Alvaro Bajo “This drone footage showcases the raw power of the ocean and the bravery of the surfers who dared to take on these massive waves.” It’s still relatively early in the big wave season at Nazaré stand on the cliff as surfers get towed into 90-foot waves The event draws elite surfers from across the globe to the treacherous waves of Praia do Norte in Nazaré This invite-only event festures the absolute best surfers in the world The 2024/2025 competition in this prestigious event window runs from November 1 What's unique about this event is subjuctive nature surrounding the actual day it takes place Event organizers diligently monitor ocean conditions to identify the optimal day for the competition This is something that not only ensures each year's wave will be the best it can be but also bolsters the safety of the participants a "Yellow Alert" is issued 72 hours in advance when forecasts predict wave faces of at least 25 feet along with tidal and favorable wind conditions They endeavor to find the best big wave day with acceptable safety conditions This alert is a beacon for fans and participants to begin preparing for the big event teams comprised of two riders take turns surfing or piloting the jet ski tow-in vehicle The competition features not only the individual skill of each surfer but showcases their ability to work together as a team Each team rides in two of the six 40-minute heats The two best waves for each surfer are recorded The highest-scoring wave receives double points which adds a bit of strategic depth and luck to the competition Awards are presented in three categories: Best Male Performance The TUDOR Nazaré Big Wave Challenge is invitation-only, and only the best surf teams in the world get such invites. The World Surf League (WSL) handles the selection process with invited teams not only showing excellent prowess and skill but a penchant for evolving the sport of Big Wave Surfing and overall contributions to the sport of every surfer before making their selections This selection process makes this event unique These measures are necessary considering how dangerous the extreme waves at Nazaré truly are Live broadcasts are available through official WSL channels and affiliates allowing audiences worldwide to experience the event Unlocked: Jai Glindeman’s Stab Edit Of The Year Entry, ‘Free Flow’ Stab Interview: WSL CEO Ryan Crosby On The Tectonic Shifts Coming To The Championship Tour Gruelling Day At Bells: Six Eliminated, Ramzi Boukhiam’s Season In Jeopardy After Injury Isabella Nichols + Jack Robinson Win Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach The Electric Acid Surfboard Test With Dave Rastovich, Episode 4 “In retrospect, I probably should have looked behind me.” “It was a very scary situation. I’ve never experienced something so extreme,” said the surfer involved in the latest Nazaré jetski fiasco, Brazil’s Will Santana, to Surfline. Two days ago, Will and ski driver Daniel Rangel were running duos at the Naz on a rising, sub-perfect, bump-stricken swell when Will went down on the first set wave of the day. “I saw the whole wave as he went through the bumps on that right,” Daniel explained. “It was a pretty big wave, rising swell, it was actually probably the first solid set over 35 – 40 foot face of the day. He fell in a really tough spot.” “Yeah, I couldn’t do a very good line and ended up taking a wipeout,” Will corroborated. “Being hit full-on by the wave and I stayed underwater for a long time. I knew I was in a very dangerous situation.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Surfline (@surfline) Like the final climax of a traditional Three-Act thriller our protagonists were faced with an even bigger issue But I got so focused on trying to find him that I should’ve looked back and seen the wave so close to us,” Daniel explained “But I hesitated because of all the white wash I started being pulled back up by the wave I knew that it would be better for us to get swallowed Nazaré continues to make a name for itself as the pejorative Mount Everest of surfing Despite the pungent odor surrounding the world’s “tallest wave” (Nazaré was once just a quaint fishing village after all) it’d be unfair to overlook the devoted crew of local Portuguese surfers who have been sherpa-ing this place for years The Brazilian duo closed up their rendezvous like this we’re still in good shape and we’re still here and we’re ready for another one *high-five each other*.” A strong offshore wind provided great surfing conditions and plenty of big waves for all the elite competitors The dynamic weather forced the competitors into massive waves and steep swells – all to the delight of the spectators. Two French surfers, at the top of their games, peaked during competition at the2025 TUDOR Nazaré Big Wave Challenge resulting in tremendous wins for both individuals Elite surfers from all around the world gathered together in Praia do Norte Clement Roseyro and Justine Dupont were among the group of athletes who tackled mammoth-sized waves battling the strong winds with each thriling ride Roseyro expressed gratitude for skilled surfer Nic von Rupp Lucas Chianca is ranked No. 2 for the men with an individual total of 18.67 and Ben Larg is at No. 3 with a total of 16.63. "He taught me a lot, especially about driving the jet ski, and we push each other to perform," he said, as reported by Surfer Today also clinched a monumental win at the competition Having received an individual total of 19.06 Dupont was understandably overcome with emotion As an athlete who is balancing motherhood and her love for her sport A post shared by Fédération Française Surf (@surfingfrance) "Now, after the baby, I'm more worried about my child, whether they are sleeping or eating," she said "At least it takes my mind off the fear We are a family team; we understand each other and I'm really happy to be back here to perform." The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only Betting and gambling content is intended for individuals 21+ and is based on individual commentators' opinions and not that of Sports Illustrated or its affiliates All picks and predictions are suggestions only and not a guarantee of success or profit If you or someone you know has a gambling problem crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Big Wave Grand Prix (BWGP) sponsored by REFIX (Siete Cuarenta Natural S.L.) is an innovative live streaming platform dedicated to big wave surfing With the participation of 30 surfers from 13 countries The BWGP would like to express its gratitude to the photographers and videographers for their dedication when they work under extreme weather conditions a specialized team will ensure the surfers’ safety on jet skis emphasizes: “The public needs to understand the great respect we owe to photographers and videographers we wouldn’t be able to enjoy the amazing images we see on social media.” Among the featured collaborators are Mexican photographer María Fernanda one of the few women in the world capturing big waves a filmmaker following big wave surfer Lucas Chumbo who highlights women’s stories in big wave surfing an American videographer dedicated to filming Nazaré’s giant waves The 2024/2025 season promises to be special filled with exclusive content and exciting behind-the-scenes footage Press contact:Katarina Patek Ghidirmic | BRAND COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATORmarketing@bigwavegrandprix.com Photos accompanying this announcement are available at Kauli Vaast was the highlight of the session but Kanoa [Igarashi] found some crazy waves While this 11-minute clip gives the impression that Nazaré (at this size) is a perfect Willard reckons that’s actually far from the case “A couple of the sets that came through were pushing tow size and actually broke way outside and washed everyone in,” Willard continues Nazaré is potentially the best beachbreak in Europe From 1-foot to 100 foot it’s just wedging perfection No other sand bottomed spot has the range of Nazaré no swell is too big for Nazaré’s outside canyon sandbars to handle And where else can you also score Backdoor-esque slabs over sand We explain why the alleged biggest waves ever ridden aren’t quite as impressive as they look LLC and respective content providers to this website may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website It’s back, like a cold sore. Nazaré Canyon The wave that sometimes isn’t a wave because a wave has a crest and a trough “Biggest wave ever ridden?” “The 100-foot wave?” “I’m Ron Burgandy?” Those question marks express doubt It’s like a surfers version of a cheap philosophical question: If a wave breaks without a bottom It stirs up a bigger question of how we measure waves and the inevitable pitfalls flaws we run into in the process A wave is measured as the vertical distance between the crest and the trough But when you’re looking at a wave straight on The wave looks 100 feet because we’re seeing about 100 feet of face in the image which illustrates a virtual cross cut of this wave like Alain Rioui's wave at Belharra below you can easily draw a vertical line from the bottom of the wave to meet a horizontal line drawn from the crest of the wave and measure the height that way But that becomes impossible when you’re looking at a wave photographed from the front because even if you found the bottom of the wave (a subjective location in most photographs) you can’t draw the horizontal line from the crest of the wave toward the bottom because you’d be entering a third dimension that a 2D photograph doesn’t allow 1) Nazaré is a place where giant swells are ridden but these aren’t 100-foot waves.2) The wave is dangerous as we saw with Maya’s broken ankle-to near drowning-combo.3) We need a better way to measure waves especially when they’re photographed from the front If anyone is knows of any special technology software or math that is available that might help with something like this Leave your suggestions in the comments section below or email me at taylor@surfingmagazine.com It’s been a big year for Nazaré. Of course, that’s always true to some degree for Praia do Norte, being home to the biggest wave in the world. However, this January saw one of the biggest swells in years the season was significant not only in the raw size of the mountains of water bearing down on Portugal but also the achievements of the surfers riding them To celebrate all that, Portuguese big wave charger (and Nazaré regular) Nic von Rupp just posted a video (filmed by Tim Bonython and Eduardo Vento) with an eye-catching slow motion ode to just what a crazy year it’s been “Nazaré just had its biggest season in history,” he explained in the caption and the Mountains of the Sea team was there for every moment – training nonstop and claiming the championship.” and more will be decided at the 2024 SURFER Big Wave Challenge in Nazaré Here’s how you can watch the awards this weekend “It’s important in that this is the first fresh investment in big wave surfing in a long time,” Bill Sharp said of the minted $150K prize purse that’ll be handed out this weekend to a select crew of big wave surfers for putting in the hard yards in the second rendition of the Big Wave Challenge that “none of these big wave surfers are doing it to win the prize money,” Sharp continued and then they have their own deals going on But to get a trophy and another chunk of cash it’s more about the opportunity for the big wave surfers and the content creators to be acknowledged for excellence in every category.” For several months Bill and SURFER staff have reviewed dozens of rides from across the planet ridden from the summer of 2023 through the summer of 2024 We saw massive tubes caught solely with arm strength Several women towed into the biggest peaks of their lives Others got on a plane and scored again and again several surfers and moments stood above the rest the SURFER Big Wave Challenge will bestow the annual awards with a live show in Nazaré Nazaré in the early season each year is totally reminiscent of the North Shore in the 1970s and ’80s when Oahu was the center of the surfing world each winter,” Sharp explained earlier this year That camaraderie is what’s happening in Nazaré now.” and Young Gun are up for grabs in Portugal There’s a men’s and women’s division for the first four categories Tune in this weekend to find out the champs The show will be streamed live on Surfer.com Time and day will depend on your time zone There’s no wave in the world quite like Nazaré Even among the world’s most dangerous big waves it’s a special case – a beach break that is capable of spitting out waves that are not only the biggest in the world On top of that, The Nazaré Big Wave Challenge is an event as unique as the break it takes place at with competitors broken into two-man teams who alternate between surfing and driving a jet-ski Three groups of these teams then compete in two 40-minute-heats Their total scores are based on the two best waves across both heats with the highest-scoring wave counting for double points surfers are recognized across three categories: Men’s Best Performance The event only runs if conditions produce consistent waves with a minimum of 25 feet on the face. With on oncoming large NW swell and favorable wind conditions, it looks like those conditions are on the way. As a result, the WSL Commissioner’s office announced they have put the event on Yellow Alert meaning it is on standby for a potential run day on Tuesday The Nazaré Big Wave Challenge is wrapped, and it was an event to remember. With waves in the 25-35 foot range, Praia do Norte in Nazaré Some of the world’s best big wave surfers were there to showcase their talents in consistent conditions that served up exciting heats from start to finish the wind added an extra layer of difficulty “The strong offshore wind made it more challenging with competitors having to navigate huge bumps while traveling full speed down the massive faces,” the WSL wrote in a press release “As the swell started to build throughout the afternoon the teams took their performance to the next level by treating the crowds to a spectacular show of skill and commitment that Praia do Norte demands.” Performers of note were Clement Roseyro and Justine Dupont both of whom earned Best Performance awards was the runner-up in the Performance category while newcomer Ben Larg — to this particular event — landed on the podium after Garrett McNamara wasn’t able to compete and Larg stepped into his spot with Andrew Cotton and her experience with partner Eric Rebiere showed Nic von Rupp and Clemente Roseyro won the Best Team Performance award after taking an early lead in the first heat Roseyro used von Rupp’s towing skill to unleash his talents on the huge faces Nic was pushing the limits even harder than he usually does A few heavy wipeouts didn’t dissuade him from leaving everything on the field but I pushed really hard,” von Rupp reflected We’re stoked Clement got two good scores today to get on top of the leaderboard.” Full results can be found at WorldSurfLeague.com Brazilian Big Wave Skimboarder Lucas Fink Has 6 Critical TipsHow to prep for Nazaré straight from someone who has done it (without fins) Towing into the monstrous waves of Nazaré isn't for everyone. The Portuguese beach break boasts 7 of the 10 biggest surfed waves ever recorded As if surfing the wave wasn't already crazy enough Brazilian professional skimboarder Lucas Fink decided to give it a go on a skimboard — finless Fink made a name for himself by fearlessly towing into Nazaré giants Now he's earned his stripes and has a couple of seasons under his belt He's learned a few tricks of the trade I caught up with Lucas to understand what it's like to prepare for a Nazaré season and hear what advice he would give to those who are looking to break into one of the world's most dangerous lineups Lucas: Know what you are getting yourself into you may get out there and be in for a shock It’s just a reality check when you arrive there YouTube videos don’t do justice. You have to go out there on a really big day and see it from the cliff with your own eyes. Once you see it from the cliff I would recommend hitting up Nazaré Water Fun They can take you in the water so you can see the waves up close and personal Then you can really see what you are getting yourself into Setting up all of the logistics was very important for me to get connected with the wave If the waves get a little bigger you might need a second Jet Ski with another driver to keep you safe You might need a specific board for a certain day and the environment was very useful for me View directly on Instagram there are a lot of people surfing out there at once When it comes to preparation, not just for Nazaré, but for all big wave surfing, you shouldn’t be just aiming to surf. Towing is a team sport with the Jet Ski driver and the surfer. Usually, they will change positions, so both people need to know how to surf and drive If you are part of a team you can split the costs and save money as opposed to hiring people to do all the services for you If you become a good driver it will be way easier to mix up between teams Get ready because it’s expensive — the maintenance You definitely need to have a good budget to chase big waves Follow Garrett McNamara and a group of the world's best big wave surfers as they descend on Nazaré to catch the biggest swell of the.. It’s one thing to commit yourself to a particular wave, it’s another to commit to the most tempestuous beachbreak on Earth. Vinicius dos Santos was born in Florianópolis, Brazil, but now calls Nazaré home Unlike most surfers who flock to the wave every winter dos Santos first opted to try the wave by hand “In the first three years I could only paddle,” he wrote on social media “Little by little I met the Nazaré crew and I got a few opportunities to go tow-in with some of the top surfers including (Lucas) Chumbo and (Rodrigo) Koxa I’m grateful to the people who supported my surf journey I’m truly a soul surfer and I got all the way here moved by passion for the ocean.” View directly on Instagram Wielding a gun between those shifty peaks is demanding to say the least. But in 2021 he received two nominations for Biggest Paddle and Ride of the Year in the Red Bull Big Wave Awards for landing this ludicrous airdrop from Nazaré’s apex. His trials and tribulations were shown in the documentary Vinicius which played in Ericeira’s Portuguese Surf Film Festival and the Noosa Surf Film Festival Unlocked: Jai Glindeman’s Stab Edit Of The Year Entry Ramzi Boukhiam’s Season In Jeopardy After Injury The Electric Acid Surfboard Test With Dave Rastovich Justine Dupont and 19% of the field claim victory at Tudor Big Wave Challenge you can take an organized tour of Portugal.  a bus will cart you and a handful of other dying individuals around the nation for a week You’ll listen to fado in Lisbon And admire the world’s biggest wave* at Nazaré.  Understanding that Nazaré is a stop on tours like this is fundamental in understanding the Tudor Nazaré Big Wave Challenge As a ghost of the WSL’s formerly global big wave tour Naz lingers as an annual tow-only event funded by a Swiss watch company and a bunch of other companies that couldn’t give a fuck about Noa Deane’s new film.  Eighteen invitees were split into nine teams of two After 4-and-half hours and enough fuel burned to make Taylor Swift blush Awards would also be given out for the best male and female performers of the day.  Now, the essential question for a big wave event: How big was it I noticed a peak to the north churning out what looked like the day’s most impressive waves I knew the swell was quite west today (by PT standards I knew you needed some west to make the canyon do its thing And I wondered if the swell was so west that the canyon effect generated bigger teepees down the beach than out in front of the cliff.  I opened the compass app on my phone to better understand where this swell was coming from. And I noticed that my elevation on the cliff was 104 feet above sea level Prove to me that one is legitimately as tall as the cliff and I’ll buy you all the Guinness you want.  This year, Nic Von Rupp and Clement Roseyro’s team won. Clement, a former World Longboard Tour competitor, won the men’s best performer (on a board made from recycled airplane parts no less) while Justine Dupont — who gave birth to a son just over a year ago — won the women’s All up, it was semi-fun to watch — at least from the cliff with a beer in your hand. Still my favorite moment came at the end of the day And the lineup was completely empty. Normally conditions like this would see 50+ skis out I was surprised that somebody whose invite got lost in the mail didn’t give it a crack.  it felt like an era of Nazaré I never knew Before a local bodyboarder sent an email to Garret fucking McNamara and changed the entire dynamic of a foggy little town and bizarrely created a strange sect of surfing along the way.  People really do devote their lives to doing this well it is an impressive thing to do. But also it’s OK for both those statements to be true and still result in you well and truly not giving a fuck Between January 25 and 30, 2025, Nazaré witnessed extreme wave conditions due to Storm Hermínia. The forecasts were promising, and we promptly sent email alerts via our alert system, as well as published updates in the alerts section of the website Although forecasts fluctuated (sometimes very strong we updated the information whenever possible The extreme waves at the end of January were confirmed and did not disappoint highlighting waves that fill the Nazaré landscape Check the photo dates in the upper right corner (click to enlarge) The giant waves started arriving on January 25 with an impressive surf session but the spectacle of nature's power was incredible On January 28, the swell reached its peak, as shown in the images and videos from that day. Strong winds made it even more challenging for surfers, with only a few daring to enter the ocean. Watch Above Creators' video showcasing the extreme power of the swell. And also check out the Surfing Visions video focusing more on the power and beauty of the Nazaré waves during this very strong swell Adverse conditions led Nic Von Rupp to break his teeth during this period. Check out his post on Instagram the wind shifted to a more favorable direction Watch Nic Von Rupp's incredible January 30 report with a unique sea-level perspective at minute 6 Check out another raw video from January 30 featuring spectacular footage, including a terrifying wipeout and even kitesurfing on giant waves. Watch it here During these days, the Above Creators project also created an interesting video about tourists visiting Nazaré and what motivates them to come. Watch their responses from visitors around the world In early February 2025, a new powerful swell arrived in Nazaré, exceeding expectations. With less storm activity, it allowed for impressive surf sessions between February 2 and 5. Watch the February 3 surf session Big wave surfer Maya Gabeira, record holder for the largest wave surfed by a woman (22.4 meters), announced her retirement. Watch the video where she makes the announcement including that unforgettable day when she was left floating unconscious after a giant wipeout Meanwhile, the documentary series "100 Foot Wave", which follows the quest to surf a 30-meter wave in Nazaré, has announced its third season for spring 2025 Forecasts for February 2025 suggest more giant waves in Nazaré. Stay updated with alerts on our website and subscribe to email alerts See below the webcam photos capturing the giant waves of late January 2025 allowing you to observe the wave evolution throughout January 28 (click to enlarge) nominees and local Nazare surfers mug it up Lights, camera, action, surf celebrities. On Saturday, October 19, a literal who's who of big-wave surfing strode up to Cine Teatro in the heart of Nazare, Portugal, to gather for the 2024 SURFER Big Wave Challenge it was a colorful cast of characters all in one place all the beautiful people showed up with big And to answer the reoccurring question of why a blue carpet and not a red carpet this party was for those folks that are a bit more blue minded With the colorful lights and on-point event design set against the backdrop of an ancient fishing village You can dig into the complete results from the awards here. And if you're looking for something to watch, tune into the complete live show here keep scrolling for 20 of our favorite photos from a very fine night in what's quickly becoming the capital of the big-wave world Most waves have been around since long before surfers even existed Many of them will still be there long after we’re gone and of course our own pursuits in the water Tunnel vision can turn surf breaks into just a venue in which to practice our hobby or one also can’t help but take a step back every once in a while just to marvel at the vast scale of even the smallest corner of the ocean In the case of extreme surf videographer Tim Bonython “Nazare is principally a small fishing village that became world famous for its big waves and the people that ride them,” wrote Bonython in the caption “This edit is not about the surfers but the beauty in the power of these incredible monster waves When the ocean pushes out of the Nazare canyon to create the incredible cinematic moments this video is (a tribute to) the beauty and the power shot on one of the biggest swells to hit Nazare this winter season.”