Getty Image / David Ramos
The world’s best big wave surfers were put on notice that the 2024 Tudor Nazare Big Wave Challenge would be on come Monday morning and when the morning rolled around the WSL announced it was a ‘go’. The event had a window from November 1, 2023 to March 31, 2024 and with an epic swell hitting Portugal this week the conditions were perfect and the event move forward.
Nazare, a fishing village in Portugal roughly halfway between Lisbon and Porto is home to the largest surfable waves on planet earth. Each time a world record is set for the biggest wave ever surfed it happens at Nazare. And the forecast for the 2024 Nazare Big Wave Challenge called for 15-20′ wave faces in the morning session and 25-40′ wave faces in the afternoon.
Early action at the Tudor Nazare Big Wave Challenge
Brazilian surfer Lucas Chianca ‘Chumbo’ took the lead after the first two heats with an individual total score of 23.33. Chumbo won the event in 2021 and is no stranger to the massive waves at Nazare.
He hopped into first place due in large part to this epic ride:
This view of Chumbo charging the Nazare Big Wave Challenge is incredible:
Nazare is unique in the world of Big Wave Surfing for several reasons. Firstly, the canyon goes from incredibly deep to shallow in a hurry which creates the massive wall of water as waves have time to build from all the way across the Atlantic Ocean until they reach the shores of Nazare.
Secondly, the waves at the Tudor Nazare Big Wave Challenge break so close to the shore that spectators can sit on the cliffs and watch the surfers ride the biggest waves on earth. And a LOT of spectators have showed up for this year’s event:
The World Surf League is currently live-streaming the Tudor Nazare Big Wave Challenge on their website. It can also be streamed live on the Red Bull Surfing YouTube channel:
There is a Team event and Women’s event in addition to the Men’s event that Lucas ‘Chumbo’ is leading after 2 heats.
In the days to come, highlights will be put together of the best waves and wipeouts. Stay tuned for more.