On January 22, 2024, after nearly two years of anticipation since the last competition on Feb 10, 2022, the thrilling big wave surf contest "Tudor Nazaré Big Wave Challenge" returned to Praia do Norte in Nazaré. Celebrating its 7th edition, the event, which has seen different formats over 8 years of history, was marked by spectacular waves, with challenging heights between 10 to 15 meters, testing the limits of the world's most fearless surfers. You can watch the complete replay of the official event video broadcast.

Watch the official WSL event summary video:

Results and Winners of the Contest

See the official results table on the WSL website.

Lucas Chianca (BRA), better known as "Chumbo", reiterated his supremacy in the waves of Nazaré by winning, for the third consecutive time, the Men's Best Performance Award, as well as taking home the trophy for Best Team (varied over the years). With daring maneuvers and impeccable technique, Chianca surfed the enormous waves with a dexterity that seemed to defy the very laws of nature, consolidating his status as one of the best big wave surfers in the world.

In the women's category, bravery and talent were no less impressive. Maya Gabeira (BRA), a dedicated big wave surfer, defended her title masterfully. Partnering with the young and talented António Laureano (PRT) (who served more as a jet-ski pilot), Gabeira adjusted her strategy throughout the day, focusing on waves with more consistent walls, culminating in her victory in the Women's Best Performance category.

Pedro Scooby (BRA), Chianca's teammate, shone in the Best Team Performance category. Scooby, who recovered from a weakened health state days before the event, demonstrated incredible resilience, perfectly synchronizing with Chianca on the powerful waves of Nazaré. Kai Lenny, who had teamed up with Chianca in the previous edition, this time could not attend due to injury.

Additionally, surfers like Clement Roseyro (FRA), Sebastian Steudtner (DEU), Michelle des Bouillons (BRA), and Ian Cosenza (PRT) also delivered notable performances, standing out among the best in big wave surfing.

In addition to Laureano, more Portuguese surfers participated in the event: Nic von Rupp, João De Macedo, and Antonio Silva. They showcased their skills on the challenging waves of Nazaré. Competing alongside the world's best, they demonstrated the strong representation of Portuguese surfing in this prestigious big wave event. Nic von Rupp, standing out as the best Portuguese surfer, achieved 9th place in the individual category and, together with the French Clement Roseyro, secured a notable 2nd place in the team competition.

João Macedo provided the "best" wipeout of the day, with a spectacular fall on a giant wave!

This event was not just a competition, but a celebration of the human spirit in the face of the immense power of the ocean. With thousands of awestruck spectators, the slopes of Nazaré and the iconic lighthouse became stages for an unforgettable display of courage and skill.

Watch the WSL video of the post-event and award ceremony:

See more information about the teams and surfers who participated in the event:

Teams:
Team 1: Lucas Chianca (BRA) and Pedro Scooby (BRA)
Team 2: Nic von Rupp (PRT) and Clement Roseyro (FRA)
Team 3: Andrew Cotton (GBR) and Will Skudin (USA)
Team 4: Rodrigo Koxa (BRA) and Vitor Faria (BRA)
Team 5: João De Macedo (PRT) and Antonio Silva (PRT)
Team 6: Sebastian Steudtner (DEU) and Eric Rebiere (FRA)
Team 7: Maya Gabeira (BRA) and António Laureano (PRT)
Team 8: Michelle des Bouillons (BRA) and Ian Cosenza (PRT)
Team 9: Rafael Tapia (CHI) and Pierre Rollet (FRA)

Panoramic event photo:

The Tudor Nazaré Big Wave Challenge 2023/2024 reaffirmed Nazaré's position as one of the most challenging and impressive stages in world surfing. The competition provided moments of intense adrenaline, leaving a legacy of inspiring stories and reinforcing the unique connection of surfers with the majestic waves of Nazaré. This event, undoubtedly, enters history as one of the most memorable episodes in big wave surfing. On this day, although the waves were not constantly giant, they appeared several times, to the ecstasy of the public who, upon seeing the surfers descend the waves, shouted in unison, a sound that echoed up to the surfers at sea!

Watch the WSL video with a summary of the top 5 moments of the event:

See also the surfing visions video about the event.

According to Garret McNamara, a recognized ambassador of the giant waves of Nazaré, this location represents the ideal stage for the spectacle of big waves, the best in the world for this purpose. He was on the awards stage and commented on the event throughout the day.

Nic von Rupp shared a video of an incident during the event, in which he faced considerable risks to recover his board, demonstrating notable courage and skill:

 

 

 

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A post shared by Nic von Rupp (@nicvonrupp)

The big wave surfing contest "Tudor Nazaré Big Wave Challenge" is expected to return in the 2024/2025 winter season (October to March), or earlier if there are 2 editions in the same season as happened in the 2021/2022 period. Follow the nazarewaves.com website for more information in the future and subscribe to email alerts to be the first to know.

Check more info about the annual surf competition and history.

See below some photos covering the event throughout the day (some photos by Inna Bru), press to enlarge.