PUERTO ESCONDIDO, Mexico (Thursday, July 27, 2017) - Today, the World Surf League (WSL) Big Wave Tour (BWT) is placing a Green Alert on the Puerto Escondido Challenge in Puerto Escondido, Mexico to commence either Sunday, July 30 or Monday, July 31 with projected 20-25 foot wave faces heading toward the region.
"We have been patiently waiting for Mother Nature to deliver the right swell, and we have one on the way," said Mike Parsons, WSL Big Wave Tour Commissioner. "We expect surf in the 20-to-25 foot face range that will make for some spectacular surfing. This swell we are tracking is from a very good direction for Puerto that should make for some amazing tube rides. Based on the forecasts, we will keep both Sunday and Monday open as an option to run."
This will be the second BWT event at Mainland Mexico's Puerto Escondido, which is home to one of the most monstrous and unruly waves on earth. With a volatile sandbar bottom, the world-renowned beachbreak requires technical mastery, extreme physical endurance, and boundless courage from all who accept the challenge.
The 2017 Puerto Escondido Challenge will be contested by 24 of the world's best big wave surfers, led by Grant "Twiggy" Baker (ZAF), defending Puerto Escondido Challenge winner and 2017 BWT Champion. Two-time BWT Champion Greg Long (USA) and Billy Kemper (HAW) will also charge the notorious beachbreak, alongside up-and-comers Pedro Calado (BRA) and Jimel Corzo (MEX).
"We are thrilled to be heading back to Puerto Escondido to start this year's BWT season," continued Parsons. "What's unique about Puerto is how much power the wave has and how hollow it breaks. Unlike Pipeline or Teahupo'o, Puerto breaks on a very shallow sand bar that makes for some of the steepest drops of any wave in the world. We are excited to see this wave challenge the very best big wave surfers on the planet."
Surfline, Official Forecasters for the 2017 WSL BWT season are calling for:
A series of large, overlapping SSW swells will build into Puerto Escondido from Saturday to Monday. For Sunday we'll look for the largest waves in the morning, with face size in the 15-20' range, with max sets pushing 25' faces early. A temporary easing trend takes over through the morning and into the afternoon on Sunday. On Monday, reinforcing SSW swell fills in through the morning and looks largest for the later morning and into the afternoon with size up slightly from Sunday with 15-25' faces. The very largest sets of the day push 28' faces. While these aren't giant swells by Puerto standards, they are from an ideal SSW direction, which will provide excellent shaped waves many makeable barrels.
The event will be broadcast LIVE via WorldSurfLeague.com, the WSL app and on Facebook Live via the WSL's Facebook page. Also check the 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 as part of the EDGEsport Network.
2017 BWT Puerto Escondido Competitor List
Grant Baker
Pedro Calado
Greg Long
Jamie Mitchell
Billy Kemper
Nic Lamb
Will Skudin
João de Macedo
Cristian Merello
Kai Lenny
Makuakai Rothman
Nathan Florence
Francisco Porcella
Trevor Sven Carlson
Tom Lowe
Mark Healey
Damien Hobgood
Peter Mel
Jimel Corzo
Rogercin Ramirez
Angelo Lozano
Jose Ramirez
Coco Nogales
Oscar Moncada
Alternates
Aaron Gold
Rusty Long