A Contest with Thousands of Spectators & A Wave That Can Kill You

Hundreds of millions of non surfers know about the towering and terrifying break of Praia do Norte in Nazaré, Portugal, as the famous big wave has even become a "bucket list" destination for people of all backgrounds. While social media and the successful HBO series The100 Foot Wave have helped put Nazaré at the forefront of the minds of the general public, the most exciting spectacle this year will likely happen on the day of the 2025-2026 edition of the TUDOR Nazaré Big Wave Challenge.

The waiting period is now open until March 31st, 2026.

The event is a one-day, tow-in format that depends on the alignment of several factors— massive swell, proper direction, and favorable wind — for the call to be made and the big wave specialists of the world to converge on Nazaré. Like other high-energy and freakishly tall waves around the world, the wave is boosted to levels far greater than the surrounding areas thanks to an underwater canyon that funnels swells (if they are within the proper directional angle) into enormous faces as they approach the famous red lighthouse.

Event format

Surfers compete in tow-in teams of two and alternate between who surfs and who drives. Luckily, for safety reasons, there are many eyes on the impact zone and everyone watches out for each other. The scoring emphasizes the two best waves per athlete, with the highest-scoring wave often counting double.

Big wave contests are notoriously difficult to pull off due to challenges with forecasting and summoning athletes on short notice, yet, with an event as prestigious as the TUDOR Nazaré Big Wave Challenge, it's a milestone achievement for any athlete.

Last year's highlights

On Tuesday, February 18, 2025, conditions delivered and the contest ran with reported wave faces in the 25-35 ft (7.5–10.5 m) range. Strong offshore winds only made things more challenging but, then again, there are no easy days once Nazaré goes XL.
Stand-out results:

• In the men’s division, French phenom Clément Roseyro took the Best Performance Award with a total of 21.83 out of 30.
• On the women’s side, French veteran Justine Dupont returned to win the Women’s Best Performance.
• The Team Performance crown went to local legend Nic von Rupp and Clement Roseyro — a testament to their teamwork and rigorous training.