Green Light for Giant Nazare

CATHEDRAL WALL: Francisco Porcella from Italy on a beast yesterday. Photo WSL / Poullenot

“We have glassy 40-50 foot waves this morning,” Bill Sharp, Big Wave Tour General Manager said. "It's a little bit misty early on but we expect conditions to clear throughout the morning to offer an epic day of big wave surfing."

The 10 two-surfer teams will take on monstrous surf at praia do Norte and tow each other into the biggest waves of the day, all filmed from various angles. The video evidence will be looked at and an expert panel will select the best rides. Later today, the athletes will all get together and vote for the following four distinctions: Men's Wave of the Day, Women's Wave of the Day, Team Champions and the Jogos Santa Casa Commitment Award with the winners being crowned at that time.

BRIEFING YESTERDAY: The surfers gathered for an obligatory safety talk. Photo WSL / Masurel

The competition will unfold in a unique format, with four, one-hour long heats comprising five teams in the water for each session. The groups will be divided as follow:

Group A: (Heats 1 and 3)
Team World: Sebastian Steudtner (DEU) & Maya Gabeira (BRA)
Team Europe: Nic von Rupp (PRT) & Francisco Porcella (ITA)
Team France: Benjamin Sanchis (FRA) & Eric Rebiere (FRA)
Team Australia: Axi Muniain (EUK) & Mick Corbett (AUS)
Team Atlantic: Grant Baker (ZAF) & Joao De Macedo (PRT)

Group B: (Heats 2 and 4)
Team Brazil: Rodrigo Koxa (BRA) & Pedro Scooby (BRA)
Team Great Britain: Andrew Cotton (GBR) & Tom Butler (GBR)
Team Portugal: Alex Botelho (PRT) & Hugo Vau (PRT)
Team Young Bulls: Lucas Chianca (BRA) & Kai Lenny (HAW)
Team Justine: Justine Dupont (FRA) surfer only/Fred David driver only

CANYON AND CLIFF: Yesterday it was building nicely on the main peak. Photo WSL / Poullenot

Should the conditions continue to be extraordinary at the completion of the four-hour mark, the Competition Director may have the option of extending the event period in fair increments of 15, 30 or 60 minutes to give all competitors an opportunity to extend the show

Watch all the action LIVE on www.worldsurfleague.com.