Jaws Green Light

HOURS AWAY: A big swell bears down on Hawaii. ETA is in the early hours their time. Pic Windy

A huge storm in the northern Pacific, which peaked at 948 minibars, has spewed forth a large, long period swell, which is set to make landfall on the Hawaiian islands between 2 and 5am Hawaiian time (10am to 1pm SA time) tomorrow at 15-20ft but filling in all day, peaking from noon into the afternoon and evening at 25-30ft, with maybe the odd bigger one, and that is proper swell, not 'wave face' - the layman term that the WSL insists on using for the size metric.

The call will be made at 7:30am (3.30pm South African time) but BWT Commissioner Mike Parsons is confident: "We are all systems go for the Jaws Challenge at Pe'ahi to run on Monday. We have officially issued a Green Alert and the competitors are all gearing up for the second Big Wave stop of the season. The swell is looking in the 35-to-45-foot face range and we are excited for the world's best big wave surfers to put on a show for the world."

TWIGGY TAKE 2? Grant Baker wins the Nazare Challenge literally days ago. Screengrab WSL

Fresh off the heels of a massive storm system in Europe where Grant "Twiggy" Baker took out the Nazaré Challenge, the world's best big wave surfers are suddenly eyeing the second of three events for the 2018/2019 WSL Big Wave season. Defending champions Paige Alms (HAW) and Ian Walsh (HAW) will be hoping to defend their titles a mere 10 days after the Nazare event.

Pe'ahi, known as "Jaws," breaks off the northern coastline of Maui with the ability to produce waves in excess of 60 feet. The event premiered on the BWT in 2015 and has witnessed exceptional performances since its addition to the Big Wave Tour. Pe'ahi is also the venue that hosted the first WSL Women's Big Wave Tour event and crowned the first Women's Big Wave Tour Champion.

DEFENDING CHAMP: Ian Walsh knows how to catch the bombs at Jaws. Photo WSL / Hallman

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