The WSL Big Wave Tour (BWT) has issued a Green Alert for the Nazaré Challenge in Nazaré, Portugal to run on Friday, November 16, 2018. The large WNW swell headed toward the region continues to look favorable and the big wave competitors will now prepare to compete.

"We've officially issued a Green Alert to run the Nazaré Challenge on Friday, November 16," said Mike Parsons, WSL Big Wave Tour Commissioner. "The conditions we've been closely tracking still look favorable for Friday. We hope to see epic waves for the surfers to paddle into in the 25-35-foot face range. The swell and the winds are expected to all come together and be very clean to kick off the Big Wave Tour season."

The Big Wave Tour is back. Don't miss it. The action starts Friday morning local time, Thursday night PST.

Lucas "Chumbo" Chianca (BRA), reigning Big Wave Tour Champion Billy Kemper (HAW), and Kai Lenny (HAW) are a few of the competitors on this year's roster.

"I've been doing some big wave training and feeling out some new boards," said Kai Lenny. "Nazaré is usually too big and we are waiting for a swell that is not 100 feet so we can paddle it. It is more survival. Just survive. I'm trying to prepare myself mentally right now. If you go to Nazaré, you will probably get smoked no matter what."

Jamie Mitchell, 2016/17 Nazaré Challenge winner, has recently recovered from a shoulder injury. The Australian is coming back stronger and motivated to claim his second event win.

"Nazaré is a crazy wave; you don't ride it, it rides you," said Mitchell. "The boundaries continue to get pushed here. I'm coming off a shoulder surgery this summer and have worked hard to be ready for the Big Wave Tour, so it would be special to do well again here. I am jumping on a plane, heading over there now and am excited that we are on."

XL swell and perfect conditions are expected for Friday, November 16 in Nazaré, Portugal.

Surfline is calling for:

A developing storm near Greenland is expected to produce a strong WNW swell for Friday. Confidence is medium to high for a swell to provide good surf throughout the day. We expect to see wave face size in the 20-30' range through the day on Friday, with the very largest sets of the morning up to 35'.

While this isn't a giant swell, especially by Nazaré standards, local wind and conditions look about as good as it gets on Friday: light+ offshore ESE wind through the morning, trending more SE (still offshore) for the early afternoon hours, generally below 10 knots. Furthermore, the two previous days (Wednesday-Thursday) are also expected to see light offshore wind and small swell, which should mean conditions are extra clean on Friday.

To read the full forecast visit Surfline.com.

Round 1 Matchups:

Heat 1: Billy Kemper (HAW), Lucas Chianca (BRA), Greg Long (USA), Nathan Florence (HAW), Francisco Porcella (ITA), Antonia Silva (PRT)

Heat 2: Ian Walsh (HAW), Tom Lowe (GBR), Will Skudin (USA), Russell Bierke (AUS), João De Macedo (PRT), Rodrigo Koxa (BRA)

Heat 3: Kai Lenny (HAW), Jamie Mitchell (AUS), Natxo Gonzalez (EUK), Jojo Roper (USA), Pedro Calado (BRA), Hugo Vau (PRT)

Heat 4: Makuakai Rothman (HAW), Alex Botelho (PRT), Grant Baker (ZAF), Nic Lamb (USA), Nic von Rupp (PRT), João Guedes (PRT)

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