cbdMD Jaws Big Wave Championships, the world’s premier paddle-only big wave event, has been called on with a green alert for Thursday, December 12th as a NW swell approaches the north shore of Maui, Hawaii and the Pe’ahi surf break. Watch it at WorldSurfLeague.com
PRESS RELEASE:
Today, the World Surf League (WSL) issued a Green Alert for the cbdMD Jaws Big Wave Championships to run on Thursday, December 12, 2019. The world’s best big wave surfers are now in transit to Pe’ahi, Maui, Hawaii to defy nature and challenge themselves in waves forecast to be in the 35-to-50-foot range on the face. All the action will be broadcast LIVE at WorldSurfLeague.comand the free WSL app.
The cbdMD Jaws Big Wave Championships is the world’s premier paddle-only big wave event, taking place at the famed Pe’ahi surf break on the north shore of Maui, Hawaii. Rich with the sport’s history of innovation and progression, the contest brings the world’s elite male and female athletes together at the ultimate proving ground to compete for the coveted Championship.
History-making performances have solidified Jaws’ reputation as the pinnacle for big-wave surfing over the past decade. Jaws has hosted some of the biggest waves ever witnessed in competition, and winning this event sets the standard for the sport.
In the men’s division, 24 competitors are divided into four heats of six surfers for the first round. Heats are generally 45 minutes and surfers may catch as many waves as they wish with a panel of five judges scoring each ride on a scale of 1 to 10. Each competitor’s two best waves are counted, with their best wave score doubled. The three highest-scoring surfers advance to the semifinals, which run in the same format, and the top three from the Semifinals advance to the Final.
The women’s division runs in a similar format with 10 competitors participating in two five-surfer Semifinals with the top three surfers in each heat advancing to the Final.
The cbdMD Jaws Big Wave Championships will be broadcast LIVE on WorldSurfLeague.com and the free WSL app. Also, check local listings for coverage from the WSL’s broadcast partners.
Due to safety and environmental concerns, there is no location available for on-site spectating for the cbdMD Jaws Big Wave Championships. Fans are invited to watch the event on the WorldSurfLeague.com that will feature close-in angles, slow-motion replays, and analysis. For those on Maui, the event’s official viewing party will be held at Paia Surf Club at 65 Hana Highway, Paia, HI 96779 (808-579-3333).
| Solid NW swell should build in and be strongest for the morning hours on Thursday at Jaws, gradually fading over the afternoon. Model guidance has been fairly consistent in showing a 13-15’ deepwater swell off Maui with swell period of 17-18 seconds Thursday morning from the NW (310-330 degrees, with peak energy around 325 degrees). Direction is favorable – enough north so that shadowing shouldn’t be an issue but enough west that we should see some great barrels on the West Bowl. Surf size is expected to be in the 35-45’ range on the face through the morning hours, with the bigger sets to 50’ (20-25’ Hawaiian on sets). There is still a bit of uncertainty on exact wind conditions with a front potentially stalled near Kauai on Thursday but E to ENE trades appears to be the likeliest scenario and current model guidance would suggest speed in the 15-18 knot range. The storm that will create this swell is just starting to pull together north of Japan now and should intensify quickly in the next 24-36 hours. |
cbdMD Jaws Big Wave Championships Competitor List:
Women’s Division
Paige Alms (HAW)
Justine Dupont (FRA)
Emily Erickson (HAW)
Raquel Heckert (BRA)
Keala Kennelly (HAW)
Andrea Moller (BRA)
Felicity Palmateer (AUS)
Bianca Valenti (USA)
Wildcard 1 TBD
Wildcard 2 TBD
Men’s Division
Grant Baker (ZAF)
Alex Botelho (PRT)
Russell Bierke (AUS)
Lucas Chianca (BRA)
Trevor Carlson (HAW)
Nathan Florence (HAW)
Natxo Gonzalez (EUK)
Greg Long (USA)
Mark Healey (HAW)
Billy Kemper (HAW)
Kai Lenny (HAW)
Albee Layer (HAW)
Tyler Larronde (HAW)
Nic Lamb (USA)
Tom Lowe (GBR)
Torrey Meister (HAW)
Jamie Mitchell (AUS)
Jojo Roper (USA)
Koa Rothman (HAW)
Makuakai Rothman (HAW)
Nic von Rupp (PRT)
Ian Walsh (HAW)
Wildcard 1 TBD
Wildcard 2 TBD
| The cbdMD Jaws Big Wave Championships is proudly supported by cbdMD, Michelob ULTRA, Red Bull, and Alexander & Baldwin. |
| For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com. |
About the WSL
The World Surf League (WSL), established in 1976, is the enablement platform for surfing and surfers worldwide. The WSL is dedicated to changing the world through the inspirational power of surfing by creating authentic events, experiences, and storytelling to inspire a growing, global community to live with purpose, originality, and stoke.
The WSL is a global organization, headquartered in Santa Monica and with regional offices in North America, Latin America, Asia Pacific, and EMEA. The WSL possesses a deep appreciation for the sport’s rich heritage while promoting progression, innovation, and performance at the highest levels.
The WSL is comprised of Tours & Events, celebrating the world’s best surfers across all disciplines and annually running more than 180 global contests and crowning the undisputed World Champions across all divisions; WSL WaveCo, where innovation meets experience; and WSL Studios, which offers best in class storytelling across competition, lifestyle, and conservation.
For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com
