Andrew Cotton, doing Nazaré things. Photo: Red Bull Content Pool

Watch Live: The 2022 Nazaré Tow Challenge

Let go of the rope and tuck right in.

news // Feb 1, 2022

Words by Stab

Reading Time: 3 minutes

It’s on. The 2022 Nazaré Tow Challenge, that is.

Watching the webcam this morning, the waves appeared to be about 113.7 feet — but we’re told from folks on the ground that it’s a more humble 40 – 50 feet. Hmm. Big wave measurement is a funny thing.

Now, you may be thinking: Wasn’t there just a tow contest at Nazaré? Indeed there was — it ran on December 14, 2021. But that was a pushed-back version of the event that was supposed to run during the 2020 – 2021 winter. COVID ruined that. COVID will not ruin today.

The lineup is stacked. The sets are still stacking. And what could be more worthy of your attention than a live event at what is suddenly the world’s most talked-about big wave? Love it (anyone who watched HBO’s 100-Foot wave series) or hate it (anyone who would prefer to watch people paddle into bombs at Jaws and Mav’s), Nazaré is famous for two things: The world’s tallest aquatic triangles and the revival of high-performance tow surfing. That’s entertaining in our book.

Watch the action unfold right here courtesy of Red Bull TV. To refresh, here’s how it will work.

Jumbo Chumbo. Lucas Chianca, last time the event ran. Photo: Antoine Justes/WSL

Format

Eight teams will be divided into three groups. There will be six 50-minute heats, with each group surfing in two heats. A surfer’s best two waves after both heats will factor into to their individual total score, and a surfer’s best wave will be worth double points. The scoring scale ranges from 1-10 points, meaning that the maximum individual total score is 30 points. At the end of the day, the individual male and female surfers, as well as the team with the highest sum of points, will take home performance awards.

Invitees

Team 1 – Red: Lucas Chianca (BRA) and Nic Von Rupp (PRT).
Team 2 – Cyan Blue: Justine Dupont (FRA) and Antonio Laureano (FRA).
Team 3 – Brown: Andrew Cotton (GBR) and Will Skudin (USA).
Team 4 – Pink: Rodrigo Koxa (BRA) and Eric Rebiere (FRA).
Team 5 – Blue: Michelle Bouillons (BRA) and Ian Cosenza (PRT).
Team 6 – Yellow: Rafael Tapia (CHL) and Jaime Mitchell (AUS).
Team 7 – Purple: Joao de Macedo (PRT) and Antonio Silva (PRT).
Team 8 – Black: Maya Gabeira (BRA) and Pierre Caley (FRA).

Note: Axi Muniain (EUK) and Francisco Porcella (ITA) were originally meant to compete, but COVID did in fact ruin that.

Heat Draw

Heat 1, Group A
Team Red: Lucas Chianca (BRA), Nic Von Rupp (PRT)
Team Cyan Blue: Justine Dupont (FRA), Antonio Laureano (PRT)
Team Brown: Andrew Cotton (GBR), Will Skudin (USA)

Heat 2, Group B
Team Pink: Rodrigo Koxa (BRA), Eric Rebiere (FRA)
Team Blue: Michelle Bouillons (BRA), Ian Cosenza (PRT)

Heat 3, Group C
Team Yellow: Rafael Tapia (CHL), Jaime Mitchell (AUS)
Team Purple: Joao de Macedo (PRT), Antonio Silva (PRT)
Team Black: Maya Gabeira (BRA), Pierre Caley (FRA)

Heat 4, Group A
Team Red: Lucas Chianca (BRA), Nic Von Rupp (PRT)
Team Cyan Blue: Justine Dupont (FRA), Antonio Laureano (PRT)
Team Brown: Andrew Cotton (GBR), Will Skudin (USA)

Heat 5, Group B
Team Pink: Rodrigo Koxa (BRA), Eric Rebiere (FRA)
Team Blue: Michelle Bouillons (BRA), Ian Cosenza (PRT)

Heat 6, Group C
Team Yellow: Rafael Tapia (CHL), Jaime Mitchell (AUS)
Team Purple: Joao de Macedo (PRT), Antonio Silva (PRT)
Team Black: Maya Gabeira (BRA), Pierre Caley (FRA)