The WSL Big Wave Tour has just placed the Todos Santos Challenge in Baja California on Green Alert, and is set to run on Sunday, January 17 should conditions remain favourable. Right now, ‘favourable’ equates to a projected 30-foot-plus swell which is busy storming it’s way toward Cali. After the spectacle that was the Pe’ahi event at Jaws, and all the El Nino action in the northern Pacific lately, this could get nuts! And to add to the excitement, Kommetjie big wave charger, James Taylor, is the events video wildcard!
Check out James’ #Proveit video from 2015, which secured him a spot as a wildcard.
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PRESS RELEASE
WORLD’S BEST BIG WAVE SURFERS TO TACKLE BAJA CALIFORNIA’S BIG WAVE GEM
 
Caption: WSL BWT competitor Greg Long (USA) warming up at Todos Santos on Tuesday. Long will be one of 24 competitors vying for the Todos Santos Challenge title on Sunday.
Location: Todos Santos, Baja California, Mexico
Holding period: October 15 – February 28, 2016
Call: Green Alert, Sunday Start
Conditions: Projected 30 – 40′ + surf
TODOS SANTOS, Baja California/Mexico (Thursday, January 14, 2016) – Today, the World Surf League (WSL) Big Wave Tour (BWT) is placing the Todos Santos Challenge in Baja California on Green Alert to commence on Sunday, January 17, 2016 with a projected 30-foot-plus swell heading towards the region.
“The swell we’ve been tracking from North of Hawaii has intensified and we’ve called the Todos Santos Challenge ON for a Sunday start,” said Peter Mel, WSL Big Wave Commissioner. “We’re looking at 30-foot-plus waves projected for the day with favorable winds and tides.”
The Todos Santos Challenge will be contested by 24 men, led by current rankings’ leader Billy Kemper (HAW) and reigning BWT Champion Makuakai Rothman (HAW).
“Having ran events in Chile and Maui so far, the 2015/2016 Big Wave Tour has already produced exceptional moments,” continued Mel. “Makuakai Rothman was dominant at Punta de Lobos and Maui’s Billy Kemper wowed everyone at Pe’ahi. We’re looking forward to more fireworks come Sunday in Mexico.”
Surfline, official forecasters for the 2015/2016 WSL BWT season are calling for:
We have been closely monitoring a hurricane force low to the north of Hawaii over the past 24 hours as it will set up an XXL swell for Todos Santos through the day on Sunday. Thus far we have observed satellite verified wind of 50-75 knots and seas in excess of 50 feet in this storm and it still has plenty of life left in the next 12-24 hours. At this point we expect to see strong, long period west-northwest swell build through the day on Sunday, with the largest waves in the afternoon.
The better set waves, while likely lully, will be in the 30-40’ range on the face with some even larger max sets possible. Local wind and weather looks favorable with high pressure over the region: light and variable flow in the morning trending to light+ onshore NW in the afternoon.
The Todos Santos Challenge will be webcast LIVE at WorldSurfLeague.com
Todos Santos Challenge Invite List:
WSL Big Wave Tour Top Ten Seeds
Makuakai Rothman (HAW)
Gabriel Villaran (PER)
Nic Lamb (USA)
Anthony Tashnick (USA)
Greg Long (USA)
Nathan Fletcher (USA)
Grant Baker (ZAF)
Natxo Gonzales (EUK)
Patrick Gudauskas (USA)
Carlos Burle (BRA)
Injury Wildcard
Alex Gray (USA)
Video Invitees
Trevor Sven Carlson (USA)
Mark Mathews (AUS)
Event Invitees
Derek Dunfee (USA)
Rusty Long (USA)
Nic Vaughan (USA)
Coco Nogales (MEX)
Diego Pertusso (MEX)
Vincente Yazbeck (MEX)
BWT Invitees
Shane Dorian (HAW)
Mark Healey (HAW)
Josh Kerr (AUS)
Kelly Slater (USA)
Jamie Mitchell (AUS)
Video Invitee Alternates
James Taylor (ZAF)
Jamie Sterling (HAW)
Event Invitee Alternates
Chapman Murphey (USA)
Dane Gudauskas (USA)
Tanner Gudauskas (USA)
BWT Invitee Alternates
Damien Hobgood (USA)
Will Skudin (USA)
Diego Medina (CHL)
A small number of hand-out images, as well as daily news feeds, will be made available for editorial use via our email distribution lists. Please contact kscholtz@worldsurfleague.com (images) and srobertson@worldsurfleague.com (news feeds) to be added to the lists.
About the World Surf League
The World Surf League (WSL) organises the annual tour of professional surf competitions and broadcasts each event live at WorldSurfLeague.com where you can experience the athleticism, drama and adventure of competitive surfing – anywhere and anytime it’s on. The WSL sanctions and operates the following tours: the Junior Tour, Longboard Tour, the Qualifying Series (QS), the Big Wave Tour and the crown jewel of the sport, the WSL Championship Tour (CT) which determines the sport’s undisputed world champions. The organization is headquartered in Santa Monica, California with Commercial Offices in New York. The offices are supported by regional centers in Africa, Asia, Australasia, Europe, Hawaii, North America and South America.
Dave Prodan
VP of Communications dprodan@worldsurfleague.com
+1 805-758-5586
Chloe Kojima
Communications Manager
ckojima@worldsurfleague.com
+1 310-386-9181
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