A green alert has been called for the Pe'ahi Challenge in Haiku, Maui. The event is set to run on Friday, October 27 and/or Saturday, October 28 with projected 40-45-foot wave faces expected to hit the region. Pe'ahi, which is also known as Jaws, breaks off the northern coastline of Maui and has the ability to produce waves in excess of 60 feet.
Billy Kemper celebrating his 2016 victory. - WSL / Kelly Cestari
"This swell looks really promising, so we have issued a Green Alert to run on Friday and/or Saturday," said Mike Parsons, Big Wave Tour Commissioner. "We have a long-period swell coming from the northwest direction, which will provide us with surf in the 40-45 foot range. We will continue to monitor the conditions to determine which days we will run the contest. We could potentially see heats on both Friday and Saturday or just one of the two days. We are excited to get the first event of the winter season underway and witness the world's best big-wave surfers take on Pe'ahi for the third year in a row."
Jaws delivers again for the WSL's Big Wave Tour event on Maui.
Maui local Billy Kemper has dominated the men's Pe'ahi Challenge since its introduction to the WSL Big Wave Tour and will look for his third consecutive win at Jaws this weekend. Kai Lenny, winner of the Puerto Escondido Challenge earlier this year, leads the 2017/2018 BWT rankings heading into the second event of the season. Lenny earned an equal 9th-place result at Pe'ahi last season and will now look to surpass that result to maintain his World No. 1 position on the men's BWT rankings.
2016 Pe'ahi Challenge champ Paige Alms will lead the women's assault again this year. - WSL / tony heff
The women's Pe'ahi Challenge will witness a decorated lineup of the leading big-wave surfers battle at the famed break. Last year's inaugural event saw Paige Alms claim the historic victory. This year's event will feature six women battling in a one-off Final for the prestigious win, including Alms, Justine Dupont, Andrea Moeller, Keala Kennelly, Felicity Palmateer, and Bianca Valenti.
2017/18 BWT Men's Pe'ahi Challenge:
Invitees: Grant Baker, Pedro Calado, Greg Long, Jamie Mitchell, Billy Kemper, Nic Lamb, Will Skudin, João De Macedo, Cristian Merello, Kai Lenny, Makuakai Rothman, Lucas Chianca, Francisco Porcella, Trevor Sven Carlson, Tom Lowe, Shane Dorian, Ian Walsh, Albee Layer, Mark Healey, Aaron Gold, Tyler Larronde, Nathan Florence, Koa Rothman, Ryan Hipwood
Alternates: Shaun Walsh, Danilo Couto, Torrey Meister, Peter Mel, Alex Botelho
2017/18 BWT Women's Pe'ahi Challenge:
Invitees: Paige Alms, Justine Dupont, Andrea Moeller, Keala Kennelly, Felicity Palmateer, Bianca Valenti
Alternates: Emily Erickson, Nicole Pacelli, Laura Enever
Pe'ahi Challenge Gets the Green Alert for End-of-Week Run
WSL
A green alert has been called for the Pe'ahi Challenge in Haiku, Maui. The event is set to run on Friday, October 27 and/or Saturday, October 28 with projected 40-45-foot wave faces expected to hit the region. Pe'ahi, which is also known as Jaws, breaks off the northern coastline of Maui and has the ability to produce waves in excess of 60 feet.
"This swell looks really promising, so we have issued a Green Alert to run on Friday and/or Saturday," said Mike Parsons, Big Wave Tour Commissioner. "We have a long-period swell coming from the northwest direction, which will provide us with surf in the 40-45 foot range. We will continue to monitor the conditions to determine which days we will run the contest. We could potentially see heats on both Friday and Saturday or just one of the two days. We are excited to get the first event of the winter season underway and witness the world's best big-wave surfers take on Pe'ahi for the third year in a row."
Maui local Billy Kemper has dominated the men's Pe'ahi Challenge since its introduction to the WSL Big Wave Tour and will look for his third consecutive win at Jaws this weekend. Kai Lenny, winner of the Puerto Escondido Challenge earlier this year, leads the 2017/2018 BWT rankings heading into the second event of the season. Lenny earned an equal 9th-place result at Pe'ahi last season and will now look to surpass that result to maintain his World No. 1 position on the men's BWT rankings.
The women's Pe'ahi Challenge will witness a decorated lineup of the leading big-wave surfers battle at the famed break. Last year's inaugural event saw Paige Alms claim the historic victory. This year's event will feature six women battling in a one-off Final for the prestigious win, including Alms, Justine Dupont, Andrea Moeller, Keala Kennelly, Felicity Palmateer, and Bianca Valenti.
2017/18 BWT Men's Pe'ahi Challenge:
Invitees: Grant Baker, Pedro Calado, Greg Long, Jamie Mitchell, Billy Kemper, Nic Lamb, Will Skudin, João De Macedo, Cristian Merello, Kai Lenny, Makuakai Rothman, Lucas Chianca, Francisco Porcella, Trevor Sven Carlson, Tom Lowe, Shane Dorian, Ian Walsh, Albee Layer, Mark Healey, Aaron Gold, Tyler Larronde, Nathan Florence, Koa Rothman, Ryan Hipwood
Alternates: Shaun Walsh, Danilo Couto, Torrey Meister, Peter Mel, Alex Botelho
2017/18 BWT Women's Pe'ahi Challenge:
Invitees: Paige Alms, Justine Dupont, Andrea Moeller, Keala Kennelly, Felicity Palmateer, Bianca Valenti Alternates: Emily Erickson, Nicole Pacelli, Laura Enever
Pe'ahi Challenge
A comprehensive look at the massive conditions and epic rides.
The Maui-born big-wave charger recaps the day it all came together in this stunning must-see video from Hawaii.
The Pe'ahi Challenge win was a just reward for the Maui local's lifelong commitment to the wave.
The Australian big-wave charger talks about his breakthrough performance at Pe'ahi.
Showstopping images from an epic day at the Pe'ahi Challenge.
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