Beachwaver Maui Pro and Jaws Challenge at Pe‘ahi Called ON

The Beachwaver Maui Pro and the Jaws Challenge at Peʻahi, Hawaii have been called ON for a 7:35 a.m. HST start today (Monday, Nov. 26, 2018).

The Beachwaver Maui Pro, the final stop on the World Surf League Championship Tour, will run Rounds 1 and 2, with Round 3 on standby.

Beachwaver Maui Pro. PC: WSL

“We are on with Round 1 starting at 7:35 a.m. local time,” said Jessi Miley-Dyer, WSL Women’s Commissioner. “We have great, clean conditions this morning and the swell is going to fill in throughout the day. We are really excited about the waves this year and we will see some incredible performances today. Best of luck to all of our competitors.”

The Jaws Challenge at Peʻahi, Hawaii is the second stop on the WSL Big Wave Tour and will feature the best male and female big wave surfers take on 40-to-50-foot waves in today’s competition.

Albee Layer of Haʻikū dropping in. PC: (File 2016) Lyle Krannichfeld

“Today we are going to be looking at giant surf for sure,” said Mike Parsons, WSL BWT Commissioner. “We have light winds, which is great here for Peʻahi. We are expecting surf in the 40-to-50-foot face-range. It is going to be an incredible show. It is going to be building and picking up throughout the day. We are going to be pushing the upper-echelon of big wave surfing here today. We will start with the women at 7:35 a.m. local time. It is going to be very exciting.”

In the 2018 World Title Race, only Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) and Lakey Peterson (USA) are mathematically in contention to win the prestigious World Championship and await the promising swell for the final stop on this season’s Championship Tour.

The World Title scenarios going into the Beachwaver Maui Pro are as follows:
– Gilmore will win the World Title with a 3rd or better at the Beachwaver Maui Pro.
– If Gilmore finishes 5th or worse, Peterson must win the event to force a surf-off* for the World Title
– *In the event of a tie for any World Title at the end of the Surfing Season, the tied Surfer will have a “surf-off” during the final Event, which will have the format determined by the Commissioner’s Office. 

Six-time WSL Champion Gilmore will be up against Sage Erickson (USA) and injury replacement Alana Blanchard (HAW) in Heat 3 of Round 1. In order to requalify for the CT for 2019, Erickson needs a strong result coming up against Gilmore and Blanchard.

Peterson will surf against 2017 event runner-up Malia Manuel (HAW) and injury replacement Zoe McDougall (HAW) in Round 1 Heat 4.

Peʻahi, known as “Jaws,” breaks off the northern coastline of Maui with the ability to produce waves in excess of 60 feet. Today’s event will showcase the fearless women and men as they battle the monstrous conditions to not only win but survive.

The women will start competition at 7:35 a.m. HST.

WSL will deliver live coverage of the events on Facebook.com/WSL and WorldSurfLeague.com.

Beachwaver Maui Pro Round 1 Matchups:
Heat 1: Johanne Defay (FRA), Courtney Conlogue (USA), Paige Hareb (NZL)
Heat 2: Carissa Moore (HAW), Coco Ho (HAW), Bethany Hamilton (HAW)
Heat 3: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), Sage Erickson (USA), Alana Blanchard (HAW)
Heat 4: Lakey Peterson (USA), Malia Manuel (HAW), Zoe McDougall (HAW)
Heat 5: Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA), Nikki Van Dijk (AUS), Summer Macedo (HAW)
Heat 6: Caroline Marks (USA), Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), Bronte Macaulay (AUS)

Women’s Jaws Challenge at Peʻahi, Hawaii Semifinal Matchups:
SF1: Paige Alms (HAW), Justine Dupont (FRA), Andrea Moller (BRA), Jamilah Star (HAW), Raquel Heckert (BRA)
SF 2: Keala Kennelly (HAW), Bianca Valenti (USA), Emily Erickson (HAW), Isabelle Leonhardt (ITA), Silvia Nabuo (BRA)

Men’s Jaws Challenge at Peʻahi, Hawaii Round 1 Matchups:
Heat 1: Billy Kemper (HAW), Grant Baker (ZAF), Alex Botelho (PRT), Russell Bierke (AUS), Ryan Hipwood (AUS), Mark Healey (HAW)
Heat 2: Lucas Chianca (BRA), Naxto Gonzalez (EUK), Nathan Florence (HAW), Jojo Roper (USA), Albee Layer (HAW), Shane Dorian (HAW)
Heat 3: Kai Lenny (HAW), Makuakai Rothman (HAW), Tom Lowe (GBR), Will Skudin (USA), Koa Rothman (HAW), Aaron Gold (HAW)
Heat 4: Ian Walsh (HAW), Jamie Mitchell (HAW), Greg Long (USA), João De Macedo (PRT), Francisco Porcella (ITA), Tyler Larronde (HAW)