This is the first time that Portugal is included in the calender of the Big Wave Tour of the World Surfing League (WSL).
The EDP Mar Sem Fim announced the 'EDP Tour' Exploration Grant to the value of €2,000 will go to the Portuguese surfer who achieves the highest classification in the Portuguese stage of the world circuit of big waves which will take place in Nazaré, with the waiting period of this to open in October.
Included on the list of participant surfers in the elite World Cup of paddle-in Big Waves are five Portuguese participants, all of these with special relationships with the EDP Mar Sem Fim project and therefore selected to compete in the 'EDP Tour' Exploration Study Grant: João de Macedo, António Silva, Nicolau Von Rupp, Alex Botelho and Hugo Vau.
John Macedo, one of the most experienced Portuguese surfers in big waves and so far the only one to compete on the world circuit, is the mentor of the Portuguese group included in the competition. He will join Antonio Silva, winner for two consecutive years of the Bolsa XXL (2014/15 and 2015/16) and Alex Botelho, who recently won three of the five XXL EDP Mar Sem Fim awards. Nic Von Rupp, last year's winner of the XXL EDP Mar Sem Fim Awards is also on the WSL guest list, as is Hugo Vau, who participated in 2014 in Mar Sem Fin discussions.
'After two seasons in which we invested in a project submission format where we awarded seven scholarships for a total value of €15,000.00, we believe this is the best way to develop surfing in Portugal. Nazaré is the perfect training setting for winter waves and EDP Mar Sem Fim expeditions. The purpose of this scholarship is thus to allow the best Portuguese athlete to travel to other places where world circuit competitions are held', says Mário Almeida, Head of the EDP Mar Sem Fim project.
On October 15, the waiting period for the Nazaré Challenge begins, which is part of the World Surf League (WSL)'s 2016/17 Big Wave Tour.
For the first time, Portugal will be part of this calendar for the Northern Hemisphere, joining events such as Punta Galea (Basque Country), Jaws (Hawaii) and All Saints (Mexico).
According to information provided by the WSL (World Surf League), the competition starts as soon as the necessary conditions are met with 72 hours notice given for surfers to travel to and attend the event.