Right now there are three huge storms brewing simultaneously around the globe. All are set to light up three of the world’s premier big wave locations in the next 72 hours.
In the Atlantic a huge swell is on track to hit Spain’s Basque coast. Coincidently falling in the window of the ASP’s Big Wave World Tour event, Punta Galea, it has the Top 23 skyscraper chasers scrambling into action.
But herein lies the conundrum. Two large swells have developed in the Pacific. One has already been labelled a potential “Eddie Swell” if it intensifies, while the other is on track to produce huge waves at Jaws.
With many of the same surfers due to compete in The Eddie, Punta Galea and also inclined to give their left testicle to tackle Jaws, it’s causing a headache for them and the ASP.
At Surfer Poll former Punta Galea defending champion, Grant ‘Twiggy’ Baker, told Tracks he was confident the Spain contest would run.
“The winds are looking favourable for Spain, if it stays that way we’ll run.”
At time of writing, Big Wave World Tour Commissioner, Peter Mel, has registered a “Green Alert” call, which is made 72 hours ahead of an official start time. Once the alert was made official, ten-foot-plus quivers were promptly thrown in bags and flights booked by the likes of Jamie Mitchell, Makua Rothman (the current tour leader), Ben Wilkinson and Carlos Brulle, who were all on the North Shore. The big wave matadors are bound for Spain and Punta Galea will run this Thursday. While it’s now highly unlikely the Eddie will run, official invitees Jamie Mitchell and Makua Rothman would miss out if it did.
Back on the North Shore, the Pipe Masters Trials are likely to kick off tomorrow with a building NW swell, set to peak at 20 – 25 feet on Wednesday. If that happens, Pipe will be maxed out and many of the boys will be heading straight to Maui to take on Peahi (aka Jaws) the world’s biggest A-frame peak.
As I finish up writing we’ve just received word from veteran videographer, Tony Harrington, that Maui is looking good for Wednesday (Thursday Australian time). Proving once again that when there’s swell, the North Shore doesn’t sleep.
Stay tuned.
