Billabong Pico Alto Big Wave event is Green Light for Today

Today, Thursday August 11th 2011, the best big wave riders in the world will compete at the Billabong Pico Alto 2011, presented by Sony, the second event of the 2011 Big Wave World Tour (BWWT) held at the famous surf spot in Pico Alto, Punta Hermosa beach, about 43 km south of Lima.

Billabong Peru BWWT Tour Director Gary Linden, Sean Collins, and Surfline.com, official forecaster of the BWWT, monitored the weather and made the final call. The conditions look optimal and the swell is expected to produce solid 30 foot face waves with some larger sets possible.

Legendary shaper and Big Wave World Tour Director Gary Linden said:
“With a long period swell on the way with great direction and light winds, Pico Alto will provide some excellent waves for this year’s event. While not quite as big as last year, the quality looks to be better and we can expect a very high level of big wave performance surfing.”



The best big wave surfers on the planet will be arriving this week in Peru. Last year’s winner and current Big Wave World Champ Jamie Sterling will defend his title against personalities like Greg Long (USA), former World Champ Carlos Burle (Brazil), XXL award winners Danilo Couto (Brazil) and Grant “Twiggy” Baker (South Africa), as well as locals legends like Alvaro Malpartida, Rafael Velarde, Gabriel Villarán, Sebastian de Romaña and more.

Gabriel Villarán, the highest ranked Peruvian, currently 3rd in the world, has the opportunity to surpass current BWWT leader Marcos Monteiro (Brazil).
The Billabong Pico Alto is one of the most intense waves of the Big Wave World Tour, giving athletes the opportunity to compete for $12,000 USD prize purse and leading into the third event, the Nelscott Reef Big Wave Classic 2011 to be held this Fall/Winter in Oregon, USA.

The event will be webcast by Terra Peru and Billabong www.billabong.com/sa
For more info, please visit
www.billabong.com/sa/picoalto11 www.bigwaveworldtour.com

BWWT Ranking after Punta de Lobos (Chile)
1) Marcos Monteiro (Brazil) 2) Ramón Navarro (Chile) 3) Gabriel Villarán (Peru)

Invitees

2011/2012 BWWT Top 12-
1) Jamie Sterling (Hawaii) 2) Kohl Christensen (Hawaii) 3) Anthony Tashnick (USA) 4) Carlos Burle (Brazil) 5) Marcos Monteiro (Brazil) 6) Peter Mel (USA) 7) Chris Bertish (South Africa) 8) Cristian Merello (Chile) 9) Greg Long (USA) 10) GabrielVillarán(Peru) 11) MarkHealey(Hawaii) 12) KealiiMamala(Hawaii)

Locals Invitees–
1) Gonzalo “Chendo” Velasco (Peru) 2) Rafael Velarde (Peru) 3) Sebastian de Romaña (Peru) 4) Javier Swayne (Peru)
5) Rafael Otero (Peru) 6) Jaime Venegas (Peru

Event Invitees–
1) Alvaro Malpartida (Peru) 2) Grant “Twiggy” Baker (South Africa) 3) Ian Walsh (Hawaii) 4) Danilo Couto (Brazil) 5) Ramón Navarro (Chile) 6) Frank Solomon (USA)