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)

Jamie Sterling to be crowned Big Wave World Champ

April 6, 2011 - Oceanside, CA – Closing out its second annual season, the Big Wave World Tour (BWWT) presented by Jim Beam Bourbon, will crown Hawaiian surfer Jamie Sterling the 2010/11 Big Wave World Champion. Sterling competed and secured top placements in three major Big Wave events in Chile, Peru, and Oregon placing him first in the 2010/11 season. The Big Wave community will join BWWT organizers to honor Sterling and celebrate the season at an award ceremony on April 30, 2011 at the Surfing Heritage Foundation in San Clemente, CA.

Jamie is not scared! (Photo: BWWT)

The BWWT brings together a selection of the top big wave surfers from around the globe to take on the most extreme waves. Organizers monitor weather conditions to identify when each event will take place, providing riders with only 48-hours to arrive at the break and compete.
“Jamie is an extremely hard working athlete and his determination is inspiring,” said Gary Linden, BWWT director. “His performance at our three events this year and his 1st place finish at Pico Alto Peru made him the undeniable champion.”

Jamie knows how to win. (Photo: BWWT)

The season kicked off with the Quiksilver Ceremonial Punta de Lobos in Punta de Lobos, Chile on May 19, 2010. The Southern Hemisphere produced tremendous waves and local underground charger Cristian Merello scored a first place finish after surfing the 30 foot plus left-handers.
Sterling began his year as a highly motivated alternate competitor after injuries prevented him from qualifying to compete in the inaugural season of the Big Wave World Tour last year. In order to secure his standing, Sterling spent a month training in Chile prior to the event and secured a 4th place finish.
Following Chile, the tour continued on to Pico Alto, Peru for the Billabong Pico Alto Invitacional on August 19, 2010, where competitors surfed some of the biggest waves ever seen during a competition at the famous Peruvian spot. Sterling secured a first place win surfing waves over 40 foot face and established his lead heading into the Northern Hemisphere season.
On November 2, 2010, competitors made their way to Nelscott Reef, Oregon for the Nelscott Reef Big Wave Classic where Sterling earned 3rd place. Hawaiian Kohl Christensen placed first battling 40-50 foot waves.
Events typically held in Todos Santos, Ensenada, Mexico and Mavericks in Half Moon Bay, CA were not held this year due to unsuitable conditions within the competition window.

On April 30, 2011, the big wave community will gather at the Surfing Heritage Foundation, to crown this season’s Big Wave World Champion, surrounded by the Foundation’s extensive collection of historical surfboards and a new exhibit about the history of Big Wave riding.

For more check out - Big Wave World Tour

I will hopefully have an interview with the man himself soon. In the meantime, if you doubt his commitment, just take a look at this video from maxing Puerto!