Praia do Norte in the Spotlight Among Big Wave Challenge Award Nominees

Praia do Norte, in Nazaré, once again takes center stage in the world of big-wave surfing. Ten nominations for the 2026 Big Wave Challenge Awards are associated with waves surfed at Praia do Norte, across four different categories. The winners will be announced on September 19 at a gala in California.

The Big Wave Challenge has announced the nominees for the 2025/2026 edition, and among the various categories there is one common denominator: Praia do Norte features in ten of the nominations, through waves ridden by some of the biggest names in big-wave surfing.

Waves from Praia do Norte are represented across four categories: Wipeout of the Year, Men’s Biggest Wave, Women’s Biggest Wave and Men’s Biggest Paddle.

In the Men’s Biggest Wave category, all the nominations are associated with Praia do Norte, with Lucas “Chumbo” Chianca, Rodrigo Koxa and Clement Roseyro delivering incredible performances on giant waves at Praia do Norte, one of the world’s most iconic venues for big-wave surfing.

Praia do Norte is equally strongly represented in the Women’s Biggest Wave category. Nominees Justine Dupont, Michelle des Bouillons and Michaela Fregonese all have waves surfed at Praia do Norte among the performances highlighted.

The presence of the three surfers once again places Praia do Norte at the heart of women’s big-wave surfing, in a category that has helped bring increasing visibility to women’s participation in this extreme side of the sport.

The connection with Praia do Norte also extends to the Men’s Biggest Paddle category, dedicated to the biggest waves caught by paddling. Grant Baker and Jojo Roper are the two nominees associated with waves at Praia do Norte in this category.

The power of Praia do Norte is also represented in Wipeout of the Year, which recognizes some of the most impressive and extreme moments experienced by surfers. Lucas “Chumbo” Chianca and Alberto Truncer are nominated for waves ridden at Praia do Norte.

These moments show another dimension of big-wave surfing: beyond records and outstanding performances, Praia do Norte is also a place where surfers are pushed to their limits.

Across the four categories, there are ten nominations associated with waves surfed at Praia do Norte, Nazaré.

The winners will be announced on September 19, during the Big Wave Challenge gala at the Lido Theater in Newport Beach, California, USA.

Until then, Praia do Norte once again stands among the great protagonists of the world of big-wave surfing.