Caption: The 2017 Puerto Escondido Challenge will see the world’s best big wave surfers compete LIVE today starting at 7:05 AM CST (5 AM PST / 9 AM BRT / 1 PM GMT).
Credit: © WSL / Heff

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PUERTO ESCONDIDO, Mexico (Monday, July 31, 2017) – Today, the World Surf League (WSL) Big Wave Tour (BWT) Puerto Escondido Challenge has been called ON starting at 7:05 a.m. CST (5 AM PST / 9 AM BRT / 1 PM GMT). The infamous big wave break of Mainland Mexico’s Puerto Escondido will produce 20-25 foot wave faces to challenge the world’s best surfers big wave surfers in the first Big Wave Tour event of the season.

“We are ON for a 7:05 a.m. start with Round 1,” said Mike Parsons, WSL Big Wave Tour Commissioner. “We are seeing great conditions out there right now to set us up for an exciting day of competition. The winds are offshore and there is solid size that is expected to build throughout the day. Best of luck to all of our competitors.”

Today’s Puerto Escondido Challenge will witness 24 men battle the elements for the first Big Wave Tour win of the season. Only the top three finishers will advance out of each heat of Round 1. From there, the competitors will advance to the Semifinals, where the top three competitors from each Semifinal heat will get an opportunity to surf in the Final.

The event will be broadcast LIVE via WorldSurfLeague.com, the WSL app and on Facebook Live via the WSL’s Facebook page. Also check the local listings for coverage on CBS Sports Network in the U.S., Fox Sports in Australia, ESPN in Brazil, Sky NZ in New Zealand, SFR Sports in France and Portugal and as part of the EDGEsport Network.

2017 BWT Puerto Escondido Challenge Round 1 Match-Ups:
Heat 1: Grant Baker (ZAF), Billy Kemper (HAW), Cristian Merello (CHL), Trevor Carlson (HAW), Nathan Florence (HAW), Angelo Lozano (MEX)
Heat 2: Alex Botelho (PRT), Will Skudin (USA), Makuakai Rothman (HAW), Peter Mel (USA), Jimel Corzo (MEX), Coco Nogales (MEX)
Heat 3: Pedro Calado (BRA), Nic Lamb (USA), Kai Lenny (HAW), Tom Lowe (GBR), Rusty Long (USA), Jose Ramirez (MEX)
Heat 4: Jamie Mitchell (AUS), João de Macedo (PRT), Francisco Porcella (ITA), Damien Hobgood (USA), Rogercin Ramirez (MEX), Oscar Moncado (MEX)

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