Teammates Clement Roseyro of France and Nic von Rupp of Portugal, and France’s Justine Dupont stole the show at the World Surf League’s 2024-25 Tudor Nazaré Big Wave Challenge, held in massive, powerful and unruly conditions off the coast of Praia do Norte, Portugal, on Tuesday.

Roseyro claimed the men’s title at the tow-in event with a total score of 21.83. Brazil’s Lucas ‘Chumbo’ Chianca (18.67) took second, and Scotland’s Ben Larg (16.63) edged Brazil’s Pedro ‘Scooby’ Vianna (16.53) and von Rupp (16.04) for third place.

“It has been blood, sweat and tears for 10 years, 15 years,” said von Rupp, during the awards ceremony. “Nazaré is such an important place for us. This season, we put it all on the line. … We pushed the levels two weeks ago, when it was really big, and we pushed the levels winning the event, as well.”

With two-time defending champion Maya Gabeira retired from professional competition, Dupont cruised to her third women’s title with a 19.06 total. Brazil’s Michelle des Bouillons (13.03) took second, and Great Britain’s Laura Crane (4.71), who exited the competition early with an undisclosed injury, took third.

Dupont, who has a 13-month-old son, Elio, said being a mother has eased her mind on the water.

“I used to have a lot of fear before,” Dupont said. “Now, after the baby, I’m more worried about my child, whether they are sleeping or eating. At least it takes my mind off the fear!”

Roseyro and von Rupp finished with a 37.87 total to unseat Brazil’s Chianca and Vianna, who posted a 35.20 total, as team champions. Larg and Great Britain’s Andrew Cotton took third with a 31.72 total.

Waves were listed as 14-plus feet by multiple online sites. Hundreds of fans took in the competition on the bluffs near Farol da Nazaré, which overlook the break.

Each surfer competed in two, 45-minute heats with their teammate on the heralded and iconic beach break. Each heat, their best two wave scores factored into their total, with the top wave score doubled.

von Rupp was shown updated standings by a WSL commentator following the fifth of six heats, seconds after Chianca and Vianna completed their afternoon with their second heat, and he was unable to contain his emotions. von Rupp and Roseyro clung to a narrow lead over the Brazilians, which made them essentially a lock for the title.

“We’re still in first (expletive),” von Rupp yelled. “(Expletive), we’ve been working so hard. We’ve been putting everything on the line the last couple of months, waiting for this day, whether it’s onshore, whether it’s offshore, whether it’s 100 foot, whether it’s 20 foot, whether its six foot, we’re out there, and it’s paying off.

“We didn’t have our best day ever. Clement driving, surfing; he did great. And me surfing, it was not what I was hoping, but very tough conditions, and you just gotta survive through those moments and hopefully take the title.”

They did exactly that.

Chianca, recovering from broken foot sustained while surfing at Mavericks a little over a month ago, wasn’t at his best in the morning session, but heated up as the waves grew bigger in the afternoon.

“Really tough conditions,” Vianna said. “I think it’s harder for Lucas than me. Of course I’m not happy, but we tried our best.”

Chianca said he felt bad that he didn’t find good waves for his partner while manning the ski.

“The swell wasn’t the best, but, for sure, it was the same for everybody,” Chianca said.

Crane suffered an injury in her first heat and didn’t compete with her partner in the final heat.