Dupont and Chianca Win TUDOR Nazaré Big Wave Challenge
Justine Dupont and Lucas “Chumbo” Chianca claim victory at the 2025-26 TUDOR Nazaré Big Wave Challenge in Nazaré, Portugal, in 40-50ft tow-in surf.
Praia do Norte did what it does best this weekend – turn the Atlantic into a moving wall of consequence.
The 2025-26 TUDOR Nazaré Big Wave Challenge was officially run on Saturday, December 13, 2025, when a powerful swell marched into Nazaré, Portugal and lit up the canyon-fed peaks with wave faces in the 12-15m (40-50ft) range.
And when the dust settled (as much as it ever does at Nazaré), two of the sport’s most proven chargers were standing tallest: Brazil’s Lucas “Chumbo” Chianca captured Best Men’s Performance, while France’s Justine Dupont locked in her second straight Best Women’s Performance at this event.
Chumbo’s win was earned the hard way
Chianca’s day read like a highlight reel and a survival story at the same time.
Early in the opening heat, he committed to a massive peak, hit chop at speed, and paid the price – getting pitched and swallowed in a wipeout that left him held down for nearly 30 seconds before surfacing dangerously close to the cliff zone. Big-wave legend Sebastian Steudtner was in position and executed the rescue.
If that was enough to send most people to the beach for good, Chianca didn’t take the hint. He went right back out, endured another heavy fall, and still managed to post the numbers that mattered – finishing with a 23.60/30, edging Portugal’s Nic von Rupp (23.46) by the slimmest of margins.
A power outage changed the ending – not the winners
The day wasn’t just defined by swell size and commitment. It was also shaped by logistics.
A power outage cut into the schedule and ultimately meant the final results were determined by the standings after the first of two planned rounds. That left the scoreboard brutally simple: do enough damage early, or go home wishing you’d taken one more. Chianca did enough.
Justine Dupont stays untouchable at Nazaré
On the women’s side, Justine Dupont looked exactly like what she is right now – the most dependable big-wave performer in the field when the ocean turns serious. Dupont posted a winning 19.87/30, finishing ahead of Michelle des Bouillons (17.50) and Laura Crane (11.93).
It’s a result that reinforces what the last few seasons have shown: when Nazaré is truly awake, Dupont is one of the safest bets in all of big-wave surfing – not “safe” as in cautious, but safe as in consistent under maximum pressure.
![Pedro Vianna is a big wave surfer who competed in the [#######] TUDOR Nazaré Big Wave Challenge, partnering with Lucas Chianca. Although they didn't win the individual awards, they placed second in the team competition.](https://revoltinstyle.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Pedro-Vianna.webp)
The team battle: von Rupp and Roseyro do it again
While Chianca and Dupont took the individual awards, the Best Team Performance went to the duo that’s become nearly synonymous with this event: Nic von Rupp (POR) and Clement Roseyro (FRA).
Their combined total of 45.46/60 narrowly topped Chianca and partner Pedro “Scooby” Vianna at 45.40/60 – a margin that says everything about how tight the battle was even in conditions that looked like pure chaos from the cliffs.
Final results: 2025-26 TUDOR Nazaré Big Wave Challenge
Men
Lucas Chianca – 23.60
Nic von Rupp – 23.46
Clement Roseyro – 21.99
Pedro Scooby – 21.80
Women
Justine Dupont – 19.87
Michelle des Bouillons – 17.50
Laura Crane – 11.93
Teams
