ASP Green Alert: Season's First Big Wave Event LIVE on Thursday

"The system has intensified off of Antarctica and is heading towards South America with ideal conditions projected for Peru," said Peter Mel, ASP Big Wave Commissioner. "We have greenlit the Billabong Pico Alto event for a start on Thursday and are very excited to get the 2014/2015 season underway. We had initially placed both Chile and Peru on Yellow Alert, but after closely monitoring the data and charts over the past couple of days, we have determined that Peru will have the ideal elements necessary for this particular swell. We’re excited. It’s on."

The 2014/2015 BWWT season is divided into Southern Hemisphere and Northern Hemisphere components hosting three possible events within each. The Southern Hemisphere window runs from April 15 to August 31, 2014 with event options in Chile, Peru and South Africa. The Northern Hemisphere window runs from October 15, 2014 to February 28, 2015 with event options in Mexico, the Basque Region of Spain and Maui.

"We have the best big wave surfers on the planet traveling to Peru from all over the world in anticipation of this swell and the event," Mel continued. "The last time we ran the event in Peru was in 2012 and Carlos Burle, of Brazil, was victorious and the swell we have forming for Thursday’s event will provide an incredible platform upon which these watermen will test their skills.."

A team of experts track swell systems all over the world waiting for those that will produce waves in the 30-foot-and-larger range for one of the six world-class big wave venues.

Surfline, official forecasters for the 2014/2015 ASP BWWT season are calling for:

The largest swell of the year, thus far, and one of the more impressive swells of the last couple years will slam South America over the next few days, with a peak in surf for Southern Peru and Pico Alto on Thursday, July 3rd.

There are several factors that will make this a special swell for Peru and the rest of South America: a large, slow-moving storm that took a favorable track toward Peru and Chile, producing satellite-confirmed wind of 40-55 knots over a wide fetch and seas in excess of 45 feet; strong high pressure on the storm’s northwestern flank, which greatly aids the consistency of wind in the storm; and a previously excited sea state.

We will see a very long period, powerful swell produce face heights in the 25-40 foot range on the sets at Pico Alto on Thursday, with some larger bombs not out of the question. The swell is expected to remain strong all day. Furthermore, thanks to the size and track of the storm, we should see lots of waves in the sets when they do show. Local wind will be most favorable in the morning when we expect to see light and variable to light southerly wind early, with building onshore wind from the south around 9-15 knots in the afternoon.

The 24-man field for the Billabong Pico Alto will be comprised of the ASP BWWT Top 12, lead by reigning world champion Grant 'Twiggy' Baker, as well as six ASP wildcards and six local wildcards:

ASP BWWT Top 12:

1. Grant Baker (ZAF)

2. Ken Collins (USA)

3. Nic Lamb (USA)

4. Shawn Dollar (USA)

5. Kohl Christensen (HAW)

6. Alex Gray (USA)

7. Greg Long (USA)

8. Ryan Augestein (USA)

9. Anthony Tashnick (USA)

10. Ramon Navarro (CHL)

11. Jamie Mitchell (AUS)

12. Tyler Fox (USA)

ASP BWWT Peru Wildcards:

1. Kelly Slater (USA)

2. Ben Wilkinson (AUS)

3. Makua Rothman (HAW)

4. Jamie Sterling (HAW)

5. Carlos Burle (BRA)

6. Gabriel Villaran (PER)

Local Peru Wildcards:

1. Miguel Tudela

2. Rafael Velarde

3. Kodiak Semsch

4. Tamil Martino

5. Alejo Loret del Mola

6. Renzo Zazzali

The Billabong Pico Alto will be webcast LIVE via ASPWorldTour.com