Cover photo: Cardoso in the swell that escaped last year. Photo: Mormaii/Thisted

Chileans Cristian Merello, Rafael Tapia and Diego Medina, Peruvians Gabriel Villarán and Álvaro Malpartida along with Mexican Carlos "Coco" Nogales were invited to the Mormaii Big Wave Challenge, a big wave tournament held at Praia do Cardoso, south of Santa Catarina, Brazil.

According to the Brazilian website, the tournament opened its waiting period today, May 17, and is already on yellow alert. The waiting window for waves runs until November 30, and in addition to the aforementioned surfers, it will feature Lucas Chianca, Andrew Cotton, Rodrigo Koxa, Fabio Gouveia and Ross Clarke-Jones.

Last year, the same waiting period was carried out, but the waves required for the championship to take place did not arrive at the minimum three-metre mark.

The full list of invited athletes includes: 
Carlos Burle (BRA)
Antonio Silva (POR)
Andrew Cotton (ENG)
Rafel Tapia (CHI)
Coco Nogales (MEX)
Lucas Chumbo (BRA)
Diego Medina (CHI)
Lucas Silveira (BRA)
Alvaro Malpartida (PER)
Drake Hickman (HAV)
Pedro Calado (BRA)
Felipe Cesarano (BRA)
Jarryd Foster (AUS)
Rodrigo Koxa (BRA)
Cristian Merello (CHI)
Marcos Monteiro (BRA)
Lapo Coutinho (BRA)
Alex Botelho (POR)
Everaldo Pato (BRA)
Gabriel Villaran (PER)
Paulo Moura (BRA)
Mick Corbs (AUS)
Fabio Gouveia (BRA)
Ross Clarke-Jones (AUS)