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And I might add ... women, too.I wonder if any pilgrims walking the Portuguese Coastal Route have seen any of these crazy men? and if any one lingered there to watch the waves which are some of the biggest in the world?
I wonder if any pilgrims walking the Portuguese Coastal Route have seen any of these crazy men? and if any one lingered there to watch the waves which are some of the biggest in the world?
Winter waves don't come in the summer, and are unpredictable even in the winter. I grew up thinking surf reports on the radio were totally normal — as were predictable defections to the beach if the surf was up. Amazing how a few kids in school would always have colds in the wintertime when the surf was up - bad enough to keep them out of their classes. Everybody knows that the best thing for a cold is a good swim in the ocean...The sea was nearly as flat as pancake on the day that we were at that beach.
When I first moved to Southern California as an 18 year old I was surprised that parties broke up so early. As a northern California girl I was used to parties lasting until around 3 am. I quickly learned that the surfers that I was partying with needed to get to bed early so that they could get up early to surf before school or work.Winter waves don't come in the summer, and are unpredictable even in the winter. I grew up thinking surf reports on the radio were totally normal — as were predictable defections to the beach if the surf was up. Amazing how a few kids in school would always have colds in the wintertime when the surf was up - bad enough to keep them out of their classes. Everybody knows that the best thing for a cold is a good swim in the ocean...
I visited Nazare last Christmas 2020 .., very impressive waves ! 2days after I left they were expecting giant waves and International teams of surfers and TV broadcasting crews were arriving at the spot!I often listen to National Public Radio (NPR) - and just tonight they did an expose on the town of Matosinhos which is directly on the Portuguese Coastal Route just about 8-9 kilometers north of Porto.
Apparently there is a massive ocean canyon offshore - twice the depth of the Grand Canyon (USA).
This geographical feature is the cause on giant waves - sometimes 40-60 feet high.
In order to promote the place, a local man who does body surfing spread the word world-wide about the giant waves there.
A famous big-wave surfer from Hawaii was interviewed on NPR about going there in search of the elusive 100 foot wave.
He said he rode a wave there 70 feet high - it is very dangerous and these guys do breathing exercises - if you wipe out you can be pushed underwater for 40-50 seconds by the massive waves. They have jet skis to support them when they surf.
There is a surfing school in town. Apparently accomplished surfers from California and Australia have found it to be a Mecca for them.
I wonder if any pilgrims walking the Portuguese Coastal Route have seen any of these crazy men? and if any one lingered there to watch the waves which are some of the biggest in the world?
Once I had 2 cats.. one was Kelly and the second one was Slater!! My children are surfers for ever !Watch the 2004 documentary, Riding Giants, featuring Laird Hamilton (probably one of the best big wave riders of all time), Jeff Clark (featured in Trecile's post above) and several other big wave chasers. Also a great history of the sport of surfing and how towing riders into the big waves changed the sport forever. Nazare' is famous for the huge break between two undersea mountains, but there are spots on the N. Shore of Oahu where the combo of wind, storm surge and power of the Pacific create monster waves each winter. Lots of construction workers call in sick every time we have a big storm coming in at Kona. Developer friends say it's a cost of doing business and just carry on. Aloha.
Thanks! Actually my son who isa good surfer said’ Great Mum! I see that your gang of oldies walkers are also interested in surf! For you to know!!If anyone wants to learn more about big waves and the people who surf them, I suggest Susan Casey's book "The Wave: In Pursuit of the Rogues, Freaks, and Giants of the Ocean." It is amazing.
I also saw a recent article and video where a woman set the world record giant wave ride just recently. But I am a bit confused. Nazare is due west of Fatima just north of Lisbon with lots of big wave information surrounding it. Matosinhos is just north of Porto. I am hoping to walk the Porto route next September and was disappointed I would not see the big waves referred to at Nazare. I couldn't find anything about big wave surfing at Matosinhos but pictures of what looks like good regular wave surfing. Is there big wave at Matosinhos also and if so does anyone know what time of year? Oh and be gentle I confuse easily.And I might add ... women, too.
Nazare's pretty well known now, and the surf there is epic. It's an amazing place. There were a couple of discussions about it here a while back - enjoy!
And
Thanks, Terry, for bringing a few new threads with new focuses recently to the forum...still camino related in their own way.I often listen to National Public Radio (NPR) - and just tonight they did an expose on the town of Matosinhos which is directly on the Portuguese Coastal Route just about 8-9 kilometers north of Porto.
Apparently there is a massive ocean canyon offshore - twice the depth of the Grand Canyon (USA).
This geographical feature is the cause on giant waves - sometimes 40-60 feet high.
In order to promote the place, a local man who does body surfing spread the word world-wide about the giant waves there.
A famous big-wave surfer from Hawaii was interviewed on NPR about going there in search of the elusive 100 foot wave.
He said he rode a wave there 70 feet high - it is very dangerous and these guys do breathing exercises - if you wipe out you can be pushed underwater for 40-50 seconds by the massive waves. They have jet skis to support them when they surf.
There is a surfing school in town. Apparently accomplished surfers from California and Australia have found it to be a Mecca for them.
I wonder if any pilgrims walking the Portuguese Coastal Route have seen any of these crazy men? and if any one lingered there to watch the waves which are some of the biggest in the world?
Hi AllI often listen to National Public Radio (NPR) - and just tonight they did an expose on the town of Matosinhos which is directly on the Portuguese Coastal Route just about 8-9 kilometers north of Porto.
Apparently there is a massive ocean canyon offshore - twice the depth of the Grand Canyon (USA).
This geographical feature is the cause on giant waves - sometimes 40-60 feet high.
In order to promote the place, a local man who does body surfing spread the word world-wide about the giant waves there.
A famous big-wave surfer from Hawaii was interviewed on NPR about going there in search of the elusive 100 foot wave.
He said he rode a wave there 70 feet high - it is very dangerous and these guys do breathing exercises - if you wipe out you can be pushed underwater for 40-50 seconds by the massive waves. They have jet skis to support them when they surf.
There is a surfing school in town. Apparently accomplished surfers from California and Australia have found it to be a Mecca for them.
I wonder if any pilgrims walking the Portuguese Coastal Route have seen any of these crazy men? and if any one lingered there to watch the waves which are some of the biggest in the world?
You have to be careful of the beaches on the southern Portuguese coast from Lisbon to Lagos. The beaches are often in narrow inlets with powerful rips along the edges, Definitely board surfing only.I often listen to National Public Radio (NPR) - and just tonight they did an expose on the town of Matosinhos which is directly on the Portuguese Coastal Route just about 8-9 kilometers north of Porto.
Apparently there is a massive ocean canyon offshore - twice the depth of the Grand Canyon (USA).
This geographical feature is the cause on giant waves - sometimes 40-60 feet high.
In order to promote the place, a local man who does body surfing spread the word world-wide about the giant waves there.
A famous big-wave surfer from Hawaii was interviewed on NPR about going there in search of the elusive 100 foot wave.
He said he rode a wave there 70 feet high - it is very dangerous and these guys do breathing exercises - if you wipe out you can be pushed underwater for 40-50 seconds by the massive waves. They have jet skis to support them when they surf.
There is a surfing school in town. Apparently accomplished surfers from California and Australia have found it to be a Mecca for them.
I wonder if any pilgrims walking the Portuguese Coastal Route have seen any of these crazy men? and if any one lingered there to watch the waves which are some of the biggest in the world?
After I walked the Camino I took the train down from Santiago to Porto and on to Lisbon. At times the train runs close to the ocean and I can attest, those are some huge waves. Certainly the biggest I've ever seen and I live on the east coast of USA.I often listen to National Public Radio (NPR) - and just tonight they did an expose on the town of Matosinhos which is directly on the Portuguese Coastal Route just about 8-9 kilometers north of Porto.
Apparently there is a massive ocean canyon offshore - twice the depth of the Grand Canyon (USA).
This geographical feature is the cause on giant waves - sometimes 40-60 feet high.
In order to promote the place, a local man who does body surfing spread the word world-wide about the giant waves there.
A famous big-wave surfer from Hawaii was interviewed on NPR about going there in search of the elusive 100 foot wave.
He said he rode a wave there 70 feet high - it is very dangerous and these guys do breathing exercises - if you wipe out you can be pushed underwater for 40-50 seconds by the massive waves. They have jet skis to support them when they surf.
There is a surfing school in town. Apparently accomplished surfers from California and Australia have found it to be a Mecca for them.
I wonder if any pilgrims walking the Portuguese Coastal Route have seen any of these crazy men? and if any one lingered there to watch the waves which are some of the biggest in the world?
The NPR piece only mentioned Matosinhos --and they only interview a couple of very serious male surfers from Hawaii. It was just a four minute piece.Hi All
Think there is some confusion here - Matosinhos and Nazare are several hours drive apart........but both great places with surf.
Not saying others are wrong, but this is the Matosinhos beach
Google maps provides an answer to this one: nope. The Southernmost yellow dot is Nazare, the other one, near Porto, is Matosinhos. That canyon stands out like a sore thumb. No doubt Matosinhos gets regular storm surf off the Atlantic, but the huge waves created by that canyon near Nazare are unique.I suspect that both places have these deep canyons just offshore causing the big waves.
I often listen to National Public Radio (NPR) - and just tonight they did an expose on the town of Matosinhos which is directly on the Portuguese Coastal Route just about 8-9 kilometers north of Porto.
Apparently there is a massive ocean canyon offshore - twice the depth of the Grand Canyon (USA).
This geographical feature is the cause on giant waves - sometimes 40-60 feet high.
In order to promote the place, a local man who does body surfing spread the word world-wide about the giant waves there.
A famous big-wave surfer from Hawaii was interviewed on NPR about going there in search of the elusive 100 foot wave.
He said he rode a wave there 70 feet high - it is very dangerous and these guys do breathing exercises - if you wipe out you can be pushed underwater for 40-50 seconds by the massive waves. They have jet skis to support them when they surf.
There is a surfing school in town. Apparently accomplished surfers from California and Australia have found it to be a Mecca for them.
I wonder if any pilgrims walking the Portuguese Coastal Route have seen any of these crazy men? and if any one lingered there to watch the waves
Nazare is about 100 k north of LisbonI often listen to National Public Radio (NPR) - and just tonight they did an expose on the town of Matosinhos which is directly on the Portuguese Coastal Route just about 8-9 kilometers north of Porto.
Apparently there is a massive ocean canyon offshore - twice the depth of the Grand Canyon (USA).
This geographical feature is the cause on giant waves - sometimes 40-60 feet high.
In order to promote the place, a local man who does body surfing spread the word world-wide about the giant waves there.
A famous big-wave surfer from Hawaii was interviewed on NPR about going there in search of the elusive 100 foot wave.
He said he rode a wave there 70 feet high - it is very dangerous and these guys do breathing exercises - if you wipe out you can be pushed underwater for 40-50 seconds by the massive waves. They have jet skis to support them when they surf.
There is a surfing school in town. Apparently accomplished surfers from California and Australia have found it to be a Mecca for them.
I wonder if any pilgrims walking the Portuguese Coastal Route have seen any of these crazy men? and if any one lingered there to watch the waves which are some of the biggest in the world?
Here is part of a thread I just posted in miscellaneous, but as it relates so strongly to your post I've put some of it here.I often listen to National Public Radio (NPR) - and just tonight they did an expose on the town of Matosinhos which is directly on the Portuguese Coastal Route just about 8-9 kilometers north of Porto.
Apparently there is a massive ocean canyon offshore - twice the depth of the Grand Canyon (USA).
This geographical feature is the cause on giant waves - sometimes 40-60 feet high.
In order to promote the place, a local man who does body surfing spread the word world-wide about the giant waves there.
A famous big-wave surfer from Hawaii was interviewed on NPR about going there in search of the elusive 100 foot wave.
He said he rode a wave there 70 feet high - it is very dangerous and these guys do breathing exercises - if you wipe out you can be pushed underwater for 40-50 seconds by the massive waves. They have jet skis to support them when they surf.
There is a surfing school in town. Apparently accomplished surfers from California and Australia have found it to be a Mecca for them.
I wonder if any pilgrims walking the Portuguese Coastal Route have seen any of these crazy men? and if any one lingered there to watch the waves which are some of the biggest in the world?
I never mentioned Nazare in my post - others did.Nazare is about 100 k north of Lisbon
So not on the coastal route from Porto
I never mentioned Nazare in my post - others did.
My Brierly guide book Camino Portuguese has Matosinhos just out of Porto on Stage 14 of the Portuguese Camino. Directly on the Coastal Route. Map on page 115. North of Porto-- like I said in my post. He gives 6 km to Foz do Douro then 6.1 km to Ponte which is a 15 minute walk from Matosinhos - his route dots go right through the place.
The NPR story never mentioned Nazare - so I didn't either.
Hey Terry I think maybe the NPR story was not quite accurate! Yes there is a surfing school at Matosinhos and there is a good wave to be ridden there. But the conditions that you describe ie giant waves and the deep canyon are at Nazare . Perhaps that is why other mentioned Nazare as well You can YouTube both places and check out the truly magnificent waves Regards RogerI never mentioned Nazare in my post - others did.
My Brierly guide book Camino Portuguese has Matosinhos just out of Porto on Stage 14 of the Portuguese Camino. Directly on the Coastal Route. Map on page 115. North of Porto-- like I said in my post. He gives 6 km to Foz do Douro then 6.1 km to Ponte which is a 15 minute walk from Matosinhos - his route dots go right through the place.
The NPR story never mentioned Nazare - so I didn't either. They mentioned Matoshinos.
I knew that there was one place in Portugal with giant waves for surfers but I would have been hard pressed to pinpoint it on a map, namely Nazaré.Hey Terry I think maybe the NPR story was not quite accurate! Yes there is a surfing school at Matosinhos and there is a good wave to be ridden there. But the conditions that you describe ie giant waves and the deep canyon are at Nazare . Perhaps that is why other mentioned Nazare as well You can YouTube both places and check out the truly magnificent waves Regards Roger
Actually an interesting story. Nazaré may be not on a Camino but it, too, was largely unknown to the world not so long ago and now it is known world-wide. It had about as many visitors (not body surfers) as the Camino had walkers in 2019 ... 335,000 ... and with so many visitors coming to an amazing place there are changes coming to it, too ... some good and some bad.Riding the giant: big wave surfing in Nazaré: Nazaré, specifically Praia do Norte or North Beach, is home to the biggest surfable waves on the planet. Ten years ago, it was unknown even in big-wave circles, but that changed when Garrett McNamara, a 52-year-old Hawaiian who is one of the pioneers of the sport, was given a tip-off by local bodyboarders. He came to Portugal for the first time in 2010
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