Surfing
Surfing
Experience big waves at Nazaré at as they reaches new heights
Back in January 2018, the swell forecast at Nazaré promised one of the biggest ever days of surf to date. It didn't disappoint. Witness Portugal's giant turn it up to the max.
In early 2018, the big-wave footage rolling in from around the world was trully heart-pumping. First it was Hawaii's legendary Jaws and then that other doyen of big wave surfing Nazaré in Portugal.This was not just any old Nazaré either. On January 18, the Portuguese beast also known as Praia do Norte showed up with waves the size of mountains.
Not every big wave surfer could be there for the show. Many are still in Maui and California, which just finished a fantastic run of massive surf, but the European contingent were present and ready.
Maya Gabeira tows into a massive right
© Ricardo Bravo
Benjamin Sanchis stands between two Nazaré mountains
© Ricardo Bravo
In the week leading up to that swell, some did make it across from the other side of the world. One such man was consummate Aussie hellman Ross Clarke-Jones. He had bounced from Portugal to New York to Hawaii and back again. "Seriously, the money I spent and all the flying, it was just so worth it for those one or two waves."
Benjamin Sanchis had been in Hawaii, too, surfing Jaws, and made a last-minute decision to fly back to Nazaré after talking about the swell forecast with Clarke-Jones. It was a good call – he bagged one of the biggest waves of the day.
But it was Sebastian Steudtner, perhaps Nazaré's best charger, who owned the day – not because he caught the biggest wave; he didn't quite – but because he revealed his secret weapon for taking on Naz. "I woke up this morning and had a slice of lasagne that my mum made," he let us know.
