A VIDEO TRIP DOWN TO ERICEIRA

Ever wonder how Ericeira became the center of surfing in Portugal? Well then watch this video (made in November 2011) – it’s your chance to find the answer.

Check out the morocco surfing photo gallery!

ERICEIRA TO BE PART OF FIRST INTERNATIONAL SURF NETWORK

On November 15^th -16^th, representatives from 9 surfing Meccas gathered in Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain to plan a new economic surf network, which will include Ericeira, Portugal, Europe’s surfing capital.

In these times of economic crisis, the business aspect of surfing is being looked to as a source of wealth and job creation for the 9 ‘surf cities’ represented at the conference. Besides San Sebastián, the Surf City Cluster includes Arica, Chile; Durban, South Africa; Hossegor, France; Gold Coast, Australia; Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain; Newcastle, Australia; Santos, Brazil and of course our very own Ericeira, Portugal.

From the conference’s Press Release:

In addition, representatives of Fomento de San Sebastián will talk about the latest activities of the Surf City Cluster, gathering about 50 economic actors, including companies, public agencies, research centres, and universities. The cluster’s coordinated action is intended to meet the challenges of the sector, committing to technology and innovation in all business processes and to adequate training as basic tools to improve company competitiveness and sustainability.

Sounds like good news for surfing in Ericeira and for Rapture Surf Camp – Portugal.

After being recently recognized as one of only 2 official World Surfing Reserves and now as a crucial link in a chain of 9 surf cities, can Ericeira now be considered the best surfing location in the world?

That is a hard nut to crack. Better come to Portugal and see for yourself.

Read more on the new international surf network or “9 cities” in this IBT website report.

Check out the morocco surfing photo gallery!

Surfing in Portugal and Beyond

Here are a couple of bits of news concerning a recent surfing event (well, bodyboarding anyway) in Portugal and what just might break the record for the biggest wave ever surfed – in Ireland of all places. Did I say that it’s a slow week in the world of surfing? Not at all! This January, big waves rule in Portugal and Ireland.

On January 6th the fifth Sumol Nazaré Special Edition bodyboarding competition took place at Praia do Norte. Winner of the big wave title for the 2011 Sumol Nazaré Special Edition is world bodyboarding champion Pierre-Louis Costes, who conquered Praia do Norte’s 3.5-meter waves.

From Surftoday.com

Speaking of McNamara, one of his teammates, Ireland’s Al Mennie, who was present at the 90ft (possibly) record-breaking run at Nazaré, has found two spots off the coast of Ireland that produce 120ft waves. The precise location of the waves off of County Antrim and the County Donegal are secret so that inexperienced surfers do not expose themselves to the dangerous waves and currents.

This is my mission. The good days are few and far between. 90 percent of the swells are unrideable and we’d reckon that only two days each year are rideable.

–Al Mennie

Check out the morocco surfing photo gallery!