PERFECT BACKDOOR, ERICEIRA, PORTUGAL

This morning was truely a magical session. The swell had dropped from yesterday, leaving us with head high waves. Offshore wind and the approaching low tide, we surfed backdoor, and it was firing. Every body got some great waves, and even a few tubes. Riberia also looked good from across the channel, and possibly Coxos was good too, with the out going tide.
Later in the day the swell continued to drop and by mid afternoon there was only a few feet left. Foz do Lizandro had a few fun waves for everyone, and the intermediate surfers really enjoyed the conditions.

A great meal out in town tonight and an early start for another promising day tomorrow.
See you then

AMAZING WAVES…

Beautiful beaches and great waves help make Portugal a top destination for travelers and surfers alike. Those who don’t actually surf the massive waves can still appreciate their raw beauty and power. The sound of the surf and the spectacle of magnificent waves in Portugal are phenomena to behold. A great place to witness these waves are the various beaches or cliff top view points along the coast north from Cascais and Guincho, all the way up (about 30-40km) to Ericeira and beyond.

Television presenter and all-around adventurer Ben Fogle, who honeymooned with his wife on the Costa do Sol five years ago, writes about Portugal’s allure in a piece for the Telegraph:

Just five miles from the hotel is Guincho, a windy beach and a big draw for surfers of all kinds, where you’ll struggle to find an ounce of fat between the hundreds of Portuguese for whom the beach is a playground. Huge waves crash on to the pristine sand while children of all ages paddle gleefully in the shallows, squealing as the cold Atlantic water races up the beach.

–Ben Fogle

Guincho is famous – even in Portugal – for its big waves and fantastic views of soaring and rugged cliffs.

photo by Gustavo Veríssimo (Gustty on Flickr CC)

If you’re into big spectacular waves and want to see some amazing footage of surfers riding them, check out this incredible video of a break off the coast of Tahiti in French Polynesia called Teahupo. These uncommonly thick and fast waves create an unusual ‘vortex’ effect, which makes them dip below the surface of the ocean. The result is nothing short of breathtaking.

PORTUGAL MAKES WAVES: LIGA MEO PRO SURF AND ANOTHER BIG WAVE RECORD?

Portugal keeps rising on the global surfing stage.

In terms of extreme sports, Garrett McNamara has been getting a lot of attention due to his record-breaking big wave surf run back in November. McNamara rode a 90ft (27.4m) wave in Nazare, Portugal, prompting plenty of press, even from mainstream media sources.

Now he wants to tackle a 120ft (36.5m) wave, with the help of a special wet suit equipped with an oxygen pocket that provides a few minutes of breathing time, should he get trapped underwater by the massive waves.

From the Mother Nature Network:

McNamara has his plans all lined up, right down to the military-grade swell-monitoring equipment he’s using as well as the private jet that’s on standby to [whisk] him away to Portugal should conditions prove favorable for ridable 100-foot waves.

In other surfing news, Portugal’s Liga MEO Pro Surf – the country’s main national professional competition league – will now work in direct conjunction with the World Championships. The fact that Liga MEO Pro Surf is now connected with the World Championship’s sponsor, Rip Curl, means that Portugal’s top surfers will have a chance to qualify for the World’s at Liga MEO Pro Surf events.

The first of five Liga MEO Pro Surf events takes place in Ericeira on March 16-18th on Ribeira d’Ilhas beach. Surfers competing in Ericeira will get their chance to qualify for the 8th stage of the World Championships, which takes place in Peniche next October.

FOZ DO LIZANDRO

The surf here at Foz do Lizandro was small and a bit windy, but some really perfect conditions for those people who are past the beginner stage, and looking to catch their first green waves. The sets were about shoulder high, and very peaky. Although the wind was onshore, there were definitely some fun waves for everyone a little but frustrating on a short board but great fun on a longboard or mini mal.

Two of our new guests, one having never surfed, had a perfect day surfing, standing up on his first day on his first wave. While the rain in the morning did not dampen the new comers spirits, and they were rewarded later in the day with some beautiful sunshine after lunch.

The next days look like the weather is getting warmer, and the swell a little bigger. The forecast is also for some really nice offshore mornings coming Ericeira`s way.

All the best

STONE ROSES PLAY OPTIMUS ALIVE FESTIVAL IN JULY

I recently wrote about the upcoming Sumol Summer Fest, which will take place in Ericeira at the end of June. Sure, I joked a bit about not knowing any of the acts, but it was all in good fun and the fest promises to be a blast on the beach.

However – if you’re after a big UK style festival, but without all the mud and football hooligans hired as security guards, you might want try the Optimus Alive festival this summer in Oeiras, Portugal. That’s right: warm weather, beaches, cheaper food and drink and some bands you might like. What’s more, it’s just a short drive or bus ride to Ericeira if you want to catch the best waves Europe has to offer.

Optimus Alive Oeiras ‘12 is being billed as the ‘Greatest arts and music festival’. Dunno what the arts part is but some of the bands include the newly reformed Stone Roses, The Cure (newly reformed, resurrected, still huffing and puffing along, I don’t know…), Radiohead (geniuses, according to many people with thick, black glasses) and (wow) even Mazzy Star. Remember Mazzy Star? Sure they droned on a bit, but they were really good!

photo by Man Alive! (Flickr CC)

From UK Festival Guides:

To those that are new to the festival, Optimus Alive first launched in 2007 and traditionally features varied line-ups that give equal attention to stadium filling international headline live acts and DJs, alternative independent acts and home-grown Portuguese talent. With this year’s line-up set to total 90 acts, the five-stage, 55,000 capacity festival is rapidly becoming a force to be reckoned with on the international circuit; a statement that is enforced by NME who have cited it as one of the “best festivals outside the UK”. Previous artists to have played include Pearl Jam, Beastie Boys, Smashing Pumpkins, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Rage Against the Machine, Metallica, Coldplay and Blondie alongside legendary electronic acts and DJs such as The Chemical Brothers, The Prodigy, Deadmau5 and Simian Mobile Disco to name but a few.

Check out the Optimus Alive Oeiras ‘12 website for more info.