Epic Monday at Nazare - video
Nazare is increasingly becoming a base for big wave surfers during the northern hemi winter. And paddle surfers are increasingly navigating its treacherous line up. Take this vid for example. It's the first swell of the season, the impact zone is big and unpredictable, a minefield for those stroking in, yet have you ever seen so many paddle waves in a session here?
Though the wave itself isn't as dangerous as, say, Jaws or Mavs, surely the consequences of being caught inside are far worse? Take a set on the head, get pulled into a place where no ski can rescue you, then it's 500 metres of rolling whitewash till your feet touch terra firma.
In the past I've complained about every Nazare clip using a string orchestra soundtrack. You know, serious old world music, for serious old world waves. This clip uses neoclassical metal - that's a real genre in case you're wondering - and I'm not sure if it's an improvement or not.
Anyway, check it out. The action starts around 1:20.
Comments
Tow ins are the future of big wave performance. The evidence is there.
Old Rubes did fuck all out there eh!
Lots of excitement in the car for one take off on a fat 8ft shoulder
He He.
He's having a crack though, good on him for getting out there
Yeah it's huge but after it breaks it's a fat floating turd! Next!
This looks like a dopey place to go paddling! Is there supposed to be something noble about paddling at a break like this?
That place is an amphitheater of awesome.
Seems a little underwhelming TBH.
It's not that what they're doing is unimpressive - it is indeed quite impressive - but it just seems that for a big A-frame with little to no wall, if it's not gigantic, then it's a little 'meh'.
And how's that bloody music! Sounds like Joe Satriani doing the soundtrack for Pirates of the Carribean with Joan Sutherland rocking the mic.
Your a tough crowd thermalben, wouldn't paddle out at supertubos and you don't rate nazare with the likes of g Mac having a crack. You must score some beauts!
Eh? I said "it is indeed quite impressive".
In cany case, I'm speaking from an armchair punter's perspective. Of course I'm not going to paddle out at massive Nazare, but as a viewer - this footage didn't raise the bar from what I've seen over the last few years.
It's the same everywhere else too: Teahupoo doesn't seem to attract any attention now unless it's a Code Red-kinda swell. The Right has to be 15ft+ with two blokes riding the same wave simultaneously before anyone raises any eyebrow. Etc etc. We're all somewhat desensitised to massive, death defying surf unless it's a little more critical than the last footage we watched.
But my comments on Supertubos the other day were mirrored by just about everyone else because it was shithouse.
Haha I must be easily pleased , it was pretty shit looking but I'd still of gone for a paddle coz supertubos. Likewise at Nazare I thought this clip was cool because it had more paddlers, the guy getting smashed at 2:00 is insane, meh? Nah. How about the bloke at 2:35 about to attemp to dive under a mountain.Pros getting towed into code red chopes etc seems so unreal to me it's scary but a million miles away from anything I'd ever do. When i see Rubén hugging the shoulder of a small one clearly shitting himself I think yeah that'd be me if I ever had the balls/ability/know how to get out there in the first place and it seems just as if not more impressive. I don't feel desensitised but I don't get through as much surf porn as most, had to cut down when the eyes started going.
Yeah, fair comments but the size and the layout makes for good vision.
Surfed the beach about 30 years ago at around 6ft and it beat me up. Hate to think what it would do at that size. Full points for just going out.
Peter Mel's short instagram water angle clip of the same swell is pretty awesome. Taken from the back of Garrett McNamara's jet ski.
Get the feeling you'd paddle for a 20 ft lump only to have it transform into a 40 ft A-frame.
fattys
Neoclassical metal, ha, is that a sub-genre of KrautRock?
What about a refined long tow board ?
Anyway, check it out. The action starts around 1:20.....
I can't remember the last time I watch any surf video before the guys ride a wave. Surely everyone click, clicks until something worthwhile starts. Such fodder in surf videos today. Car ride, mobile phone, airport terminal... Just bloody show some surfing from the start of the edit. Why does everyone clone this method when no one is watching it.