By Ella P. and Fiona H.

What is Nazaré’s history?

Nazaré is a little town in Portugal. Nazaré has some very big and scary waves that have reached almost one hundred feet. The season of the biggest waves is from October to March. The tallest wave in Nazaré is 93.73 feet, surfed by Sebastian Steudtner. Nazaré is where a lot of big wave surfers go. Only one person had died trying to surf Nazaré, and that was Marcio Freire, known as “Mad Dog.” Freire fell off the jet ski well being towed, and despite being rescued and attempted to be revived, Freire had passed away. 

Garrett Macniminer

Garett Macniminer surfed Nazaré for more than a decade.; we retired in 2023. The highest wave Garrett ever rode in Nazaré is a 78-foot wave in November 2011. Garett was one of the surfers who really made Nazaré a popular big wave surf spot.

Nazarés Surf Competition

Garett Macniminer was the founder of the TUDOR. The TUDOR Nazaré Big Wave Challenge is a competition held in Nazaré. TUDOR is one of the biggest big wave surfer competitions in the world. Clement Roseyro won the men’s division, and Justine Dupont won the women’s division in the most recent competition. 

Why are Nazaré Waves So Big?

Some reasons why Nazaré’s waves are so big are: Nazaré’s Canyon, a deep underwater canyon, and an interaction of waves as they get to the shore that funnels and amplifies the swells.

How to Surf Nazaré Big Waves

To surf Nazaré, surfers need to be experienced. When people go to surf Nazaré, they usually bring a partner they can trust. Surfers need a partner because they need someone who can rescue them if they are in any sort of danger. The surfers also use a method that helps them catch the big waves. It is called tow-in surfing. Tow-in surfing is when a jet ski puts you on a wave that looks good, and then the surfer surfs it. Surfers have to do this because the waves are too big and powerful. Overall, Nazaré is a beautiful and big wave place.