Nazare in Portugal has always had a reputation for producing small to medium sized heavy waves, but not until relatively recently has it entered the top flight of big wave spots. It has been thrown into the limelight thanks to Hawaiian hell man Garrett McNamara.
He spotted the unique way an offshore canyon focuses swell on the coast and saw the potential that the wave could produce the biggest surf ever ridden. He was correct and on more than one occasion potential 100ft swells, the holy grail in big wave surfing, have appeared. But although it has been ridden in the 60-80ft range the elusive world record hasn’t quite been hit.