Extreme Sports

Surfing in Portugal has been around for a while. A few pioneers in the 60′s began taking on the waves of Costa da Caparica, and soon enough it caught on with a select group of other enthusiasts. In the early days boards and wetsuits weren’t easily available, and the surfers depended on those who had boards brought back from other countries. Later on in the 70′s traveling Australian surfers left or exchanged boards and wetsuits for accommodation and transport, and slowly the surfing community was able to grow. In those days there were still few surfers, and many spots now well known where being surfed for the first time.

The first big surfing boom happened in the 80′s when surfing really took off as a sport and surf shops started opening up. With more than 600km of coast facing the Atlantic Ocean, Portugal has great surf potential , both in summer and winter. However, on the international scene it has held a low profile. In Europe, both  France and Spain have held a much higher profile in terms of the international surf community, Both these countries have been a fixture of the WCT ( World Circuit Tour – the world surfing championship is held throughout the year with events in various parts of the world ). Portugal on the other hand has been kept as somewhat of a secret for those in the know.

This has changed  drastically as of October 2009 , when Rip Curl decided to include Peniche as one of the places for the WCT. From one day to the other, with the help of live web cams, the world got to know of Portugal’s surf potential. The competition was a success. The quality and variety different waves surprised everyone, from organizers to the pro surfers. Portugal was put in the surfing map. The contest was so successful that it is being held again this year in Peniche.

 Last year I was surfing in Nicaragua , and few people had heard about Portugal. They knew there was waves but had no specific information. This year, in Bali, the mere mention of Portugal brings about an enthusiastic response – ” yeah Portugal! Great waves I saw the web  cast !!”

 Despite the impact of the competition in Peniche, it wasn’t the only event pushing Portugal’s name forward in the international community. Two years ago , the first Portuguese surfer joined the rank of the world’s top 40 surfers, and began  competing in the WCT. His name is Tiago Pires and has gained good acclaim from his fellow surfers on tour- What does all this mean?

Young guns

Well basically it means the surf industry has its eyes on Portuguese surfing. There are a few major brands that dominate the surf industry – Rip Curl, Billabong and Quicksilver amongst them. They are also the major sponsors for upcoming surfers. Being sponsored is a big step for any upcoming young surfer. It means someone is backing you. They pay for surf trips, boards. The kids appear in surf films, magazines and get international exposure. These kids can then go on to concentrate on their surfing careers, and, as is the dream with most, hope to end up on the WCT. With the kind of backing and sponsorship happening now because of Portugal elevated profile, we may see a few more Portuguese surfers climbing the ranks to find their place in the top 40.

Crowds

Some people fear that this exposure may also bring unwanted crowds to the Portuguese waves. In a way in might, but with more than 600 km of coast, there is bound to be enough waves for everyone! Portugal has always attracted visitors, and with surfing’s recent popularity worldwide, numerous surf schools and surf camps have opened up down the country. For those visiting from Europe, Portugal presents itself a place with sunny weather, beautiful beaches, great waves, great food and great people. Also with low cost airlines, a trip to Portugal is extremely affordable.

Save the  Waves

There is a wave in Madeira island that was well known within the big wave surf community. The waves name is Jardim do Mar. The government in the island decided to construct a wave breaker using concrete structures right in front of where the wave breaks. There was a threat that the wave would never be the same again, or worst, become un-surfable. The local surf community protested, and the international organization – Save the Waves Coalition helped to make a movie documenting the whole thing. Despite the protests, the government went about and did their project. The wave still works, but has become extremely dangerous on high tides. (Meanwhile, the same government went about building a marina in a place where another wave used to work. This wave is now lost forever and the marina is out of business. )

A few years back in mainland Portugal, a project to install several jetty’s in one of Lisbon’s most popular surf beaches was met with a united outcry from the surf community. This time, enough pressure was exalted and the project was put off – this time the surf community had won. The point is that waves are allays in threat of disappearing – whether through bad coastal management, inappropriate sea side construction or pollution.  Surfers aren’t heard with a credible  voice by governments, and sometimes surfing isn’t seen as a credible sport. After all, millions are spent on building football stadiums, while the waves surfers surf are threatened to be destroyed. With surfing’s profile elevated in the country, and surf tourism seen as valuable commodity, then perhaps the powers that be will think about the conservation of waves instead of their destruction!

Conclusion

The increased awareness of surfing as a sport, brought about by such events as the Rip Curl pro in Peniche, will hopefully have a positive effect for everyone. From the exposure and oportunity it will give to up coming surfers, to giving credibility to the causes surfers fight for, such as wave protection and keeping the oceans clean. Surfing is to be enjoyed by everyone, and with the right spirit and attitude , we can all have fun in the water !