ZON North Canyon Show 2011
Hawaiian Garrett McNamara, is back in Portugal to embark on another mission exploring the waves of Nazaré.
After the huge success of last November – with several actions, traditional surf, tow-in and stand up paddle – the extreme waterman is going to lead the ZON North Canyon Show 2011, between October and November, while filming a second documentary.
Looks like Garrett McNamara is very excited with this new mission. “Last year I came to Nazaré without any expectations. Now I know the potential and I am looking forward to riding the biggest waves ever!!! Also to work with the Nazaré City Hall on the Aquatic Rescue Center and Environment Education Sea Center”, said GMAC, as he’s also known.
This is the second edition of a three year exploration that will end with a Big Wave event in 2012 – The Xtreme Waterman Challenge. Only the best teams in the world will be invited. It´s a serious commitment from the Nazaré City Hall, with the partnership of ZON, that wants to promote internationally the region as a prime destiny for surfing, show casing the unique aspects of the “Nazaré Canyon”.
The “Nazaré Canyon” is a rare geomorphology phenomenon, the biggest in Europe and one of the largest in the world, which can be explained as a gap on the continental plate with 170 kilometers of length and 5 kilometers of depth. The “Nazaré Canyon”, that is located right in front of Praia do Norte, receives the swells from the Atlantic Ocean and creates waves with abnormal size, compared to the rest of the Portuguese coast.
Garrett McNamara
Garrett McNamara is one of the most respected big wave riders in the world, and was surprised and excited about the potential of Nazaré’s waves, particularly at Praia do Norte. “They are probably the biggest waves in the world with this kind of bottom – Sand bar Beach Break”, said GMAC. The 2010 mission included the participation of other big wave riders like the Portuguese surfers José Gregório and Ruben Gonzalez, the English Andrew Cotton, the Irish Al Mennie and the French Peyo Lizarazu.
From last year’s mission, a 52 minute documentary was made – “The North Canyon” –, sponsored by ZON, that explores not only all the surfing, but also the scientific side of the “Nazaré Canyon” and the region’s lifestyle, culture and traditions.
This project embraces the partnership with ZON (the biggest Portuguese cable network, a business group that operates on telecommunications and multimedia in various platforms) in the sports arena. The sponsorship of this event follows the entry of ZON in the Surf world. The project ZON North Canyon Show 2011 was presented yesterday, October 12, in a Press Conference.
To keep abreast to all developments concerning ZON North Canyon Show 2011 please check the official event’s website at praiadonorte.com.pt. The event is also in social networks: Facebook and Twitter.
Photos: POLVO/Jorge Leal & Wilson Ribeiro
