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Garrett McNamara breaks world record

He was towing with Andrew Cotton, from the UK, and Al Mennie, from Ireland, when the bomb came in. Al was in the channel and describes the moment. “Everything seemed to be perfect, the weather, the waves. Both Cotty and I rode two big ones in the 60ft + range and then when Garrett got on the rope a wave, maybe 30 feet bigger came out of the canyon, it was meant to be. I had the best seat in the house as I was doing water safety on the ski as he dropped down the face of the biggest wave I’ve ever seen. It was incredible. Most people would look scared but Garrett looked in control as he went down the most critical part of the wave. It was an inspirational ride by an inspirational surfer. After the ride it was as if the sea calmed down. We sat out there and just absorbed both what had just happened and the surroundings. What a day!”

The three were surfing in Praia do Norte off the coast of Nazaré, Portugal. McNamara has been spending quite some time here once he discovered the magic of the spot. The coast of Nazaré is home to one of the only deep water canyons that runs all the way to shore. He has been working with the Portuguese Hydrographic Institute to understand how the waves reach such an abnormal height.

According to the Portuguese Hydrographic Institute, “the proximity of the ‘Nazaré Canyon’ to Praia do Norte creates a situation that greatly increases the swells intensity. The conditions of the swell and wind direction observed on this day exemplify this phenomenon”. “By 9:00 AM, the monitor on the buoys registered a swell with around 8 m near Nazaré. With a WNW swell direction with favorable wind, it is reasonable to conclude that this wave had a significant swelling effect, which is characteristic of this place.”

“I feel so blessed and honored to have been invited to explore this canyon and its special town. The waves here are such a mystery”, said Garrett.

ZON North Canyon Show 2011

Garrett McNamara is back in Portugal to embark on another mission exploring the waves of Nazaré, in the ZON North Canyon Show 2011. This is the second mission of a three years project, initiated last year. This is a Nazaré City Hall project, sponsored by ZON, to internationally promote the region as a destination for surfing, show casing the unique aspects of the “Nazaré Canyon”.

The “Nazaré Canyon” is a rare geographical 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.

This event will be carried out in Santa Marinella aka Italian Banzai Pipeline, with an extended waiting period (from 15 of October till 30 of November), in order to provide the best surf conditions for the competitors, this event will allow athletes to fully enjoy the perfect waves of Santa Marinella.

This year, after sponsoring the first event of the 2011 championship in Buggeru, Lightning Bolt renewed the partnership with the Surfing Italy and continues supporting the development of surf in Italy.

On October 17th, Garrett was towing with CJ Macias, from Florida, on the first big swell of the project. The swell had been building since Sunday and peaked on Monday. McNamara towed into the biggest wave ridden this year, the biggest wave of the three day swell.

On this same day, the largest wave paddled into this year was caught as well. It was also the largest wave ever paddled into in Portugal. The two were towing when McNamara decided to paddle into a few with his trusted 11’1 Rusty Waimea Gun. “This beach is so challenging. You really need to make sure you are in the right spot. I did my best to position myself and then just went for it. I had no idea how big the wave was, I was just so excited to finally paddle into a wave at Praia do Norte. Can’t wait for the next swell so we can go for it again”, said Garrett.

Garrett Padling

CJ Macias caught the biggest waves of his life during this three day swell. It was the first big swell for Macias, going from 2 foot Florida to 40ft Praia do Norte. “It was by far the most power I have ever felt in the ocean and the fastest I have ever screamed down the face of the wave. It was a dream come true having Garrett whip me into the perfect spot on so many waves!” said CJ.

Garrett said “CJ was fading so deep, he was scaring me. On one I swear he could of stretched out his long arms and touched the rocks.”

The pictures from Portuguese photographer Wilson Ribeiro are already at the site of the event in , in the “Biggest Wave” category.

Miguel Sousinha, president of Nazaré Qualifica, said: “It’s an honor to be selected to this award. It’s the recognition of the uniqueness of Praia do Norte and it’s one more step in the way for the consolidation of the communication strategy of Praia do Norte as a destiny of excellence for sports waves.”

ZON North Canyon Show 2011

Garrett McNamara is back in Portugal to embark on another mission exploring the waves of Nazaré, in the ZON North Canyon Show 2011. This is the second mission of a three years project, initiated last year. This is a Nazaré City Hall and ZON project to internationally promote the region as a destination for surfing, show casing the unique aspects of the “Nazaré Canyon”.

The “Nazaré Canyon” is a rare geographical 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.

To follow all the developments of the ZON North Canyon Show 2011 visit the official website: praiadonorte.com.pt. The event can also be found in the social networks: Facebook and Twitter.

Not only do the ground crew keep the camp fed, watered, moving and stationed… there’s the logistics of coordinating a team of 20 plus people, 5 kayaks, 2 RVs plus numerous surfboards around swell, rocks, tides, private harbors, naval bases, fog, wind and rain whilst in the land of rules; California has a lot of rules!

The other crucial aspects to TransparentSea are the music and art creations inspired by the voyage. With talented musicians onboard – Will Connor and Band of Frequencies – the “Song a day” encapsulates all the trials and tribulations, highs and lows, the agony and ecstasy of life on the campaign trail.

Actress Isabel Lucas and her partner Angus Stone really add to this creative vibe and during the few days they join the crew help to create a beautiful Women for Whales/S4C/TransparentSea dolphin mural on a perfect sea wall – narrowly avoiding getting busted by park rangers…

On day 2 I’m very lucky to be joining Lauren Lindsey Hill on her Hobie kayak to sail from El Capitan to Hammonds. From the kayak perspective things are so calm and clear – the Californian coast majestic and powerful, basking in the abundance mother ocean provides.

Lauren Hill & Natalie Fox

Lauren is such an inspiring woman to be around; she is passionate about issues such as gender roles within the surf industry and being the only female sailor is living up to her role as an ecofeminist. After studying environmental science and then embarking on TransparentSea, it’s clear she has a true drive to make a difference, when most people are just content to just go to the beach and catch a wave. I learn about the issues affecting this region – how Surf Rider foundation has been protecting the Gaviota coastline for years so that it is now the last undeveloped stretch in Southern California, a jewel that will only remain that way with constant pressure from SurfRider and locals. The fact that all of California was once like this will become significantly clear as we travel down into more and more populated areas surrounding Los Angeles.

The Santa Barbara channel is also a migratory path for many large cetaceans including gray whales, humpbacks and the mighty blue whales. With LA harbour being the 5th largest working harbour in the world, a spate of blue whale fatalities due to cargo ship strikes in 2007 led the Environmental Defence Centre to tackle the huge problem of ship speeds, lobbying for a deduction in ship speed from 22 knots to 10. I can only hope and dream that we get to meet one of these creatures further along our journey, and that they have safe passage in these waters for the future.
Soon the wind picks up and the rolling swells send us into shore with whoops of joy and a heightened awareness and awe for our oceanic playground.

A certain songwriter by the name of Jack Johnson is there to greet us as we land, but tired and exhausted I opt out of the sleepover with beach bonfire, instead heading back to the campsite for a shower, Jacuzzi, red wine, tent and deep, deep sleep.

We move onto a fabulous state park called Leo Carrillo, in a canyon overlooking a right-hand pointbreak. We’re getting closer and closer to the infamous Malibu surf break and the waves have started to pick up. Leo’s right-hander is a bit of a mission with a tiny take off spot and crazy kelp intent on latching onto you, holding you back from any peelers that make it through the crowd unridden – so the next day we check out Malibu. And with only 30 or so people out it’s a quiet afternoon for the ‘Bu.
It is also the anticipated event at Malibu Inn, so we race to scrub up after our sunset glass session and enjoy music by “the freq’s”, Will Connor and special guest Catherine Clarke, art auction/exhibition and Minds in the Water screening. A few high profile celebs also add to the Malibu mix in the form of rock legends Taylor Hawkins (Foo Fighters) and Rob Trujillo (Metallica). Highlights of the evening included learning of two oceanic issues in the local area and being introduced to organisations dealing with these issues.

Rasta & Taylor Hawkins of the Foo Fighters on Malibu Awareness Night

The Marine mammal care centre is the only hospital in Los Angeles County that cares for sick, injured and orphaned marine mammals, primarily seals and sea lions. Not only does the Care Center provide treatment for Los Angeles County’s marine mammals, but it also has a multi faceted educational program, teaching the community about local marine life and the ecosystem.
Why they do what they do: “Rehabilitating these animals is the humane thing to do…however there is also a lot to be learned from treating these animals. By treating these patients, we are able to learn more about marine life and other endangered species. Our team is also ‘oil spill certified’ so we are able to handle oil spill treatment should we need to.”

The Malibu Lagoon is an ongoing local issue with opposing sides to the future of this natural habitat, home to many birds and fish including an endangered species – the Goby fish – it also has a build up of stagnant water and renovations have been ongoing for about 30 years.

The Malibu Lagoon is the terminus of the Malibu Creek Watershed, the second largest watershed draining into Santa Monica Bay. Receiving approximately 1.5 million visitors each year, Surfrider Beach and the Malibu Lagoon are iconic both within surfing culture and beach culture at large. Previously used as a construction dump, then transformed into a baseball field, Malibu Lagoon is finally receiving the attention it deserves as an intrinsically valuable space.

However, controversy surrounds differing approaches of restoring, maintaining and maximizing biological health of the lagoon. Although opinions abound, two dominant management approaches emerge.
After meeting with representatives from Save Malibu Lagoon, Surfrider Foundation and Heal the Bay, it seems as though the management of Malibu Lagoon boils down to a matter of philosophical difference. Both camps are doing the best work they can with the information they have, but are operating from fundamentally differing philosophical positions of environmental science. The Malibu Lagoon Restoration Project, of Heal the Bay and Surfrider Foundation among others, was drafted with the underlying assumption that through scientific understanding, with maps, models and machines, we can renovate and rebuild entire ecosystems to improve their biological health. Groups like Save Malibu Lagoon, on the other hand, advocate a less heavy-handed (and slower) approach.

We have a special chance to visit the lagoon; learning more about its controversial restoration plans and later on, participating in a SurfRider beach clean leads us even closer to the realities of the lagoon – discovering a dead peli and pollution in the area first hand. Once the beach is thoroughly swept and karma points are in the bag it’s such joy to spend the rest of the day surfing, hanging out at Malibu and enjoying the iconic surroundings!

We have a day or so left at Leo Carrillo and the team are feeling strong energies within the canyon with deer herds running through the campsite, talk of mountain lions and strange dreams infiltrating many people’s sleep. We are invited to visit the local Chumash village, feeling it is an integral part of any journey to honour the ancesters of the land we are visiting.
After calling in the whales atop the canyon ridge overlooking the vast ocean, the time has come to move on. With the full moon and the Chumash blessing, the kayak convoy decides to attempt the next leg in the night. Setting off at midnight is a risk indeed, but the sailors have clear skies and mother nature on their side.

The swell started to arrive Sunday afternoon, but the peak was reached Monday, October 17th. McNamara and Macias rode waves of 15 meters, with Garrett riding one around 20 meters. GMAC, as he is also known, decided to traditional paddle with his Waimae gun, successfully catching and riding the largest wave paddled into this year and the largest ever paddled into in Portugal, 15 meters.

“There was so much wind and so much water moving that we had to choose the perfect place to paddle”, said GMAC, continuing: “The waves were perfect for the first swell of this year’s exploration. It was a good warm up for the waves to come.”

Garrett riding a wave around 20 meters high

The swell diminished on Tuesday, but still Garrett and CJ, accompanied by Andrew Cotton – the English surfer that also participated in last year’s exploration, returned to Nazaré to surf the waves of Praia do Norte that reached 5 meters.

Garrett and CJ, accompanied by Andrew Cotton from Devon

McNamara is back to embark on another mission exploring the waves of Nazaré, in the ZON North Canyon Show 2011. This is the second mission of a three years project, initiated last year. This is a Nazaré City Hall and ZON project to internationally promote the region as a destination for surfing, show casing the unique aspects of the “Nazaré Canyon”.

Garrett paddling into a Nazare set

The “Nazaré Canyon” is a rare geographical 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.

The canyon from the shoreline

Signing and double cinema session on October 21
Last year’s mission resulted in a 52 minute documentary – “The North Canyon Show by Garrett McNamara” –, sponsored by ZON, that portrays not only the incredible waves but also the scientific side of the “Nazaré Canyon”, lifestyle, the culture and traditions.

Along with the “The Glacier Project” documentary, that was a result of GMAC’s adventure in Alaska, the “The North Canyon Show by Garrett McNamara” will have a single exhibition the 21st of October, at 9:30 PM, in the Cascaisshopping, Norteshopping, Foz Plaza, Almada Fórum, Colombo and Torres Vedras ZON Lusomundo cinemas. Both documentaries will be later available on the ZON Videoclube.

At Colombo there will be an autograph session with Garrett McNamara at 9:00 PM. This is a unique opportunity to personally meet the extreme waterman staying at Praia do Norte until the end of November.

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

The growth of their original Classic Longboard Festival, which was hailed by all as a milestone in the recent history of Italian surfing, has grown into the SingleFin Classic event for 2011.

Download all of the information here.

SingleFin Classic Festival of Surfing