The power of nature

Nazaré is the finest example of the relentless power of Mother Nature. The giant wave surfed by Hawaiian surfer Garret McNamara on November 1st 2011 has changed the fate of this charming fishing town. Nowadays, the whole economy of Nazaré evolves around surf and the big waves. But why are the waves so incredibly big in Nazaré?

The Canyon of Nazaré

The canyon of Nazaré is a puzzling geological phenomenon which is 5.000 meters deep and about 230 km long. It is the cause of such incredibly monster waves, attracting top surfers from all over the world.

The big waves also attract many visitors, eager to testify the might of these incredibly big waves! Around 170 thousand every year persons travel to Nazaré to watch this breath-taking natural show!

Put into perspective, the world's highest building - Burj Khalifa, in Dubai - is 828 meters-high, the Grand Canyon is 1828 meter-high and the Canyon of Nazaré is 5.000 meters-deep at its deepest point! The Canyon of Nazaré amplifies waves, increasing their size, speed and power, before they reach the shore. And there is no limit to how high these monster waves can be.

The big wave season in Nazaré begins in November and ends in February. But only for the brave!

Surfing in Nazaré

Since 2011, when fearless Hawaiian surfer Garret McNamara surfed an unthinkable 78 feet (23,77 meters) wave during the ZON North Canyon Show in Praia do Norte beach, Nazaré was on the world spotlight. It became a world-famous surf destination. But only for the brave !

The once fishermen village of Nazaré therefore turned into a mandatory spot of the world surf scene and iconic Praia do Norte the epicentre of world's most incredible waves!

McNamara cork surfboard

Amorim Cork Solutions developed cork surfboards for Hawaiian surfer Garrett McNamara. These cork surfboards were specifically designed to ride enormous waves that had never been surfed before.

The project was launched in 2013 with the goal of creating highly efficient surfboards using Portuguese raw materials and technology, allowing Garrett McNamara to face the extreme surfing conditions of Nazaré. In this context, and at McNamara’s request, a partnership project between Mercedes-Benz and Corticeira Amorim was initiated in the last quarter of 2014.

The blanks used in the new surfboards are part of the Corecork product range produced by Amorim Cork Solutions, offering significant impact strength and resistance, essential for safely withstanding the force of giant waves.

The surfboards were initially developed with a stringer made entirely of cork, replacing traditional wooden stringers. In addition to the flexibility that cork provides, this results in a lightweight and highly responsive board. This innovation eliminates the need to cut down trees for traditional wooden stringers—an avant-garde, innovative, and environmentally conscious measure that leads to a more ecological and sustainable surfboard production method.

Three out of a total of twelve boards have already been delivered to Garrett and are strategically placed in four locations worldwide. This allows surfers to move quickly in search of the biggest waves on the planet without having to transport the boards while travelling.

Just like a magic carpet!

The Canyon of Nazaré

Surfing in Nazaré

McNamara cork surfboard

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