While all eyes were on Nazaré during the recent mega-run of swell in the Northern Atlantic, truth be told, everywhere was good. “The week after Nazaré (December 13-19) was pumping all over the north coast of Portugal,” Porto-based photographer Francisco Antunes told me over email. “The most hidden part of the coast was no exception. It was the best week of the year.”
Francisco’s favorite photo is the first one above. Here’s what he had to say about it:
“On the first day of waves I woke up super early and went to a different right-hand point (that was also pumping). Just as I got there, a friend called me to say a beach a few kilometers down was perfect with no one in the water, just he and two other friends ready to go in. I drove as fast as I could so as not to miss the action and when I arrived, there it was. Classic point-break barrels, long and fast, with only a few friends out.”
He sent over a whole gallery to give us a taste of what a pumping North Coast of Portugal looks like, and needless to say, it was gallery-worthy.