The beach resort of Nazaré in Portugal used to be almost deserted in winter – but now it’s the global centre of big wave surfing. Pro-surfer Garrett McNamara has put the former fishing village on the map, chronicling its transformation in the 2021 documentary, 100 Foot Wave.
The royal family has a long association with surfing, starting with King Edward VIII in the early 20th century. King Charles III is also a long-time surfer and windsurfer, who has enjoyed the waves at beaches all over the world.
Some surfers are known for their daring feats on some of the biggest waves on the planet. Given the level of skill needed to surf waves of up to 100 ft, it’s amazing more aren’t seriously injured or even killed.
To establish themselves in the male-dominated surfing world, women have faced many challenges over the years. As recently as 30 years ago, the women’s world champion surfer received no prize money and a damaged trophy!
Nigel Semmens, a champion surfer from Cornwall, has spent more than 40 years making high quality surfboards. His amazing achievements in the water are matched by his shaping skills – turning his bespoke surfboards into a work of art revered by surfers all over the world.
Surfing is a popular worldwide sport and according to the International Surfing Association, there are an estimated 23 million people taking part across the globe. In the United States, there are around 2.8 million surfers, while there are 1.7 million in Australia and 500,000 in the United Kingdom.
Surfing is a great sport that’s highly competitive – so it’s no surprise that the people who take part will often set and challenge records. The commitment and passion exhibited by surfers, who are taking on the power of nature and the oceans, make surfing into an extreme sport, which tests the limits of the participants.
John John Florence has been hailed as one of the greatest surfers of all time. A major force in Hawaiian surfing, he won two consecutive World Championships in 2016 and 2017
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