By morning, it was clear things were going to get intense. Offshore, waves were building to what we estimated was twenty meters, possibly more. Then came the storm, heavy rain and powerful gusts. At times, it was almost too wild even for the surfers. We were there for a documentary, and eventually we were soaked right through to our underwear, despite wearing good clothing. Conditions like these put people, equipment and clothing to the test. Moments later, the sun came out again. That's this coast. Rough, changeable and never entirely predictable.
For me, Nazaré often starts days earlier on the weather maps. When a strong low develops over the Atlantic, sometimes carrying energy from a former hurricane, the wind, storm track and swell start to get interesting. A week or two out, you get a first sense of what might happen. Sometimes, though, the decision comes just the day before. When the models line up, we go. That's part of the adventure for me. You can watch and plan all you want, but in the end, the Atlantic decides what actually happens.
When a real big wave day arrives, Nazaré changes completely. Hundreds of people gather on the cliffs and around the lighthouse. Below, surfers and jet skis are out on the water. People from all over the world are waiting for the next big wave. For a few hours, it almost feels like a festival. Then you walk a little farther and suddenly you're nearly alone again. Just wind, spray, rocks and the roar of the Atlantic. That shift, and that way of life, make this place special to me. So much energy and life, and a short walk away, an incredible sense of freedom.
There's a very specific reason the waves here can get so extreme. Just offshore lies the Nazaré Canyon. This deep underwater canyon changes the incoming wave energy and can focus it strongly in front of Praia do Norte. Model calculations show that a swell of around ten meters offshore can grow to more than twenty meters there. The number is impressive. But you understand the scale much better when a jet ski or a surfer suddenly looks tiny against that wall of water.
It's not just the size of the waves that draws me in. It's everything going on around them. The surfers, the jet skis, the people on the cliffs, the surfboards, the wind and the constant feeling that something could happen out there at any moment. You wait, watch the ocean, and eventually the next set rolls in. That's when you understand why people come here from all over the world. To me, Nazaré feels immediate. You're right there in the landscape, and you can feel the power of the Atlantic. It doesn't need much explaining.
Nazaré is now known around the world for big wave surfing. On October 29, 2020, Sebastian Steudtner surfed a wave here officially measured at 26.21 meters. Guinness lists it as the record for the largest wave surfed by a man. Numbers like that feel almost abstract until you're standing up there, seeing how small a person looks on a wave that size. The other places where I've experienced similarly wild Atlantic days are mainly Iceland, Ireland and Scotland. Still, Nazaré has an energy all its own.
When I'm already in Portugal, I often keep heading north. There, we meet with producers, look at new fabrics and talk about cuts, construction and manufacturing. Portugal has a long textile tradition, with much of the industry concentrated around Porto and Braga. One moment you're standing in the wind somewhere along the Atlantic coast. A few hours later, you're holding fabrics and talking about how to turn them into good clothing. You take that inspiration from nature straight into the production process.
I've also been there several times with my family. We went out to eat, sat together, drank wine and simply spent time on the coast. Nazaré doesn't always have to deliver twenty-meter waves. Sometimes a long walk, a good meal and that view over the Atlantic are enough. That's often where new ideas and the urge to try something new come from. You don't sit down and deliberately think about products. It happens along the way. You're outside, experiencing things, meeting people and taking it all in. Eventually, something new comes out of it.
Maybe that's why I keep coming back. It's not just the next big wave or a particular project. It's the mix of nature, adventure, people, craftsmanship and the feeling of being outdoors. Still, the moment that stays with me most is always the same. You're standing on the cliff, looking out over the wide Atlantic. Another huge wave starts to build offshore. For a few seconds, all you do is watch. And you remember exactly what makes this place special.
