In a recent YouTube video posted by Red Bull, three surfers recall their most unforgettable moments at Nazare.
Nazare is a seaside resort located in Portugal’s Silver Coast. It is a huge attraction for surfers due to its infamously high breaking waves.
The resort has witnessed numerous surfing records. In November 2011, Garrett McNamara broke the world record by successfully surfing a 78ft wave. I don’t know where they get their bravery.
However, some surfs have ended in horror rather than celebration. In the video, Andrew Cotton details how in November 2017 he broke his back surfing one of Nazare’s huge waves, and was immediately rushed tothe hospital.
He describes how, during the incident, he ‘didn’t feel any impact’ and instead felt ‘weightless’. Scary stuff.
Luckily for Cotton, he was told that as far as broken backs were concerned, fracturing his L2 vertebrae was as good as it gets.
Cotton has since made a full recovery, and hopes to surf at Nazare again during this year’s season.
I admire their courage, but I don’t think I’ll be joining them at Nazare this season.
For more extreme sports in Nazare, watch this incredible slackliner drone footage
