NOVO SITE / NEW SITE

Olá!

O projecto North Canyon tem um novo site.
Segue as aventuras de Garrett McNamara na Nazaré no site www.praiadonorte.com.pt.

Até já!

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Hi!

The North Canyon project has a new website.
Follow the adventures of Garrett McNamara in Nazaré at the website www.praiadonorte.com.pt.

See you!

NAZARÉ - AS MAIORES ONDAS DA EUROPA NA VISÃO

Entrevistas com Garrett Mcnamara, José Gregorio, Ruben Gonzalez, Andrew Cotton e Al Mennie.
Artigo completo em http://aeiou.visao.pt/nazare-as-maiores-ondas-da-europa=f582334


Interviews with  Garrett Mcnamara, José Gregorio, Ruben Gonzalez, Andrew Cotton e Al Mennie.
Full article in  http://aeiou.visao.pt/nazare-as-maiores-ondas-da-europa=f582334

Garrett McNamara’s exploration of an incredible new giant wave

After one month, four big swells and some successful sessions riding Nazaré’s waves, the extreme waterman Garrett McNamara, 43 years old, returned home, to North Shore, Oahu, Hawaii, with a sense of achievement.

The main goal of Garrett in Nazaré was to explore its waves – with special attention to Praia do Norte’s waves, which receive the effect of the geomorphologic phenomenon known as “Nazaré Canyon”. The canyon is so unique because it is one of the only one in the whole world that ends on the shore allowing the power of the water and swell to make it to the beach without losing any energy or size. Garrett was invited to explore the wave to see if it had potential for a big wave event!

During November, Garrett McNamara saw four big swells and two times the conditions were perfect for tow-in. He was able to see all the potential of those waves, which “are probably the biggest waves of the world for a beach break”, he said.

The Hawaiian surfer, one of the more respected waterman of the world, with several international awards and championships, worked with José Gregório (a former triple Portuguese surf champion, one of the most respected big waves surfers in Portugal and one of the athletes that better knows the waves of Nazaré, where he was born).

Garrett McNamara also had the chance to surf with Tiago “Saca” Pires (the most international Portuguese surfer and the only Portuguese who make part of the world surf elite), Ruben Gonzalez (a former four times Portuguese surf champion) and even with the Irish Alistair Mennie and the English Andrew Cotton, who came to Nazaré to experience the power of the waves of Praia do Norte.

Garrett caught other waves in the region of Nazaré, mostly with his Stand Up Paddle board, showing all the necessary technique to enjoy this kind of surf and sharing good waves with the locals bodyboarders. He showed big respect to them and recognized their pioneering role in the strong waves of Nazaré.

Garrett McNamara returned to Hawaii very impressed and with some well defined goals to a close cooperation with the Nazaré City Hall for the next years.

Jorge Barroso, the City Hall mayor, and Garrett McNamara signed an intent statement for the implementation of projects that can internationally promote Nazaré as a reference spot to the big waves sports and to the realization of a big wave event in 2012.

They both agreed to cooperate actively to achieve the following projects: Environmental Education to the Sea Center, a Rescue Center, a Big Wave Museum and a Tow-in Academy.

Jorge Barroso said that “Praia do Norte’s waves are unique” and that’s why Nazaré should “take the uniqueness of its sea”, that creates giant waves due the “North Canyon”. “In 2012 we’re going to make an innovative event in all of Europe. We count with Garrett McNamara and with this intent statement”, said Jorge Barroso, showing “the will of affirmation of Nazaré as a prime destination of big waves sports”.

To the extreme waterman, the big waves of Praia do Norte are some of the biggest that he ever saw. “After being here this month, learning the culture and working with this great team, I am 100 per cent sure that in 2012 we will hold a world class big event, promoting Nazaré all around the world”, said McNamara, referring that “the idea is to attract not only surfers or water sports lovers, but everybody.”

José Gregório was also present in the ceremony and congratulated the initiative. “This was one of the times when the surf was mostly spoken on the media”, commented.

To end his stay in Portugal, Garrett went to the second edition of the Portugal Surf Awards, the National Surf Ceremony, which counted this year with the awards of the Surf Portugal magazine, last weekend, also in Nazaré.

After the delivery of some awards and several conversations with some of the best Portuguese surfers, curious to know his views about the national waves, McNamara was surprised with an “International Personality of the Year” award by the oldest surf magazine in Portugal. They honored the commitment of the Hawaiian surfer in the exploration of Nazaré’s waves.

“This award was a huge surprise, but I’m much honored to receive it”, said Garrett with emotion. “The recognition of our work is always good, but the way that I was received by the Portuguese surf community was amazing. I’ll take you in my heart and I’m going to make everything to promote internationally the Nazaré’s waves and your hospitality. I’ll come back as soon as possible”, he concluded.

McNamara returned to Hawaii, to participate in the open ceremony of the most respected big waves championship of the world, Quicksilver in memory of Eddie Aikau, in Waimea Bay, Oahu, where he lives. He was one of the 28 invited surfers. Good luck G-Mac!

This project was organized by Câmara Municipal da Nazaré, Clube de Desportos Alternativos da Nazaré and Nazaré Qualifica E.E.M., with the support of QREN, MaisCentro, Feder, Turismo de Portugal – Oeste, Liberty Seguros, Lightning Bolt, GoPro – D’Maker, Filipemotoshow, Isuzu, Lena Automóveis, Peter Grimm, Noll, Instituto Hidrográfico Português, Spal, Tonic Gym, Surftotal, Surf Portugal, Antena 3, Surfer Rule and Surfspots-gps.com.

Photos by POLVO/Jorge Leal e Wilson Ribeiro

The North Canyon Show na Imprensa

AutoSport 30-11-2010

AL MENNIE @ PRAIA DO NORTE

NICOLE MACIAS: "Faço com que tudo aconteça" / "I make everything happen"

O mar faz parte da sua vida. É perto dele que vive e é dele que quer usufruir para o resto da vida… Determinada, de sorriso fácil e sempre com um brilho nos olhos quando o tema está relacionado com o surf, Nicole Macias é o que se pode chamar de “braço direito” de Garrett McNamara. “Eu trato de tudo e faço com que tudo aconteça…”, mesmo no dia-a-dia, conta a “Big Boss” como alguns elementos da equipa a chamam.

The sea makes part of her life. She lives near the sea and she wants to enjoy it for the rest of her life… Determined, with an easy smile and always with brightness on her eyes when the theme is related with surf, Nicole Macias is what we can call the “right arm” of Garrett McNamara. “I take care of everything and I make everything happen…”, even on the daily routine, says the “Big Boss” as some members of the team call her.

Nicole tem 27 anos, nasceu em Florida, Miami, mora no Havai e é professora de Ciências Ambientais numa escola online norte-americana. O melhor que lhe podia acontecer, “porque me permite fazer o que quiser”. Esta liberdade de movimentos permite-lhe então acompanhar Garrett nas suas deslocações e “viajar” é o que mais gosta de fazer.

Nicole has 27 years old, was born in Florida, Miami, lives in Hawaii and is an Environmental Sciences teacher in an American online school. The best that could happen to her, “because it allows me to do whatever I want”. This freedom allows her to go everywhere with Garrett and “travel” is what she like to do most.

O mar esteve sempre ligado à sua vida. Conheceu Garrett em Porto Rico, onde este estava a trabalhar com crianças autistas. Nicole estava numa competição de SUP, uma modalidade de que gosta muito. “É uma novidade e ainda não há muitas raparigas a fazer isso. Gosto muito de SUP”, refere. Contudo, experimentou tow-in no Taiti… “E foi maravilhoso! É o que mais gosto agora…”

The sea was always connected with her life. She met Garrett in Porto Rico, where he was working with autistic children. Nicole was in a SUP competition, one sport she likes a lot. “It’s new, there’s not too many girls doing it. I like SUP”, she referrers. Though, she experimented tow-in in Tahiti… “And it was amazing! It’s what I like most of all now…”

O seu sonho passa por “ter uma pequena propriedade junto à praia, num lugar remoto, onde possa ter uma horta para fazer a minha própria comida”. Viver lá com a família e com “um mar de ondas perfeitas…” Os filhos, esses, poderão também surfar ondas gigantes, “desde que passem todas as etapas até estarem aptos a fazê-lo”, explica.

Her dream is to have in the future “a small propriety near the sea, in a remote place, where I can have an organic garden to make my own food”. Live there with her family e with “a sea with perfect waves…” In future, her kids could also surf the big waves, “as long as they pass all the steps until they are ready to do it”, explains.

Nicole chegou pela primeira vez a Portugal (na Europa só tinha estado em Espanha e França) e conquistou todos os elementos da equipa com a sua simpatia e simplicidade. Da Nazaré diz ser “um pouco frio”, mas ressalva que não quer ir embora. É das “pessoas” – e da “comida” – que vai sentir mais saudades. “Vou ficar muito triste quando me for embora. Acho que até vou chorar…” Nós também, Nicole!

Nicole came for the first time to Portugal (in Europe she only went to Spain and France) and she conquered all team members with her sympathy and simplicity. Of Nazaré she says it’s “a little cold”, but she doesn’t want to leave. She is going to miss the “people” and the “food”. “I’m going to be very sad when I’m leaving. I think I’m going to cry…” So as we, Nicole!

Photos by POLVO/Jorge Leal e Wilson Ribeiro

Justin Mujica e Francisca Santos venceram LigaProSurf 2010 que se realizou na Praia do Norte

Justin Mujica e Francisca Santos foram os grandes vencedores da LigaProSurf 2010. Ao vencerem a Nazaré Surf Pro, que se realizou na Praia do Norte ontem e hoje, os dois atletas alcançaram o título de campeões nacionais de surf. Parabéns aos dois!

Fotos de POLVO/Jorge Leal e Wilson Ribeiro