Photo: Luís Firmo/Red Bull | Translator: João Diogo Rocha Pereira
There’s something dreadfully beautiful in big waves. They are born from the battle between nature’s own elements with an outcome as massive walls of water who put the bravery of the fearless to test.
Honestly, there is no wave capable of striking fear to team Red Bull’s big waves squad. They have crossed our borders with the objective of exploring Europe’s biggest wave, at Praia do Norte in Nazaré, but the Portuguese surfing mecca didn’t go unnoticed to these multi-award winning big waves athletes.
The contigent was formed by Maya Gabeira, Pedro Scooby and Felipe “Gordo” Cesarano. The three Brazilian, trained by the also Brazilian big waves veteran Carlos Burle, began (and ended) the day at Coxos’ right, but also went through Pedra Branca. The conditions were favorable to surfing and the action that was provided did not fall short on expectations. As a triple surfing session whets the appetite, a delicious fresh fish meal was had at the Mar d’Areia restaurant.
Maya Gabeira is considered the best big waves woman surfer in the world. At just 26 years old, the carioca holds in his curriculum five XXL awards – something like an Academy Award for big waves – and the world record for the biggest wave ever surfed by a woman. It was in 2009 that Gabeira surfed a 13,7 meters high wave in Dungeons, South Africa. In August 8th, 2011, she narrowly escaped death by drowning in Teahupo’o, French Polynesia, in the day of the infamous Code Red alert due to the massive waves felt on the shore.
Pedro Scooby, aged 25, is the youngest member of Carlos Burle’s squad. He was already nominated for the XXL awards twice and was also considered the free-surfer of the year in Brazil.
Felipe “Gordo” Cesarano is another of Brazil’s heavyweights regarding big waves. Also at 26, he has already been nominated several times for the XXL awards and was a prizewinner for Brazilian magazine Fluir’s awards. He’s a regular participant at the big waves world championship.
Pedro Scooby in Ericeira. – ph. Mauro Mota
Yuri and Maya Gabeira entering Coxos. – ph. Luís Firmo/Red Bull
Maya Gabeira did not miss the call in Pedra Branca. – ph. Mauro Mota
Esta publicação também está disponível em | This article is also available in: Portuguese (Portugal)
