Photography: João Rosado
Joana Andrade has no doubts that in 2013 she fulfilled one unthinkable objective. At the age of 33, the Ericeira surfer was oficially nominated for the surfing equivalent of an Academy Award, the Billabong XXL Awards, in the category of “Best Global Woman’s Performance”, after her big waves session a few weeks ago in Peniche.
“Just the fact of entering the XXL Awards was a great present”, the athlete told AZUL on her nomination for the prize that highlights the best big waves athletes of the year.
All happened at the Papôa wave, which once was a very seeked surf spot but now is a place only attended by some Peniche locals. The waves rose up to eight meters in height. “It’s a wave with lots of potential, that bends in the middle and has a great barrell. Then it starts to slowly fade away opening a waterway”, Joana described.
The athlete was accompanied by her usual tow-in partner, Sérgio Cosme, and by Ramon Laureano and António Silva, who have lectured the jet rescue course that Joana recently completed. “It was one of the best and bigger surfing sessions I’ve had until today, I felt pure adrenaline””, she explained.
Although all the action happened in Peniche, Joana Andrade is assertive in highlighting Ericeira in the needed physical preparation for the big waves challenge. “Ericeira’s waves are a large training ground and a school for studying big waves, as they’re full of strength and give you a great preparation in tackling other types of waves.”
Joana Andrade is nominated for the award alongside Justine Dupont, Maya Gabeira and Keala Kenelly, among other big names in women’s surfing. With this nomination, there are now two portuguese among the contenders for a award, as António Silva is also present in one of the final lists.
Esta publicação também está disponível em | This article is also available in: Portuguese (Portugal)
