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Watch the World’s Best Big-Wave Surfers Ride Monsters at 2021 Nazaré Tow Challenge

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Big names flocked to the Silver Coast this week for pristine high lines and world-class barrels.

It may be snowing in the mountains, but on the Portuguese coast, Nazaré Canyon is pumping up mind-bending waves for some of the world’s bravest surfers.

For the past 10 years, the small city of Nazaré Praia do Norte, Portugal has welcomed the most prestigious names in big-wave surfing to its annual competitions.

Nazare’s unique underwater scape creates those world-class, 40- to 50-foot bombs.

“The topography confines internal tidal currents and refracts oncoming waves, causing them to double in size as they join,” reports Explorersweb. “The biggest swells usually form from October to April, and the very largest typically come in February.”

See the sport’s most prodigious artists like this year’s winners Justine Dupont (FRA), Lucas Chianca (BRA), and Kai Lenny (HAW) rip the world’s best waves in this short but epic highlight reel.

For the complete 2021 Nazaré Tow Challenge replay, head to worldsurfleague.com.

Runtime: 4.5 minutes

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