Perfect Winter Lineup @ Secret Spot

First time I saw this wave was from a 12th floor hotel window, just after waking up... Could not believe in my eyes!! It was one of the most perfect lineup´s ever seen on the portuguese coastline and i´ve been looking for lineups in the last 30 years, and totaly empty... One month later I went back to the same spot, but this time with a surfboard, and that´s the type of pearls I got that morning!


Photo: Sandra Stubenvoll, Baleal Surf Camp - Peniche

Give a little bit...

Surf is not everything...sometimes we have to make an effort and think about preserving “mother nature”. It's terrible when you go surfing and see the beach full of rubbish, just because some people don't respect , and don't care about Nature.
Last weekend, Baleal Surf Camp, Surfrider Foundation and other volunteers were cleaning a little portion in “Point Fabril Beach – Peniche – Portugal”, but that “little portion” transformed into such a good feeling on our minds, and now we can say Mission accomplished.
It's easy! Just take a organic plastic bag, a pair of gloves and go ahead; no fear, no shame, no bias...Make your share, collect the rubbish and that's it...afterwards, you will be comfortable on your pillow when you lie your head to sleep...
Here we make our pledge, please don't destroy the nature, keep it clean...

Photos: Sandra Stubenvoll, www.balealsurfcamp.com

Can’t have it all

Photo: Sandra Stubenvoll, Supertubos Peniche Portugal, 23-11-2009

The pro’s are in Hawaii and the crowds are gone. The cars are elsewhere and the summer too. There are no afternoon traffic jams nor there long lines at the supermarkets. There are less Sunday drivers and the chaos parking is over. The bikinis are in the closets and that’s a major upset to the local community, but you can’t have it all…

The great news is that, despite so many not so good things and other not so bad are gone, some of the best things we have around here are back, and we’re cool with it.

It's all over now...or maybe not.

Winner Mick Fanning on his way to the semi-final

We had an idea that the WCT Rip Curl Pro Search 2009 would score something decent or perhaps a bit more. And the fact is that on the 2 weeks the pros were in town they did score a bit of everything this place as to offer surfers; there was a tow in session in Baleal, there were plenty of glassy days on the coast north of Peniche, we had a sample of the Atlantic power enough to ruin the main site, a 4th alternative site and, though far from classic, the Tuesday October 27th was the highlight with a show of power from Supertubos well matched by impressive performances.


Kelly Slater early Supertubos test

As we imagined a sizable day at Supertubos would not only provide conditions for a great show but also would claim its share of broken surfboards and unfortunately some injuries, something we’re used to see around here and that not even the top 45 surfers in the world can avoid. Yes, Supertubos is powerful and when there’s size it’s also difficult to surf. Maybe that’s why surfers from Peniche, Ericeira, Nazaré and other areas in Portugal feel comfortable abroad when heavier conditions filter the crowd.

Mick Fanning tow-in session in Baleal

There’s a word of mouth that Peniche caused an impression strong enough on the ASP crew, pros and media alike so that a future permanent stop in Portugal is no longer a utopia but a rather a real possibility. Arguments include plenty of surf options, a devoted but respectful crowd and the will from both local and national authorities. We won’t say that the idea of the tour passing by every year is not wished for although it’s also a common remark that we’re happy to see the “circus” gone and have the chance to go back to our winter routine: un-crowded surfing.


Owen Right air show in Pico da Mota

Maybe this Rip Curl Pro Search 2009 has been the turning point for the ASP to add Portugal to the map. We hope that the things that did not run so smooth can be improved should the tour come back to Peniche. Among these we can mention the uncontrolled access to the dunes in Supertubos, the “chaos” we’ve seen in Belgas and all the trash left behind in both locations, by the crowd but also by the competition sites themselves.


Dane Reynolds Supertubos air show

It’s difficult to understand how can be allowed to literally change the beach natural profile to fit all the “luxury” that pro surfers and organization seem to demand nowadays. It’s hardly understandable that an eco friendly organization does not consider abusive to put such a massive infrastructure on a very limited area and maybe that’s why the Atlantic decided to demonstrate who really runs the show, Mother Nature that is.


Crowd watches the show at Supertubos

Bobby Martinez backhand bottom turn at Supertubos

All photos by Sandra Stubenvoll, courtesy of Baleal Surf Camp

Rip Curl Search 2009 in Peniche from next October 19th!

The World Tour will be in town from next Monday. Will be the time to watch the pro surfers charging at our backyard and we’re looking forward to it. This first two weeks of October felt more like summer rather than autumn; warm days and nights, small swell and light offshore winds…let’s hope that from next 19th our piece of Atlantic delivers more than the sample waves such as the one below...

Photo: Sandra Stubenvoll courtesy of Baleal Surf Camp http://www.balealsurfcamp.com/

Ladislau from Argentina

Summer is on its way and autumn is arriving. There are some signs in the air and also in the Ocean..Light morning offshore winds and some swell starting to pump..the guys around here are getting ready for the real deal. On this photo Ladislau from Argentina is stretching at Cantinho da Baía.

Cantinho da Baía

Photo: Sandra Stubenvoll, courtesy www.balealsurfcamp.com

Photo: Sandra Stubenvoll, courtesy Baleal Surf Camp

Photo: Sandra Stubenvoll, courtesy Baleal Surf Camp

The spot Cantinho da Baía is one of those spots that aren’t so special... the surf is not nearly as good as many other spots in the region, when the tide goes low we can even say the surf is "crap" over there. Doesn't hold much size and, let's face it, it is almost always crowded with surf schools, surf camps (from Lisbon to Galiza), "beginners", "long boarder’s", "malibuer's" and all kinds of "new wave wave riding tools" like the trendy paddle boards or the kamikaze kayak surfers, all welcome by the way. The but is that it's such a consistent spot. It works no matter the wind or the swell, there is always something going on and the fact is that on most days if you’re persistent enough you'll catch a few good one worth the effort and the hassle! Yesterday the wind was blowing "nortada" and we're sure there are very few spots in Portugal that would provide rides like the ones above :)