Vocabulary

 

 
 
 
 

Video: Surfing in Portugal

 

Transcript

Time seems to move slower here, late in a winter morning in the streets of Nazare. No tourists, just small town Portuguese life.

For now.

Nazare Resident: “These lunatics have no idea how dangerous it is!

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When the so-called “lunatics” come, the waves are big and dangerous.

The cliff is lined with people, and Nazare becomes another world.

Maya Gabeira, Big Wave Surfer: “It’s scary! We get injured often here, bad injuries. Death. So, yeah.

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Returning from training, Nic Von Rupp is pumped. There is a big competition tomorrow and Nick wants to claim the podium with his team.

He won here two years ago.

Nic first stood on a surfboard, aged nine. Not until much later did he brave the big waves.

The hanger at the harbor is his base. For Nic, Nazare is a home away from home.

Nic Von Rupp, Big Wave Surfer: “It’s really special for me; I grew up on this coast. And there were no big waves off Portugal ten or fifteen years ago.

It’s really incredible seeing the whole world coming here to surf the biggest waves in the world.

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While head out with their high-tech boards, others return with the day’s catch. Fishers and surfers both share Nazare’s harbor and a closeness with the beautiful — but dangerous — waves.

Antonio Manuel does not doubt that the big wave surfers have boosted tourism. But his daily fishing routine is the same as it has been for decades.

Antonio Manual, Fisher: “No, we don’t earn any more from the surfers. They bring tourists in the restaurants. But they don’t affect us.

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Some pray before the competition. All wear thick upper-body pads for protection.

Nic is already out on his board. He has conquered twenty-seven meter waves before this.

These are smaller — but still demanding.

Nic Von Rupp, Big Wave Surfer: “I’d say the waves are a good six to ten meters high. They are not the biggest we get here in Nazare, but big enough. Anything bigger than three meters is a big wave — and can do a lot of damage.

You have to respect them.”

Respect. Especially when a surfer died here a year ago.

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The waves of Nazare can reach up to thirty meters high because of a five-thousand meter deep undersea canyon.

The surfing world first noticed it in 2010.

More precisely, American surfing legend Garrett McNamara did. A photographer emailed him, asking if he wanted to see the waves.

Garrett McNamara, Big Wave Surfer: “The first day I walked up, I saw the biggest waves ever I’ve ever seen. It was like, ‘Ta-da! The holy grail.’

I literally felt like I found the holy grail.”

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The grail now attract surfers, tourists and onlookers. They flock to the cliffs in droves for competitions. The mixture of adrenaline spectacle has also drawn Louisa and her colleagues.

They are taking remote working in Portugal to new heights: for a Big Wave picnic.

Louisa Sprenker, Onlooker: “For me, it’s a bit like going by a car crash Part of you doesn’t want to look . . . but at the same time another part wants to see if everyone is okay — especially when there’s a wipe-out.

That’s really intense!”

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This is what a wipe-out looks like: a wave sweeps Nic off his surfboard. He loses both his board and precious time fighting the waves.

That’s it for his title.

Maya Gabeira from Brazil surfs to the women’s podium against only one competitor. So far, Big Waves have been a boy’s club.

Maya Gabeira, Big Wave Surfer: “More than anything, we just started later, so we need some time to catch up.

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Nic rounds out the day with friends, despite not coming out on top. But tomorrow, he’ll be back out on his board: he has made a profession out of surfing and self promotion.

Nic Von Rupp, Big Wave Surfer: “The contest is over but the show goes on!”

And on it goes. It’s time for the surfers to set out for new shores.

And the people of Nazare can breath easy after a successful surfing season.

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Questions

 
Surfing. Nazare is a party town, with lots of discos, nightclubs, cafes, bars and restaurants. Tourists flock to Nazare year round. True or false?

Jet Skiing. For Nic Von Rupp, Big Wave surfing is just a pastime. Is this right or wrong?

Water Skiing. Has life completely changed for the town residents? Do they all live off of tourism?

Swimming. Is Nazere just another seaside resort town? What is special or unique about Nazare?

Snorkeling. Do only Portuguese surfers come to Nazare? Do only men compete at the surfing competitions? Do only men surf at Nazare?

Scuba Diving. Is Big Wave surfing at Nazare safe and easy?

Canoeing. The Big Wave surfers only surf and compete at Nazare. Is this correct or incorrect?
 
 
 
Sailing. My friends and I surf. I have surfed in the sea or ocean. Yes or no?

Kayaking. Is there surfing in your town, city or country?

Rowing, Paddling. Are there water sports in your region and country? Are water sports popular?

Yachting. My friends and I would like to surf, go paddling, canoeing, sailing, rowing, kayaking, snorkeling, scuba diving, jet-skiing, and other water sports.

Water Polo. What might happen in the future?

Paragliding. Should people engage in water sports? Should water sports be organized and promoted?