Moche RipCurl Pro 2015

Peniche - Portugal

By Francisco Morais

December 1^st, 2015

In the early mornings, when the wind is light, the smell of fish (peixe in Portuguese) hangs heavy in the air. It‘s strong, almost pungent, and serves as a reminder of the roots of the coastal town of Peniche, Portugal. This little European fishing village is home to Supertubos or Supertubes, which will host the Moche Rip Curl Pro Portugal. Sometimes beautifully hollow, sometimes brutally punishing, this barreling beachbreak seems to live up to its name. Trailer: Portugal‘s Wild Side Powerful and unpredictable, the Moche Rip Curl Pro Portugal demands courage and surf savvy. (http://www.worldsurfleague.com/posts/148370/break-breakdown-2015-moche-rip-curl-pro-portugal)

“(…)Surfing caught on in France and Spain before Portugal, but the Portuguese have wasted no time in becoming world-class waveriders with a coastline of world-class breaks and a history of Qualifying Series (QS) events. Peniche, in the southernmost part of Leiria on the West Coast (just over an hour by car from Lisbon) has become Portugal‘s celebrated surfing epicenter. “

http://www.worldsurfleague.com/posts/148370/break-breakdown-2015-moche-rip-curl-pro-portugal

The little fishing town of Peniche is probably the most renowned surfing area in Portugal. Originally an island, Peniche became one with the mainland due to the silting up of the shallow channel that divided it from the rest of the country. Today that short and narrow spit of land contains an obscene amount of wave variety that can provide the goods in almost any conditions. Most famous is Supertubos, regarded by many as one of Europe’s best beach breaks, but there are plenty of other barrels to pull into around Peniche. Peniche is a year round destination with swell exposure on the north side of the town and shelter on the south. The town also sits at the dividing point between the cooler and wetter north and the dry, sunny south meaning that summers are long but tempered by cool sea breezes and the winters mild though occasionally stormy. Supertubos is considered the best wave in Portugal and one of the best in Europe. It is a fast and tubular wave which breaks on a hollow sand bank. It works best with SW swells and N, NE or NW winds. Andy Irons, Kelly Slater and Mick Fanning made frequent appearances in the WSL Supertubos surf competitions.