Nazaré, Portugal on October 24, 2016.
One of the most underrated big-wave surfers is humble fisherman Hugo Vau. Hailing from Lisbon, Portugal, Hugo is quiet and unassuming, getting on with his daily business of fishing -- or charging outside sets.
Hugo has had a decent run or two, making it to the Semifinals of the inaugural Nazaré Challenge. While he's still a relatively unknown quantity in big-wave circles, when it starts getting really serious, when there are no more games to be had, Hugo arrives on the scene.
Despite a short track record thus far, Vau is a determined and gutsy big-wave charger who is ready to take it on. He has it in his bones. He is all about Nazaré and he knows the differences between Nazaré and other big waves.
Which is to say that the biggest waves in the world all end in channels, but at Nazaré it ends with the mother of all beachbreaks, with thick whitewater, giant peaks, currents and the rest of that makes it one of the unsafest places to be when finishing a big ride.
In this nominated wave, Hugo snagged a giant left in the screaming offshore, and was dwarfed by the outsized Nazaré peak. Is it the biggest wave of the season? We will soon find out, but for now Hugo remains under the radar, a place he doesn't really mind being.
TAG Heuer XXL Biggest Wave Nominee - Hugo Vau
WSL
Nazaré, Portugal on October 24, 2016.
One of the most underrated big-wave surfers is humble fisherman Hugo Vau. Hailing from Lisbon, Portugal, Hugo is quiet and unassuming, getting on with his daily business of fishing -- or charging outside sets.
Hugo has had a decent run or two, making it to the Semifinals of the inaugural Nazaré Challenge. While he's still a relatively unknown quantity in big-wave circles, when it starts getting really serious, when there are no more games to be had, Hugo arrives on the scene.
Despite a short track record thus far, Vau is a determined and gutsy big-wave charger who is ready to take it on. He has it in his bones. He is all about Nazaré and he knows the differences between Nazaré and other big waves.
Which is to say that the biggest waves in the world all end in channels, but at Nazaré it ends with the mother of all beachbreaks, with thick whitewater, giant peaks, currents and the rest of that makes it one of the unsafest places to be when finishing a big ride.
In this nominated wave, Hugo snagged a giant left in the screaming offshore, and was dwarfed by the outsized Nazaré peak. Is it the biggest wave of the season? We will soon find out, but for now Hugo remains under the radar, a place he doesn't really mind being.
Hugo Vau
Hugo Vau vs. Billy Kemper vs. Nathan Florence vs. Joao de Macedo vs. Lucas Chianca
These five, who are slated to compete in the contest February 10, know the massive wave better than most.
Alex Botelho and Hugo Vau talk through their historic attempt.
2018 Ride of the Year Entry: Hugo Vau at Nazaré, Portugal on January 17, 2018. Video by Jorge Leal.
The Portuguese coast is the newest big wave training environment for the world's best big-waver surfers.
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