Praia do Norte Prepares for Big Wave Season with Enhanced Safety Measures

Praia do Norte is preparing for another big wave season. On 3 November, the 2026/2027 Safety Plan, together with the organisational framework for the Nazaré Big Wave Challenge, was presented at the José Soares Municipal Library auditorium.

The Mayor of Nazaré, Serafim António, highlighted the importance of the World Surf League (WSL) event for the municipality, both in terms of tourism and its relationship with the local community. “We want to introduce some signs of change. This event is very important not only for our visitors, but also for our local community,” he stated.

The session also provided an opportunity to learn more about the procedures and resources outlined in the Praia do Norte Safety Plan, presented by Paulo Salvador, who recalled that this work began in 2010, with Garrett McNamara’s arrival in Nazaré.

At the time, “there was little understanding of how things worked outside this area,” he recalled, explaining that the aim of the plan is to “try to prepare for and minimise the risks as much as possible” associated with big wave surfing.

For the 2026/2027 season, the safety operation will maintain a five-level risk assessment system, identified by the colours blue, green, yellow, orange and red, depending on sea conditions and wave size.

At the lower risk levels, the response focuses primarily on monitoring and prevention, through Waterman Spotters. As the level of risk increases, additional resources are deployed, including firefighters, an ambulance, a lifeguard, a tractor and, at the highest risk level, a specialist nurse.

One of the new features this season is the inclusion of a Water Safety officer, responsible for safety monitoring and helping ensure compliance with the established rules, with the authority to intervene at all risk levels.

The plan also includes specific procedures for athletes and their teams, who are required to register with the Nazaré Harbour Master's Office. So far, 33 surfers of various nationalities have registered, with this number expected to increase throughout the season.

The rules established by the Harbour Master's Office include the mandatory use of personal flotation devices, safety equipment on jet skis, certified communication devices and compliance with the procedures established for emergency situations.

The same session also saw the presentation of the Nazaré Big Wave Challenge format, a competition that has held nine editions at Praia do Norte since 2016.

In the 2026/2027 season, the event will be the only stop on the World Surf League (WSL) big wave competition circuit, further strengthening Nazaré’s international reputation as a leading destination for big wave surfing.

The competition's waiting period began on 1 November and runs until 31 March 2027. The event will only take place if sea conditions are favourable and all the necessary requirements for its safe organisation are met.