Three minutes well spent!
Here’s a confession. I often find big wave spectating to be quite boring. There are exciting moments, especially at Jaws or Cloudbreak or any of those Aussie slabs, but usually when people pull out their 10’2″s, I think about pulling a Cobain.
This is not intended to discredit big wave surfers. In fact, I have the utmost respect for their courage and commitment in such a terrifying pursuit. I could never do that shit.
But does that mean I have to enjoy watching them poo-drop into lumpy mountains? I think no.
One of my least favorite waves to watch is Portugal’s Nazaré, a beachbreak wedge of epic proportions. The bathymetty behind a bay that turns massive, long period swells into sixty foot triangles is truly a thing of wonder. But watching guys tow into giant burgers or paddle fruitlessly in the soup is grueling. At least most of the time.
Enter Nuno Dias, the 22-year-old surf filmmaker who spent this winter posted on the cliff (perhaps in a small tent) at Praia Nazaré. Never heard of him? Me neither. But Dias has produced the most filmer entries into the 2017 WSL Big Wave Awards, including one for “Ride of the Year”, another for “Biggest Paddle”, and two in the “Wipeout” category.
But Dias ain’t the point-and-shoot type. He’s a thinker, a real artisan in the editing booth. That’s why his winter recap clip, Grande, is so fun to watch.
Set to a Shining Bird track, Grande is beautiful, petrifying, and most importantly not boring. Please enjoy!
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Spellbinding
Kinda nice watching a video with the whites not blown out..
I pictured your suicide being more Hutchence than Cobain.
That was boring as fuck. On the other hand, “thundercloud” in apple movies is the god damn business.
Slow motion car crash video set to somewhat less believable lyrics. I don’t feel in my bones that they “won’t feel a thing” or they are just “chasing the breeze”.