Surf à Ericeira, Portugal.

Ericeira, Portugal. This is the original story of two surfer friends who work together and meet for the first time in the water. 

Original Version in English

Who are they?

Wildsuits team rider for the past two years is coming from the Azores. He is now a 25 years old surfer who recently moved to Ericeira, Portugal. Known by many as one of the best surf locations in all Europe. Manuel is passionate about traveling, after living in the Gran Canarias, and Azores, he believes that in Ericeira he can evolve his surfing career as a pro free surfer.

“I left the Azores because I’m looking for a better life opportunity. On the islands it is not easy to get an opportunity in the surfing world. 

Gonçalo Plácidoon the other hand, was born in Ericeira. At 29 years old, he is locally known as a true Aquaman who excels in bodyboarding. But in recent years, he has increasingly devoted himself to his second passion, surf photography. Today, he spends most of his time in the water, capturing photos in search of the best shot from each session.

“It’s fantastic when you can photograph that perfect tube with your friend surfing it! The feeling is magnificent and gives the sensation that we are both inside the tube, it is something indescribable and is what makes me want to start photographing. 

As I usually say, sometimes only what is visible to our eyes can be understood!

The Story

Back to the story, after several failed attempts, at the end of a day’s work they both agreed to wake up early the next day to see the sea and why not get some barrels… 

Gonçalo Plácido: “Hey bro, let’s try to get a surf tomorrow early? The swell might pick up a bit during the night. With a bit of chance we can get some small summer barrels” 

Après avoir vu quel fantastique set up Ericeira pouvait offrir aujourd’hui, il rappelle Manuel tout excité jusqu’à ce qu’il arrive à le réveiller ! Une fois la première mission accomplie, il se prépare le plus rapidement possible afin de ne pas perdre 5 minutes de plus ! 

The next day: Just before seven in the morning Gonçalo turned on the cameras showing one of the beaches closest to his house and to his amazement he saw two small tubes snapping perfectly over a shallow bank! That’s it! “Mate, my blood just starts boiling even before I take my first sip of coffee!” 

After seeing what a fantastic set up Ericeira break could offer today, he called Manuel until he could wake him up! Once the first mission was done, he got everything ready as quickly as possible so that not another 5 minutes would be wasted!  

With the tide coming in and the water starting to come out both of them could not stay long. Gonçalo, as an experienced local, knew the tide would soon be too low to score. The first to arrive at the spot was actually Manuel and, still speechless at what he was seeing, Gonçalo appeared a few minutes later. Manuel was already jumping in his Wildsuits and was excited like a flea. Without a doubt, with this scenario, Gonçalo quickly set up his gear while realizing that no-one else made the call to surf here early this morning. He is already seeing the scenario in his mind. Empty barrels to share with his mate Manuel Morgado.  

But no more talk, this is what happened in image.

Moral

It is said that the best things are those that happen naturally and this was the case, that day. Everything just lined up on that beautiful morning at Ericeira. More than some cool pictures, to us this is what surfing is about! Friendship, Wild fun and empty waves!

Finally two friends and co-workers managed to score decent and uncrowded waves in one of the most photogenic slabs of the World Surfing Reserve…To Repeat…