The Word-Surf-League in Peniche

Peniche 4.03.22

A small step for highway drivers, a big one for me. After what felt like 1000 roundabouts, I ended up a good distance north of Lisbon on the Peniche Peninsula. This fishing and tourist town is known for its Supertubes, apparently the perfect waves for my surfing friends.

Before that, though, maps took me through all the industrial areas of Lisbon.

Just before Peniche, you can see the super beautiful sandy beach, and somehow there was a commotion. Cars, campers, buses, stands. At the end of the peninsula, I checked in at a campsite with a view of the sea. Only 10 euros, and I even got a dent in my car door for free. When I opened the door at the gate, the wind blew it wide open and it slammed into a post. Fuck. With a tailwind, I rode to the beach in question. Lo and behold, the Surf-World-League is stopping here for 10 days. And just when I arrived, everyone had left. Too much wind. A German photographer explained the whole circus to me, I didn't understand anything, but the next morning at 7:30 a.m. we were supposed to move on.

Bright sunshine and no wind in the morning, checked out at 7 o'clock, and took the bus to the beach. It was really an experience. The entire world elite is there, but they're standing with the fans and chatting with them. Completely different from the world elite in Praia da Luz.