Riding the Nazaré Wave

"Riding the Nazaré Wave" is a pilot project - an interactive web documentary about Praia do Norte at Nazaré (Portugal) and the economic, social and environmental impacts of the global notoriety it reached as a result of obtaining the world record of the biggest wave ever surfed, by Garrett McNamara, 1 November 2011.

This web documentary was produced by University Lusófona, coordinated by Manuel José Damásio, Celia Quico, Timóteo Rodrigues and Filipe Vale. The project was developed from November 2015 to June 2016, with the collaboration of Lusófona University professors and students. The web documentary is available in Portuguese and English. The project consists of a linear video version and of an interactive multimedia version.

In this work, we present different perspectives about the changes underway in Nazaré since the end of 2011, when Praia do Norte was the set for the biggest wave surfed. The testimonies in this documentary include Hugo Vau, big wave surfer, Jorge Aguiar, marketing director of Mercedes-Benz Portugal, Gonçalo Calado, professor at Lusófona University, Walter Chicharro, mayor of Nazaré, João Delgado, fisherman, among others.

This interactive web documentary pilot project is composed of seven main chapters. The first two chapters provide the introduction and context to the subject. The following chapters present the perspectives of two seamen about the phenomenon of Nazaré Praia do Norte giant waves: a fisherman from Nazaré and a Portuguese big wave surfer. Next, there are two chapters dedicated to the discussion of the impacts related with the recent notoriety of Praia do Norte, seen by external organizations and individuals, such as representatives of major brands and small businesses connected with this new wave of interest about Nazaré, as well as biologists and environmentalists. The impacts seen from local actors are another part of this work, which has testimonies from the local Mayor, several local businesses owners and, also, a representative of the working group responsible for bringing McNamara to Nazaré to surf the giant waves of Praia do Norte.

The project had the support of the Portuguese Cinemateca, the Municipality of Nazaré and Casas do Quico, in addition to the collaboration of several individuals, organizations and local and national companies. This web documentary was produced in the context of Lusófona University/ CICANT participation in the international project "ResponSEAble: Protecting the ocean: our collective responsibility, our common interest", funded by the European Union Horizon 2020.

Website: http://cavalgaraondanazare.ulusofona.pt

Contact: Célia Quico | celia.quico@gmail.com | 96 9946643