ERICEIRA AND THE SECRET OF ITS WAVES

Each wave is a world and in turn the world is full of waves. The waves change depending on the season, the tide, the wind... You have to study and experience a wave up close to be able to read what is hidden between its lines.

Some time ago we talked about Ericeira, its people and its incredible Natural Surf Reserve, a reserve that was born and is maintained by its way of relating to nature, its surroundings and its waves.

The Ericeira Reserve and the 7 jewels it hides:

➤ PEDRA BRANCA

Characteristic:

It is a wave whose size ranges between 0.5m and 2.5m, the angle of its breaker is about 40º and the breaking length is between 20 and 30 meters. It is a fast and strong left tubular wave.

Conditions:

For that perfect wave to form, the wind needs to be from southeast to northeast and you need a southwest to west/northwest swell

Background:

Reef

Difficulty:

➤ REEF

Characteristic:

It is a wave whose size ranges between 0.5m and 1.5m, the angle of its breaker is about 35º and the breaking length is between 10 and 20 meters. It is a fast and strong right barrel wave.

Conditions:

For that perfect wave to form, the wind must be from southeast to northeast and you need a northwest/north swell.

Background:

Reef

Difficulty:

➤ RIBEIRA D’ILHAS

Characteristic:

It is a wave whose size ranges between 0.5m and 3m, the angle of its breaker is about 55° and its duration is between 100 and 150 meters. It is a long wave of rights.

Conditions:

For that perfect wave to form, the wind can come from all quadrants and any swell is good.

Background:

Reef and rocks.

Difficulty:

➤ CAVE

Characteristic:

It is a wave whose size ranges between 1m and 2.5m, the angle of its breaker is about 27° and its duration is between 20 and 30 meters. It is a fast right tubular wave with little depth.

Conditions:

For that perfect wave to form, the wind must come from the southeast to the northeast and it needs a swell from the northwest to the north.

Background:

Reef

Difficulty:

*It is a very complex and dangerous wave. Not all locals dare to surf it.

➤ CRAZY LEFT

Characteristic:

It is a wave whose size oscillates between 0.5m and 2.5m, the angle of its breaker is about 40° and its duration is between 50 and 80 meters. It is a long and fast left tubular wave.

Conditions:

For that perfect wave to form, the wind must come from the southeast to the northeast and it needs a swell from the northwest to the north.

Background:

Reef

Difficulty:

➤ COXOS

Characteristic:

It is a wave whose size oscillates between 0.5m and 3m, the angle of its breaker is about 40° and its duration is between 30 and 50 meters. It is a long and strong right wave.

Conditions:

For that perfect wave to form, the wind must come from the southeast to the northeast and all swells are good for wave formation.

Background:

Reef

Difficulty:

6-8

➤ SÃO LOURENÇO

Characteristic:

It is a wave whose size ranges between 0.5m and 4.5m, the angle of its breaker is about 50° and its duration is between 100 and 150 meters. It is a strong right wave.

Conditions:

For that perfect wave to form, the wind must come from the southeast to the northeast and it needs a swell from the northwest to the north.

Background:

Reef, rocks and sand

Difficulty: