Portugal’s Hugo Vau has surfed one of the biggest waves ever seen at Nazare, it's been claimed, but is it enough to beat the world record?
Hugo Vau could have smashed a world record amid claims he surfed one of the biggest waves ever seen at Nazare, Portugal.
The wave — nicknamed ‘Big Mama’ — was reported to be up to 35-metres-high, which, if confirmed, would beat current Guinness Book of Records holder Garrett McNamara, who tackled a 23-metre one at Praia do Norte in 2011.
"Today I probably saw the biggest wave surfed in Nazare by Hugo Vau," said teammate Jorge Leal who captured a video of what he claimed was Vau surfing the record-breaking wave on Wednesday (January 17).
It is difficult to pick Vau out in Leal’s footage, which has been validated by the World Surfing League and could now be passed onto the Guinness Book of Records.
The giant waves off the beaches of Nazare have helped the resort become one of the region’s tourist attractions.
Extreme weather conditions — including high winds — have seen top surfers spend the last week at Nazare in the hope of catching a big wave.
Frenchman Benjamin Sanchis broke McNamara's record by surfing a 33-metre wave, also in Nazare, although his milestone was never recognised by the Guinness Book of Records.